#AKS (Azure Kubernetes Service) is a managed #kubernetes service provided by #Microsoft #Azure, while Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration platform developed by Google (now maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation). Here are the key differences between AKS and Kubernetes:
- Managed Service: AKS is a managed service provided by Azure, which means that Azure takes care of managing the underlying infrastructure, including the Kubernetes control plane. With AKS, you can focus on deploying and managing your applications without worrying about the operational aspects of Kubernetes. On the other hand, Kubernetes requires manual setup and management of the control plane, which includes configuring, securing, and maintaining the Kubernetes cluster infrastructure.
- Deployment and Scaling: AKS provides an easy-to-use interface and automation for deploying and scaling Kubernetes clusters. With AKS, you can quickly provision and scale the cluster based on your workload requirements. Kubernetes, being an open-source platform, requires more manual configuration and management for cluster deployment and scaling.
- Integration with Azure Services: AKS is tightly integrated with other Azure services, such as Azure Active Directory, Azure Container Registry, Azure Monitor, Azure Networking, and Azure Storage. This integration simplifies authentication, container image management, monitoring, networking, and storage integration within the Azure ecosystem. Kubernetes, being agnostic to any specific cloud provider, requires additional configuration and integration with different cloud services.
- Upgrades and Maintenance: AKS handles the upgrades and maintenance of the Kubernetes control plane, ensuring that you are running on the latest stable version of Kubernetes. This simplifies the process of upgrading and managing Kubernetes clusters. With Kubernetes, you are responsible for performing upgrades and managing the cluster maintenance, including patching, security updates, and version upgrades.
- Support and SLAs: AKS offers enterprise-grade support and service level agreements (SLAs) backed by Microsoft Azure. This provides assurance and support in case of issues or outages. Kubernetes, being an open-source project, does not come with official support or SLAs. However, there are communities, forums, and service providers that offer support and assistance for Kubernetes deployments.
- Ecosystem and Integrations: Kubernetes has a vast ecosystem with a rich set of tools, libraries, and extensions. It has broad industry adoption and a strong community backing, making it easier to find resources and leverage the ecosystem for various use cases. While AKS supports most Kubernetes features, there might be some Kubernetes extensions or custom configurations that require additional setup or considerations.
