Worker Nodes

Worker nodes are the backbone of a Kubernetes cluster, responsible for running the actual workloads. These nodes host the containers that constitute the applications deployed on the cluster.

Key Functions of Worker Nodes

  • Application Execution: Worker nodes run the containers that make up the applications, handling the actual processing, storage, and networking tasks required by the applications.
  • Management by Controller Nodes: Controller nodes oversee worker nodes by scheduling applications to run on them, monitoring their health, and managing their lifecycle. This ensures efficient use of resources and high availability of applications.

Configuration and Deployment

  • Worker Node Pool Configuration: When creating a cluster, customers define the configuration of worker node pools. This configuration includes several critical settings:
    • Instance Type: Specifies the type of virtual machine or physical hardware to be used for the worker nodes, impacting performance and capacity.
    • Number of Worker Nodes: Defines the initial number of worker nodes in the pool, determining the cluster's capacity to handle workloads.
    • Disk Size: Sets the storage capacity available on each worker node, ensuring sufficient space for the containers and their data.
    • Other Settings: Includes additional configurations such as networking, security policies, and resource limits to tailor the nodes to specific application needs.

By carefully configuring worker node pools and leveraging the robust management capabilities of NKS, customers can ensure that their applications run efficiently and reliably on a scalable and flexible Kubernetes infrastructure.