The Best Tool For Deploying Kubernetes On OpenStack

In this blog:

• Kubernetes On OpenStack
• What Is Rancher?
• Deploy Kubernetes Cluster with Rancher
• Rancher Use Cases
• Rancher vs Nomad vs OpenShift
• How to Deploy Kubernetes with Rancher on OpenStack

In recent years, the adoption of cloud computing has soared, with organizations of all sizes leveraging the power and flexibility of the cloud to run their workloads. To effectively manage and orchestrate these workloads at scale, containerizing workloads on Kubernetes within the cloud has become standard practice in the industry. The combination of Kubernetes and OpenStack offers a powerful solution for organizations. It enables efficient orchestration, scalability, flexibility, and portability, ensuring optimal resource utilization and cost efficiency. Kubernetes on OpenStack remains an essential choice for organizations seeking a robust and adaptable platform for their cloud workloads.

But, what’s the best practice for running Kubernetes on OpenStack? Everyone know running straight Kubernetes in OpenStack can be a cumbersome. If you’re running Kubernetes on OpenStack, you’re going to use another software to help you manage your clusters. But with so many tools available to simplify the deployment and management of Kubernetes clusters in OpenStack, it can be difficult to choose which to use. No one has the time to learn and test out every tool. 

From many conversations with various engineers one tool is at the tip of everyone’s tongue, Rancher. Rancher is a comprehensive software platform that provides a unified interface for managing Kubernetes clusters. It simplifies the deployment, configuration, and monitoring of Kubernetes, making it an ideal choice for organizations looking to leverage the power of Kubernetes on OpenStack.

Why Use Rancher To Run Kubernetes Clusters on OpenStack?

Ease of Use

One of Rancher’s key strengths lies in its user-friendly nature. Rancher offers a graphical user interface (GUI) that makes managing Kubernetes clusters a breeze. With Rancher, you can easily create and oversee clusters, deploy applications, and keep an eye on their performance. This simplicity ensures that even users with limited Kubernetes knowledge can easily navigate and make the most of the platform.

Robust Features

Rancher comes equipped with an extensive range of features that enhance the management of Kubernetes clusters on OpenStack. Some notable features include:

Cluster Provisioning
Rancher is a versatile platform that supports creating Kubernetes clusters not only on OpenStack but also on other infrastructure platforms like AWS, Azure, and vSphere. This means that organizations can easily build clusters that combine resources from their own data centers and the cloud. This flexibility enables them to scale their applications as needed and adapt to changing demands efficiently.

Application Deployment
Rancher provides different ways to deploy applications to Kubernetes clusters. You can choose from various deployment methods such as Helm charts, Docker images, and Kubernetes manifests. These methods simplify the process of deploying applications, allowing you to select the most convenient option for your needs. Rancher also offers a built-in application catalog, which means you can deploy pre-configured applications with just one click. This catalog saves time and effort by providing ready-to-use applications that can be quickly deployed to your Kubernetes clusters.

Monitoring Capabilities
Rancher offers powerful monitoring capabilities for Kubernetes clusters. It provides features like health checks, metrics, and logs, allowing you to keep track of the performance and health of your clusters. Rancher also seamlessly integrates with well-known third-party monitoring tools such as Prometheus and Grafana. This integration enables you to have a comprehensive view of your cluster’s performance and resource utilization. With Rancher, you can easily monitor and analyze data to ensure the smooth operation of your Kubernetes clusters, even if you’re not a technical expert.

Enhanced Security

Security is a top priority for Rancher, and it provides various features to protect your Kubernetes clusters. One essential feature is role-based access control (RBAC), which allows administrators to manage user permissions and control access to Kubernetes resources. This ensures that only authorized individuals have the appropriate level of access. Rancher also offers network policies, which enable administrators to define rules for container communication, ensuring that network traffic within the cluster is secure and controlled.

Moreover, Rancher takes steps to protect data by implementing encryption measures. It ensures that data is encrypted both at rest and during transit. This means that your sensitive information remains safeguarded, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

By incorporating these security features, Rancher ensures that your Kubernetes clusters are well-protected and aligned with industry best practices.

Hybrid Environments

Rancher excels in managing Kubernetes clusters in hybrid environments, where organizations have a mix of on-premises and cloud resources. With Rancher, you can easily manage and orchestrate clusters across different environments, whether it’s on-premises or in the cloud. This means you can deploy applications seamlessly, leveraging the benefits of both worlds.

The hybrid capability offered by Rancher allows organizations to adapt their infrastructure based on their changing needs. They can utilize their existing on-premises resources while taking advantage of the scalability and flexibility offered by the cloud. Rancher simplifies the management of these hybrid environments, providing a unified platform to oversee and control your Kubernetes clusters, regardless of where they are deployed.

By using Rancher, organizations can achieve a seamless and efficient integration of on-premises and cloud resources, enabling them to optimize their infrastructure and adapt to the evolving demands of their workloads.

Rancher Use Cases In Today’s World

Rancher is a versatile solution that caters to a wide range of use cases, making it suitable for various types of organizations:

1. DevOps
   Rancher simplifies Kubernetes management for DevOps teams. Its all-in-one interface streamlines cluster provisioning, application deployment, monitoring, and security. This empowers DevOps teams to focus on efficiently delivering applications, improving productivity, and accelerating the software development lifecycle.
2. Managed Services
   Rancher is valuable for managed service providers who offer Kubernetes as a service. With Rancher’s turnkey solution, service providers can deploy and manage Kubernetes clusters at scale. This reduces costs, enhances operational efficiency, and enables service providers to deliver a reliable and scalable platform for their customers’ containerized applications.
3. Enterprises
   Rancher is an excellent choice for enterprises with diverse IT requirements. It provides scalability and flexibility, allowing enterprises to effectively manage Kubernetes clusters regardless of the size or complexity of their infrastructure. Rancher simplifies cluster deployment, orchestration, and monitoring, enabling enterprises to optimize their infrastructure and embrace modern application deployment practices.
4. Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Environments
   Rancher is well-suited for organizations operating in multi-cloud and hybrid environments. It supports managing Kubernetes clusters across different cloud providers and on-premises infrastructure. Rancher’s unified management platform ensures consistent and efficient management of clusters, enabling organizations to leverage the benefits of multiple environments while maintaining control and visibility.
5. Edge Computing
   Rancher is increasingly used in edge computing scenarios where Kubernetes clusters are deployed at the edge of the network. Rancher’s lightweight footprint and simplified management capabilities make it an ideal choice for managing and orchestrating containerized applications in distributed edge environments.

Rancher vs Nomad vs OpenShift

In the realm of deploying Kubernetes on OpenStack, Rancher stands out as the best tool available. Its comprehensive feature set, ease of use, and hybrid capabilities make it an excellent choice for organizations seeking to manage Kubernetes clusters seamlessly. Whether you are a DevOps team, a managed service provider, or an enterprise, Rancher provides the necessary tools to deploy, monitor, and secure Kubernetes on OpenStack, empowering you to unlock the full potential of containerized applications.

Want to test out Rancher on OpenStack? Deploy an OpenMetal test cloud and follow this guide! 

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