Managed Kubernetes on Google Cloud GKE

Managed Kubernetes on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) is our product to provide services for the managed Kubernetes offering of Google Cloud.

Use Cases

Full Production Readiness

Managed cloud services are engineered for production. Leveraging these services is the recommended path into production.

Step in to the Cloud

Managed cloud services are perfect to start using the cloud. If the cloud is already used, managed cloud services are the perfect way to use Kubernetes.

Scalability

Using Kubernetes from Hyperscaler clouds allows for full scalability. With Hyperscaler-managed Kubernetes, you can get rid of infrastructure "pets" that need special attention. See The History of Pets vs Cattle and How to Use the Analogy Properly for a good read.

Flexibility

Hyperscaler clouds not only offer Kubernetes, but a large amount of other services. By using the Kubernetes offering of a Hyperscaler cloud, all the other available services are just waiting to be used. All our VSHN Managed clusters have the Application Marketplace on board.

Costs saving

Usually big clouds are not necessarily cheaper out of the box. By using the possibilities the cloud offers with integrated Cluster autoscaling or other optimization tricks like "Spot" instances a huge cost saving can be achieved.

VSHN Supported Features and Configuration

Supported by default

These features and configurations are available out-of-the box and installed and configured by default.

Feature / Configuration Description

Cluster Maintenance

Kubernetes control-plane and node updates are applied continuously when they’re available. See also Version and Upgrade Policy.

Persistent Storage with CSI

Storage is provided by the native cloud storage offering using officially support CSI integrations.

Cluster Backup

A full backup of the etcd database is made every 4 hours. This includes a dump of all objects in JSON format, this way single objects can be restored on request. The backup data is encrypted before it is stored in an object storage backend, usually on the same cloud as the cluster is running. K8up is used as the backup operator, using Restic as backup backend.

Persistent storage volumes are not automatically backed up. The user of persistent volumes is obliged to take care of this. For that purpose, K8up is available on the cluster to help with that task. We’re also happy to help, just let us know.

Cluster limits

We’re following the recommendations of upstream Kubernetes. See Limits for more details.

Supported on request

These features or configuration adjustments must be specifically requested and some restrictions apply. Activation and configuration of these features imply additional engineering costs and can cause additional recurring engineering costs for operating them.

Feature / Configuration Description

Cluster Autoscaling

Cluster autoscaling configuration is fully supported, depending on the possibilities of the cloud service.

Version and Upgrade Policy

Supported are only the Kubernetes versions of Google Cloud: Google Cloud GKE Release notes. Installations must be upgraded to the next release within three months after a new release is available.

Pricing

See Pricing.

Pricing information of GKE can be found under Google GKE pricing.

Minimum Requirements

Item Description

GKE control plane

1 control plane

See Standard cluster architecture for a description.

GKE nodes

At least 3 nodes

Refer to Standard cluster architecture for options.
Both cluster types are supported: Standard and Autopilot.

Limits

Please refer to Quotas and limits to see the current limits and quotas for the GKE product.