Introduction

In the fast-evolving landscape of software infrastructure, achieving a flawless, immutable, and scalable deployment environment is paramount. At ShitOps, we are pioneering a cutting-edge approach that harmoniously integrates Kubernetes orchestration with VMware virtualization, running exclusively on immutable Almalinux clusters derived from Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) standards. This approach not only solidifies our deployment pipeline but also enhances fault tolerance, scalability, and security across all software lifecycles.

This post delves deep into our comprehensive solution that addresses the multifaceted challenges of software deployment in hybrid cloud environments.

The Problem: Ensuring Immutable, Scalable Software Deployments Across Multi-VMware Clusters

Organizations increasingly face challenges deploying software reliably across vast, heterogeneous virtualized landscapes. Issues include inconsistent environments, configuration drift, and downtime during updates. While Kubernetes offers orchestration at the container level, managing Kubernetes atop VMware clusters requires intricate coordination. Additionally, ensuring the underlying OS immutability and compatibility with RHEL standards while maintaining agility adds complexity.

Our enterprise was grappling with these pressing challenges:

The Solution: Orchestrated Immutable Almalinux Clusters on Kubernetes Over VMware

Architectural Overview

Our architecture employs a multi-layered approach integrating the latest tools and technologies:

  1. VMware ESXi Hypervisor Clusters: Host virtual machines segmented by service functions.

  2. Immutable Almalinux 9 VMs: Each VM is provisioned using a custom-built immutable image derived from RHEL 9, ensuring compliance and security.

  3. Kubernetes (k8s) Control Plane: Deployed on dedicated Almalinux VMs, orchestrating containerized microservices.

  4. Kubernetes Operators: Custom operators manage lifecycle events, security patches, and dynamic scaling.

  5. VMware Tanzu Integration: Leverages Tanzu to ensure seamless compatibility between Kubernetes and VMware layers.

  6. CI/CD Pipeline: Powered by Jenkins configured with Kubernetes plugin and Helm charts for deployment automation.

Deployment Workflow

Our workflow involves multiple elaborate steps:

State Diagram

stateDiagram-v2 [*] --> Image_Built Image_Built --> VM_Provisioned VM_Provisioned --> Kubernetes_Registered Kubernetes_Registered --> Containers_Deployed Containers_Deployed --> Monitoring_Active Monitoring_Active --> [*]

Innovation Highlights

Challenges and Resolutions

Throughout implementation, our team faced several hurdles:

Conclusion

Our transformative approach exemplifies how integrating Kubernetes with VMware atop immutable Almalinux clusters elevates software deployment capabilities to unparalleled heights. This tightly-coupled ecosystem enables us to deliver resilient, scalable, and secure applications that meet today's demanding enterprise needs.

By embracing cutting-edge technologies and impeccable orchestration, ShitOps is poised to redefine modern software infrastructure paradigms. We invite the community to explore, adapt, and innovate along this blueprint to achieve extraordinary operational excellence.


About the Author

Chuck N. Cheese is a Senior Cloud Infrastructure Engineer specializing in enterprise-scale virtualization and container orchestration solutions.