Kubernetes
An open-source container orchestration platform for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerised applications.
In-Depth Explanation
Kubernetes (K8s) is an open-source platform for automating deployment, scaling, and operations of containerised applications. For AI/ML, it enables scalable, reliable model serving.
Core concepts:
- Pod: Smallest deployable unit (one or more containers)
- Deployment: Manages pod replicas and updates
- Service: Stable network endpoint for pods
- Ingress: External access to services
- ConfigMap/Secret: Configuration management
- Persistent Volume: Storage for data
AI/ML benefits:
- Auto-scaling based on request load
- GPU scheduling and sharing
- Rolling updates for model versions
- Health checks and auto-restart
- Multi-model deployments
- Resource quotas and isolation
ML-specific tools:
- Kubeflow: ML workflows on Kubernetes
- KServe: Model inference platform
- NVIDIA GPU Operator: GPU management
- Seldon Core: Model serving
Business Context
Kubernetes enables scalable, production-grade AI deployments but adds operational complexity. Best for larger deployments or existing K8s infrastructure.
How Clever Ops Uses This
We deploy AI on Kubernetes for Australian enterprises needing scale, reliability, and integration with existing container infrastructure.
Example Use Case
"Deploying a model serving infrastructure that auto-scales from 2 to 20 replicas based on request volume, handling traffic spikes automatically."