Microservices March 2022: Kubernetes Networking
Registration is now open for Microservices March 2023. See the agenda and sign up here.
This blog is the first in our five‑part series about Kubernetes networking for Microservices March 2022:
- Program overview: Microservices March 2022: Kubernetes Networking (this post)
- Unit 1: Architecting Kubernetes Clusters for High‑Traffic Websites
- Unit 2: Exposing APIs in Kubernetes
- Unit 3: Microservices Security Pattern in Kubernetes
- Unit 4: Advanced Kubernetes Deployment Strategies
Also be sure to download our free eBook, Managing Kubernetes Traffic with NGINX: A Practical Guide, for detailed guidance on implementing Kubernetes networking with NGINX.
What Is Microservices March?
It’s a month‑long, free educational program designed to up‑level your knowledge of various microservices topics. (If you missed last year’s program, you can catch all the content on demand.)
Why Kubernetes Networking for 2022?
Getting Kubernetes into production is a top priority for many organizations. But the journey is hard and getting value can be even harder. Through conversations with our customers and community, we’ve observed that Kubernetes networking – a key component of production‑grade Kubernetes – is frequently misunderstood or underappreciated. Without a solid Kubernetes networking strategy (and the right talent in place to execute it), the most likely outcomes are downtime, security breaches, and wasted money and effort. As providers of two Kubernetes networking tools – an Ingress controller and service mesh – we’re in a great position to use our knowledge and resources to ease your path to production Kubernetes.
What Is Kubernetes Networking?
Simply put, Kubernetes networking is a framework for connecting your Kubernetes components, services, and traffic – but it’s more than just moving packets from A to B. Kubernetes networking includes layers of unique networking constructs and pieces (from nodes and clusters to Ingress controllers to service meshes) that work together to provide a range of capabilities. Whether you’re just getting started in Kubernetes or are dealing with advanced architectural decisions, understanding Kubernetes networking is crucial to successfully delivering your containerized apps and APIs.
What Will I Learn?
If you’re a complete newbie to Kubernetes networking – don’t worry! This year’s program is a series of events and self‑paced activities designed to take you from Zero to Hero. You can choose to complete the entire program or just the bits and pieces you need to fill in your knowledge gaps. The total time commitment is about 16 hours, spread across 4 weeks.
Four units progressively guide you through the essentials of Kubernetes networking:
- Unit 1 (March 7–11): Architecting Kubernetes Clusters for High‑Traffic Websites
- Unit 2 (March 14–18): Exposing APIs in Kubernetes
- Unit 3 (March 21–25): Microservices Security Pattern in Kubernetes
- Unit 4 (March 28–31): Advanced Kubernetes Deployment Strategies
Each unit includes:
- A YouTube livestream featuring experts from NGINX and learnk8s
- A collection of blogs, videos and ebooks to deepen your knowledge
- A hands‑on, self‑paced lab for experimenting with Kubernetes technologies
- Access to the NGINX experts via our Slack community
Who Should Participate?
While anyone interested in Kubernetes will learn a lot, we’d especially like to invite current and aspiring “Kubernetes operators” – regardless of Kubernetes skill level – to participate because the curriculum caters to your professional development!
What’s a Kubernetes Operator?
An Kubernetes operator or “cluster operator” (not to be confused with the Kubernetes programmatic operator construct) is analogous to what we would have called a system administrator in the pre‑cloud era.
- Job titles – We haven’t met anyone with the job title “Kubernetes Operator”…yet. Most often, people in this role have the title of Cloud Architect or Site Reliability Engineer. They’re usually part of a larger operations team, such as a Platform Ops team.
- Job description – Kubernetes operators are responsible for Kubernetes as a piece of infrastructure and are commonly responsible for helping other teams run their services on Kubernetes. Their jobs can include planning and monitoring capacity, scaling the clusters, and handling larger management tasks that help provide Kubernetes as a platform for network and app teams.
How Do I Join Microservices March 2022?
It’s easy! Sign up for free to get access to the program.
When you register, we’ll collect just enough information to provide you with calendar reminders for the livestreams, weekly learning guides, access to the Slack community, and enrollment for the labs.
We love hearing about what you’re interested in and how we can make your Microservices March experience valuable and fun. If you have questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below. Stay tuned for more updates and we can’t wait to “see” you in March!
For detailed guidance on implementing Kubernetes networking with NGINX, download our eBook, Managing Kubernetes Traffic with NGINX: A Practical Guide.
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