Architecting with Google Kubernetes Engine: Workloads from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Introduction

In this module, you'll become familiar with the structure and layout of the course.

Kubernetes Operations

In this module you will learn about the kubectl command, which is the command line utility used to interact with and manage the resources inside Kubernetes clusters. You'll learn how to connect it to Google Kubernetes Engine clusters, and use it to create, inspect, interact and delete Pods and other objects within Kubernetes clusters. You'll also use kubectl to view a Pod’s console output, and sign in interactively to a Pod.

Deployments, Jobs, and Scaling

GKE works with containerized applications: in other words, applications packaged into hardware-independent, isolated user-space instances. In GKE and Kubernetes, these packaged applications are collectively called workloads. In this module you will learn about Deployments and Jobs, two of the main types of workload. You will also learn about the mechanisms that are used to scale the GKE clusters where you run your applications. You'll learn to control on which Nodes Pods may and may not run. You'll also explore ways to get software into your cluster.

Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) Networking

In this module, you’ll learn how to create Services to expose applications running within Pods, which allows them to communicate with the outside world. You'll also learn how to create Ingress resources for HTTP or HTTPS load balancing. You'll also learn about GKE's container-native load balancing, which allows you to directly configure Pods as network endpoints with Google Cloud Load Balancing.

Persistent Data and Storage

In this module you’ll learn about the different types of Kubernetes storage abstractions. You’ll learn about StatefulSets and how to use them to manage ordered deployments of Pods and storage. You’ll also learn how ConfigMaps can save you time during application deployment by decoupling configuration artifacts from container definitions. Finally, you’ll learn how to keep sensitive information safer from accidental exposure using Kubernetes Secrets.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops practical skills, knowledge, and tools that are in demand in industry

Builds a strong foundation for those who have little knowledge or experience with the topic

Taught by Google Cloud Training, who are recognized for their industry leadership

Reviews summary

Google kubernetes engine workload management

Learners say this well-received course is an engaging option for those seeking a great foundation in Kubernetes. The course has various labs that help develop practical skills, and it thoroughly covers key Kubernetes features like deployments, load balancing, and networking. Although the course is largely positive, some learners express frustration with technical issues in the labs and find it is overwhelming at times due to the amount of information covered.

Most learners appreciate the various labs that provide hands-on experience.

"Great course full of interesting information!"

"Really good resource to learn to manage kubernetes workloads. I learnt loads of new stuff including Kubernetes jobs, container native load balancing and much more"

"This is a very comprehensive course and the lecturer, Priyanka Vergadia, is simply sensational."

Many learners recommend this engaging course.

"Great course! Volumes is a complicated topic and it was handled gracefully."

"Provides a good introduction to the main aspects of using kubernetes on google cloud."

"Excellent course covers lot of ground learnt a lot. Thanks Google team for designing this insightful course"

A few learners experience issues with the labs, which can be frustrating.

"Labs are failing every time I tried, and I keep finding many people complaining about that in the forums"

"Many students are having the same issue on upgrading the GKE cluster to the latest version. Time is limited, possible to extend another 1 hour to troubleshoot."

"Finally, I have completed this lab, thanks to my fellow class member to find an alternate path to do this lab."

Some learners find the amount of information covered to be overwhelming.

"It is a lot of information that gets thrown at you quickly"

"This course is brilliant and covers all necessary aspects of deploying practical applications using Kubernetes and GTK."

"All the information I needed for my work on Kubernetes is available in this course"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Architecting with Google Kubernetes Engine: Workloads with these activities:

Review Common Kubernetes Commands

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Having a strong foundation in Kubernetes commands will make it easier to navigate the course materials.

Browse courses on kubectl

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Review the kubectl documentation
Practice using kubectl commands in a test environment

Attend a Kubernetes Meetup or Conference

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Networking with other Kubernetes users and experts can provide valuable insights and help you stay up-to-date on the latest trends.

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Find a Kubernetes meetup or conference in your area
Attend the event and participate in the discussions

Follow a Kubernetes Tutorial Series

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Following a tutorial series will provide you with step-by-step instructions for working with Kubernetes.

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Find a reputable Kubernetes tutorial series online
Follow the tutorials in the series, completing all the exercises and examples

Four other activities

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Create a Sample Kubernetes Cluster and Deploy a Test Application

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Getting hands-on experience with Kubernetes is essential for solidifying your understanding of the concepts covered in the course.

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Create a Google Cloud Platform account and set up a project
Set up the Google Kubernetes Engine Command-Line Interface (gcloud)
Create a Kubernetes cluster
Deploy a sample application to the cluster

Read "Kubernetes in Action" by Marko Luksa

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes, covering key concepts, features, and best practices.

View Kubernetes in Action, Second Edition on Amazon

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Read through the book, taking notes and highlighting important sections
Complete the exercises and examples provided in the book

Write a Blog Post About a Kubernetes Concept

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Explaining Kubernetes concepts to others will help you solidify your understanding and identify areas where you need further clarification.

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Choose a Kubernetes concept to write about
Research the concept thoroughly
Write a blog post that explains the concept in a clear and concise way
Publish your blog post online

Build a Kubernetes-Based Application

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Building a real-world application will give you practical experience with Kubernetes and help you develop a deeper understanding of its capabilities.

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Design the architecture of your application
Develop the application code
Deploy the application to a Kubernetes cluster
Test and monitor the application

Career center

Learners who complete Architecting with Google Kubernetes Engine: Workloads will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Kubernetes Engineer

Kubernetes Engineers design, implement, and manage Kubernetes clusters. They work with developers to ensure that applications are running smoothly and efficiently on Kubernetes. This course helps build a foundation for a career as a Kubernetes Engineer by providing a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes and its features. Learners will gain hands-on experience working with Kubernetes, including creating and managing workloads, networking, and storage.

See salaries and explore the career path for Kubernetes Engineer

DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers work to bridge the gap between development and operations teams. They are responsible for automating and streamlining the software development and deployment process. This course helps build a foundation for a career as a DevOps Engineer by providing a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes and its features. Learners will gain hands-on experience working with Kubernetes, including creating and managing workloads, networking, and storage.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Site Reliability Engineer

Site Reliability Engineers (SREs) are responsible for ensuring that software systems are reliable and scalable. They work with developers and operations teams to identify and mitigate risks to the system. This course may be useful for SREs who want to learn more about Kubernetes and its features. The course provides a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes and its features, including creating and managing workloads, networking, and storage.

See salaries and explore the career path for Site Reliability Engineer

Cloud Engineer

Cloud Engineers design, implement, and manage cloud-based solutions. They work with customers to understand their needs and develop solutions that meet those needs. This course may be useful for Cloud Engineers who want to learn more about Kubernetes and its features. The course provides a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes and its features, including creating and managing workloads, networking, and storage.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Engineer

Data Engineer

Data Engineers design, build, and maintain data pipelines. They work with data scientists and other stakeholders to ensure that data is available and accessible. This course may be useful for Data Engineers who want to learn more about Kubernetes and its features. The course provides a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes and its features, including creating and managing workloads, networking, and storage.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and test software applications. They work with teams of developers and other stakeholders to deliver high-quality software. This course may be useful for Software Engineers who want to learn more about Kubernetes and its features. The course provides a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes and its features, including creating and managing workloads, networking, and storage.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Systems Engineer

Systems Engineers design, implement, and maintain computer systems. They work with teams of engineers and other stakeholders to ensure that systems are reliable and efficient. This course may be useful for Systems Engineers who want to learn more about Kubernetes and its features. The course provides a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes and its features, including creating and managing workloads, networking, and storage.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Engineer

Storage Engineer

Storage Engineers design, implement, and maintain storage systems. They work with teams of engineers and other stakeholders to ensure that storage systems are reliable and efficient. This course may be useful for Storage Engineers who want to learn more about Kubernetes and its features. The course provides a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes and its features, including creating and managing workloads, networking, and storage.

See salaries and explore the career path for Storage Engineer

Network Engineer

Network Engineers design, implement, and maintain computer networks. They work with teams of engineers and other stakeholders to ensure that networks are reliable and efficient. This course may be useful for Network Engineers who want to learn more about Kubernetes and its features. The course provides a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes and its features, including creating and managing workloads, networking, and storage.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Engineer

Database Administrator

Database Administrators design, implement, and maintain databases. They work with teams of engineers and other stakeholders to ensure that databases are reliable and efficient. This course may be useful for Database Administrators who want to learn more about Kubernetes and its features. The course provides a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes and its features, including creating and managing workloads, networking, and storage.

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Security Engineer

Security Engineers design, implement, and maintain security systems. They work with teams of engineers and other stakeholders to ensure that systems are secure from threats. This course may be useful for Security Engineers who want to learn more about Kubernetes and its features. The course provides a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes and its features, including creating and managing workloads, networking, and storage.

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Cloud Architect

Cloud Architects design and implement cloud-based solutions. They work with customers to understand their needs and develop solutions that meet those needs. This course may be useful for Cloud Architects who want to learn more about Kubernetes and its features. The course provides a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes and its features, including creating and managing workloads, networking, and storage.

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Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers design and implement machine learning solutions. They work with teams of engineers and other stakeholders to develop machine learning models and solutions. This course may be useful for Machine Learning Engineers who want to learn more about Kubernetes and its features. The course provides a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes and its features, including creating and managing workloads, networking, and storage.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists design and implement data science solutions. They work with teams of engineers and other stakeholders to develop data science models and solutions. This course may be useful for Data Scientists who want to learn more about Kubernetes and its features. The course provides a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes and its features, including creating and managing workloads, networking, and storage.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts analyze data to identify trends and patterns. They work with teams of engineers and other stakeholders to develop data-driven solutions. This course may be useful for Data Analysts who want to learn more about Kubernetes and its features. The course provides a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes and its features, including creating and managing workloads, networking, and storage.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst