The GA release of Pivotal Container Service (PKS) by Pivotal, VMware, and Google Cloud was an interesting development in the cloud-native ecosystem. We go into more detail on how it changes the game for VMware-based environments in our recent ebook. But in this post, we'll quickly highlight some of the key ways PKS simplifies Kubernetes adoption for enterprises with VMware shops.
Arguably the biggest benefit of PKS is the fact that it's pre-architected by trusted vendors and purpose-built for enterprise-grade Kubernetes. For some shops, a bespoke Kubernetes pieced together from available open source technologies can work. But for most enterprises, especially those with heavy investments in VMware, we recommend the more predictable and validated path that a solution like PKS provides.
PKS gives operations teams the flexibility to run Kubernetes across existing VMware vSphere-based infrastructure and public clouds. It makes possible a unified virtualization and container infrastructure regardless of where your workloads live.
PKS uses the latest stable OSS distribution of Kubernetes - with no proprietary extensions. Your developers have access to the latest Kubernetes features and tools to build and ship containerized applications to work within cloud-native architecture.
Addressing network concerns is key for any Kubernetes deployment. That's why PKS's built-in VMware NSX-T is a big deal. NSX-T within PKS provides advanced container networking and security features for Kubernetes clusters, including: micro-segmentation, ingress controller, load balancing, and security policy.
BOSH is built into PKS, too. This gives you automated infrastructure provisioning, configuration, operation, and remediation on any cloud or infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) platform. BOSH automatically patches and maintains VMs, performs Kubernetes upgrades, and generally simplifies the lifecycle for enterprises with limited open-source chops.
PKS has constant compatibility with Google Container Engine (GKE). That means you're always running the latest stable Kubernetes version and can easily move workloads to and from GKE. PKS also integrates with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Service Broker for added continuity across a hybrid environment.
Out-of-the-box integration with VMware management and monitoring tools - vRealize Operations, Wavefront, vRealize Log Insight - make the Kubernetes uptake that much easier for IT teams with a VMware-based environment.
So much of the value of PKS comes from a comprehensive set of features that all add up to a smooth and consistent container experience. With PKS, you get high availability, auto-scaling, health checks and self healing. Patches and upgrades happen automatically and a private container registry with enterprise-grade management and security features round out the solution.
Unlike a DIY Kubernetes solution, PKS comes with the added advantage of single-vendor support. Professional services from Pivotal/VMware add an extra layer of stability for IT teams with limited Kubernetes and cloud-native ecosystem expertise.
Redapt happens to be one of a very few systems integrators with the capabilities to deliver a PKS solution. That said, we'd love to help you navigate the journey to Kubernetes and cloud-native applications regardless of what technologies ultimately fit your requirements. We can start with a Kubernetes readiness assessment.