Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes

  • Author: Ronald Fung

  • Creation Date: May 10, 2023

  • Next Modified Date: May 10, 2024

A. Introduction

Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes allows you to attach Kubernetes clusters running anywhere so that you can manage and configure them in Azure.

B. How is it used at Seagen

As a biopharma research company using Microsoft Azure, you can use Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes to manage your Kubernetes clusters across multiple environments, including on-premises, multi-cloud, and edge. Here are some ways you can use Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes:

  1. Centralized management: Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes allows you to manage your Kubernetes clusters from a single control plane in Azure. This can help you to simplify management, reduce complexity, and improve visibility across multiple environments.

  2. Consistent deployment: Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes allows you to deploy and manage your Kubernetes applications consistently across all environments, including on-premises, multi-cloud, and edge. This can help you to reduce the risk of configuration errors and ensure consistency across your deployments.

  3. Security: Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes provides security features such as role-based access control, Azure Policy integration, and Azure Security Center integration. This can help you to secure your Kubernetes deployments and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

  4. Monitoring and troubleshooting: Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes provides monitoring and troubleshooting features such as Azure Monitor integration, log analytics, and container health checks. This can help you to detect and diagnose issues in your Kubernetes deployments and improve your overall application performance.

  5. Integration with Azure services: Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes integrates with other Azure services such as Azure DevOps, Azure Container Registry, and Azure Kubernetes Service. This can help you to streamline your workflows and improve your overall development and deployment process.

Overall, Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes can help your biopharma research company to manage your Kubernetes clusters across multiple environments, including on-premises, multi-cloud, and edge. With centralized management, consistent deployment, security, monitoring and troubleshooting, and integration with Azure services, Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes can help you to simplify management, reduce complexity, and improve visibility across your Kubernetes deployments.

C. Features

Once your Kubernetes clusters are connected to Azure, at scale you can:

Azure Arc connection

When the Azure Arc agents are deployed to the cluster, an outbound connection to Azure is initiated, using industry-standard SSL to secure data in transit.

Once connected to Azure, the cluster will be represented as its own resource in Azure Resource Manager and can be organized using resource groups and tagging.

Supported Kubernetes distributions

Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes works with any Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) certified Kubernetes clusters. This includes clusters running on other public cloud providers (such as GCP or AWS) and clusters running on your on-premises data center (such as VMware vSphere or Azure Stack HCI). The Azure Arc team has worked with key industry partners to validate conformance of their Kubernetes distributions with Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes.

D. Where implemented

LeanIX

E. How it is tested

Testing Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes involves ensuring that the Kubernetes cluster is functioning correctly, securely, and meeting the needs of all stakeholders involved in the project. Here are some steps to follow to test Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes:

  1. Define the scope and requirements: Define the scope of the project and the requirements of all stakeholders involved in the project. This will help ensure that Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes is designed to meet the needs of all stakeholders.

  2. Develop test cases: Develop test cases that cover all aspects of Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes functionality, including deployment, scaling, and management. The test cases should be designed to meet the needs of the organization, including scalability and resilience.

  3. Conduct unit testing: Test the individual components of Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes to ensure that they are functioning correctly. This may involve using tools like PowerShell or Azure CLI for automated testing.

  4. Conduct integration testing: Test Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes in an integrated environment to ensure that it works correctly with other systems and applications. This may involve testing Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes with different operating systems, browsers, and devices.

  5. Conduct user acceptance testing: Test Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes with end-users to ensure that it meets their needs and is easy to use. This may involve conducting surveys, interviews, or focus groups to gather feedback from users.

  6. Automate testing: Automate testing of Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes to ensure that it is functioning correctly and meeting the needs of all stakeholders. This may involve using tools like Azure DevOps to set up automated testing pipelines.

  7. Monitor performance: Monitor the performance of Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes in production to ensure that it is meeting the needs of all stakeholders. This may involve setting up monitoring tools, such as Azure Monitor, to track usage and identify performance issues.

  8. Address issues: Address any issues that are identified during testing and make necessary changes to ensure that Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes is functioning correctly and meeting the needs of all stakeholders.

By following these steps, you can ensure that Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes is tested thoroughly and meets the needs of all stakeholders involved in the project. This can help improve the quality of Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes and ensure that it functions correctly in a production environment.

F. 2023 Roadmap

????

G. 2024 Roadmap

????

H. Known Issues

There are several known issues that can impact Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes. Here are some of the most common issues to be aware of:

  1. Configuration issues: Configuration issues can arise when setting up Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes. It is important to ensure that all configurations are set up correctly to avoid issues with deployment, scaling, and management of the Kubernetes cluster.

  2. Performance issues: If the system is not properly sized, it can impact performance and availability, causing issues with the speed and reliability of the Kubernetes cluster.

  3. Integration issues: Integration issues can arise when integrating Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes with other systems and applications. It is important to ensure that Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes is designed to work seamlessly with other systems and applications to avoid integration issues.

  4. Security issues: Security is a critical concern when it comes to Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes. It is important to ensure that the Kubernetes cluster is secured and that access to the cluster is restricted to authorized personnel.

  5. Accuracy issues: In some cases, the Kubernetes cluster may not be accurate or may not apply to a specific use case. It is important to review the Kubernetes cluster carefully and validate it before taking action.

  6. Reliability issues: Reliability issues can arise when Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes is not functioning correctly or when the system experiences downtime. It is important to monitor the performance and reliability of Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes to ensure that it is meeting the needs of the organization.

  7. Compatibility issues: Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes may not be compatible with all Kubernetes environments or platforms. It is important to ensure that Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes is compatible with the organization’s existing infrastructure before implementation.

Overall, Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes requires careful planning and management to ensure that it is functioning correctly and meeting the needs of all stakeholders involved in the project. By being aware of these known issues and taking steps to address them, you can improve the quality of Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes and ensure the success of your project.

[x] Reviewed by Enterprise Architecture

[x] Reviewed by Application Development

[x] Reviewed by Data Architecture