Hey everyone,
We're currently using Docker CE on our Windows 2019 servers, and while we've been relying on Docker Swarm, the decision has been made to transition to Kubernetes. As part of the Infrastructure team, I need to figure out the best way to implement this.
I'm considering Mirantis Container Runtime for an on-prem deployment since it seems straightforward. However, we also want to add Azure connectivity later on to make it possible to spin up containers as needed. My question is, will we need to start with Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) right away to support this future phase? Also, is anyone here actually using Kubernetes in a full Windows setup? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
I’ve actually done it before, and I used Rancher Desktop. It worked out pretty well for managing containers in a Windows environment, but it’s definitely not the usual route.
I wouldn't recommend building a Kubernetes cluster on Windows. Most of the community uses something like Kubespray on Ubuntu servers since that's the standard. Windows is definitely the exception here!
Honestly, I'm having a hard time taking anyone who runs Kubernetes on Windows too seriously. It's just not the typical environment for it, you know? But I get that you're tasked with making it work.
If you have access to Azure, why not just start with AKS? It can simplify things a lot for you since AKS comes with automation features, which help create your Kubernetes manifests, helm charts, and GitHub workflows easily. It could save you a ton of hassle!
I suggested extending to Azure as a future option, but that hasn't been officially approved yet. For now, I need to work with our existing on-prem Docker setup.
I completely understand your skepticism. Trust me, I'm not thrilled about it either, but I have to make it happen.