How I Deployed a Containerized Voting Application Using Docker, Azure Container Registry, and Azure Kubernetes Service
Project Description: Azure, Docker Containers, and Kubernetes Deployment
In this real-world use case scenario, I embraced the role of a DevOps Engineer to mentor a new team member through the process of deploying a voting application using Kubernetes. This practical exercise was part of The Cloud Bootcamp, aiming to enhance participants’ understanding of cloud technologies through the Multicloud Experience — an immersive online event.
Our deployment strategy unfolded on the Microsoft Azure platform, demonstrating the robust integration capabilities of Azure with container technologies. The journey began by packaging the application into Docker containers, ensuring a seamless and consistent environment from development to production. We then pushed these Docker images to Azure Container Registry (ACR), which securely housed our container images.
The core of our deployment utilized Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), where we orchestrated and managed our containerized application with ease. AKS provided a scalable and highly available environment, allowing us to focus on optimizing the application without the overhead of managing Kubernetes clusters.
This project not only solidified our understanding of Docker and Kubernetes but also highlighted the efficacy of Azure as a cloud service provider for enterprise-grade deployments. Below are insights, detailed procedural steps, and visual documentation of our deployment journey.
Summary of How I Provisioned and Deployed the Bootcamp Voting Application
Preparation and Setup
Item 1: Creating and Configuring Azure Container Registry (ACR):
- Created a new resource group and set up the Azure Container Registry (ACR) to securely store the Docker images for the voting application.
- Successfully logged into ACR and pushed the Docker image of the voting application.
Resource Group / Azure Container Registry
Item 2: Setting Up Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) Cluster:
- Created an AKS cluster to efficiently manage the Kubernetes environment on Azure.
- Configured the AKS cluster by generating SSH keys and linking the ACR to ensure seamless integration.
Item 3: Configuring Kubernetes:
- Edited the YAML configuration file to include the correct Docker image paths and deployment settings.
- Applied the YAML file to the AKS cluster, provisioning the necessary resources for the application.
High-Level Summary of the YAML File and Kubernetes Execution
Purpose of the YAML File: The YAML file is used to define the desired state of various Kubernetes resources, such as Deployments and Services, in a declarative manner. It describes how the application components should be deployed and managed by Kubernetes.
Item 4: Deploying the Application:
- Deployed the backend and frontend services of the voting application using Kubernetes Deployments and Services.
- Monitored the deployment to ensure all pods were running correctly and the application was accessible.
- Successfully link an Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) cluster to an Azure Container Registry (ACR)
Item 5: Testing and Validation:
