The Next Step: Automating your Kubernetes cluster(s) using GitOps

Introduction

“GitOps is the best thing since configuration as code.” - Kelsey Hightower, Staff Developer Advocate, Google

What is GitOps? In short, it is a set of principles that builds on the foundation of Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) and expands on it by combining all its automation benefits with the functionality of source control, such as Git. This means that DevOps Engineers can use the same approach as software development teams, closing the gap between Dev and Ops even more.

This training combines the GitOps theory with practical hands-on labs using Flux, a Kubernetes-based set of controllers that implement GitOps. You’ll leave this training with enough knowledge to start out using GitOps in your own organization, be it using Flux or any tool of your liking.

Detailed Description
In this training, you will learn how to keep track of all moving parts in a Kubernetes cluster when developing and maintaining your infrastructure using Flux. Using scenario-based problems and solutions, you will set up a fictional blogging platform called WriteWave. It starts out as a monolith but gradually will be broken apart into separate microservices, all while the underlying foundation gets increasingly more robust, scalable and automated. Moreover, it shows different strategies to operate Flux, ranging from a small team to a large enterprise.

Target audience
Software- and DevOps engineers who quickly want to get a solid grasp of GitOps and practical experience with Flux. Some experience with Kubernetes and Git is beneficial but not required.

Learning Goals

• Grasping GitOps principles and how it builds on properties of Infrastructure-as-code
• Understanding how automation using GitOps accelerates and simplifies cluster management
• Knowing how GitOps can help to deal with infrastructure at scale
• Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of different strategies for deploying Flux and organizing repositories

Skills acquired in this training

• Installing, maintaining and updating a Flux installation
• Using Flux CLI commands effectively
• Deploying Kubernetes workloads using Flux in combination with Kustomize and Helm
• Storing secret data safely using Flux and SOPS
• Applying GitHub workflows for continuous delivery using Flux
• Applying GitHub workflows for maintaining a high level of code and configuration quality

Training outline

GitOps essentials (1st day, morning)

• Introduction into GitOps
• Introduction into Flux

Intro into practical GitOps using Flux (1st day, afternoon)

• Installing Flux on a Kubernetes cluster
• Deploying a simple workload using Kustomization
• Deploying an advanced workload using Helm
• Securing sensitive data using SOPS

Advanced Flux (2d day)

• Delivering application updates continuously using Flux
• Getting feedback from Flux using notifications
• Troubleshooting issues with Flux
• Monitoring Flux installations
• Quality assurance for Kubernetes manifests
• Garbage collection
• Updating Flux installations automatically
• Flux in multitenant organizations

Provided training material
Slides used during the training.

About the Trainers
Antek and Frank are experienced Software Engineers with an automate-everything approach and a keen interest in everything DevOps. They both have multiple years of experience with GitOps.

Note: This training can be given in Dutch or English at one of the OpenValue offices (Utrecht, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Arnhem, Munich, Dusseldorf, Vienna, Zurich) or at your own location. Please contact us to discuss possibilities for a remote training and for training in German.