Summary

This course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to containerisation and Kubernetes. Starting with a basic understanding of software architecture, the course will cover the fundamentals of containerisation, including Docker and other container technologies. Students will gain hands-on experience working with containers, including building and deploying images, and using Docker Compose to manage multi-container applications.

The course will then cover Kubernetes, the leading container orchestration platform, including its architecture and components, and how to deploy and manage containers on a Kubernetes cluster. Students will also learn about advanced Kubernetes concepts such as service meshes, ingress, volumes, and operators.

The course will also cover Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform and Github Actions, allowing students to automate the provisioning, configuration, and management of infrastructure.

The course will also dive into monitoring and logging, covering core observability concepts, Prometheus, and Grafana, including how to set up monitoring, logging and tracing in a Kubernetes cluster.

Throughout the course, students will gain hands-on experience working with real-world tools and technologies, and will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios. By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of containerisation and Kubernetes, and will be well-prepared to work with these technologies in a production environment.

Week 0: Introduction to Software Architecture

• Introduction to software architecture concepts: Explain the different types of software architecture such as monoliths and microservices and the pros and cons of each.

• Understanding the benefits of microservices architecture: Discuss the benefits of using a microservices architecture such as scalability, maintainability, and flexibility.

• Introduction to containerisation in the context of software architecture: Explain how containerisation can be used in the context of a microservices architecture to improve portability, isolation and scalability.

• Hands-on exercise: Analysing a simple application architecture and identifying its components that could benefit from being containerised.

Weekly Objectives

• Introduction to software architecture: Students will be able to explain different types of software architecture and understand the benefits of microservices architecture.

• Introduction to containerisation: Students will be able to understand how containerisation can be used to improve the portability, isolation and scalability of microservices.

• Analysing a simple application architecture: Students will be able to identify the different components of an application and understand how they could benefit from being containerised.

Week 1: Introduction to Containers

• Overview of containerisation: Review the concept of containerisation and its benefits from the previous week and provide a more in-depth explanation of how containers work.

• Introduction to Containerisation tools: Explain the different technologies available for containerisation (Docker, Podman, etc.) and the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

• Understanding of Docker Images and Containers: Discuss the difference between Docker images and containers, the types of images, how they work and how to create and manage them using the Docker command line interface or other alternatives such as Podman.

• Hands-on exercise: Installing and running a basic container using Docker or Podman: Provide instructions on how to install and use both Docker and Podman, on different platforms (Windows, MacOS, Linux) and how to run a basic container using the command line interface of either Docker or Podman.

Weekly Objectives

• Understanding of containerisation: Students will be able to explain how containers work and the benefits of containerisation.

• Introduction to Containerisation tools: Students will be able to understand the different technologies available for containerisation and the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

• Understanding of Docker Images and Containers: Students will be able to discuss the difference between Docker images and containers and how to create and manage them using different tools.

• Hands-on experience: Students will be able to install and run a basic container using both Docker and Podman

Week 2: Understanding Docker

• Introduction to Docker and its components: Explain what Docker is, its main components such as the Docker daemon, Docker client and how they work together.

• Understanding Docker images: Discuss the different types of Docker images (base, snapshot, etc.) and how to create and manage them using the Docker command line interface or other alternatives.

• Hands-on exercise: Creating and managing Docker images using the Docker client or alternative tools: Provide instructions on how to create a Docker image from a container, how to push and pull images to/from a Docker registry or other alternatives, and how to manage images (tagging, deleting, etc.).

Weekly Objectives

• Introduction to Docker: Students will be able to understand what Docker is and its main components.

• Understanding Docker images: Students will be able to discuss the different types of Docker images and how to create and manage them.

• Hands-on experience: Students will be able to create and manage Docker images using the Docker client or alternative tools.

Week 3: Introduction to CI/CD

• Overview of the continuous integration and continuous deployment process: Explain what CI/CD is, why it is important, and how it fits into the overall software development process.

• Understanding the role of CI/CD in modern software development: Discuss the benefits of using CI/CD, such as faster release cycles, increased quality, and improved collaboration.

• Hands-on exercise: Setting up a basic CI pipeline using GitHub Actions or other alternatives: Provide instructions on how to set up a basic CI pipeline using GitHub Actions or other alternatives, including creating a workflow file, configuring actions, and triggering the pipeline for a simple application.

Weekly Objectives

• Understanding of the continuous integration and continuous deployment process: Students will be able to explain what CI/CD is and its importance in modern software development.

• Understanding the role of CI/CD: Students will be able to discuss the benefits of using CI/CD and understand how it fits into the software development process.

• Hands-on experience: Students will be able to set up a basic CI pipeline using GitHub Actions or other alternatives.

Week 4: Introduction to Docker Compose

• Understanding the concept of multi-container applications: Explain what multi-container applications are, the benefits of using them, and the challenges they may present.

• Introduction to Docker Compose and its features: Introduce Docker Compose, its features and how it can be used to simplify the deployment of multi-container applications.

• Hands-on exercise: Creating and deploying a multi-container application using Docker Compose: Provide instructions on how to create a multi-container application using Docker Compose, including configuring services, networks, and volumes, and how to deploy the application to a local environment.

Weekly Objectives

• Understanding of multi-container applications: Students will be able to explain what multi-container applications are, the benefits of using them and the challenges they may present.

• Introduction to Docker Compose: Students will be able to understand what Docker Compose is and its features and how it can be used to simplify the deployment of multi-container applications.

• Hands-on experience: Students will be able to create and deploy a multi-container application using Docker Compose.

Week 5: Introduction to Kubernetes

• Overview of Kubernetes and its components: Explain what Kubernetes is, its main components such as Pods, Services, Replication Controllers, etc. and how they work together.

• Understanding the role of Kubernetes in container orchestration: Discuss the benefits of using Kubernetes, such as scaling, failover, and service discovery.

• Hands-on exercise: Deploying a multi-container application to a Kubernetes cluster: Provide instructions on how to deploy a multi-container application to a Kubernetes cluster using manifests, including creating pods, services, and deployments, and how to configure and access the application.

Weekly Objectives

• Introduction to Kubernetes: Students will be able to understand what Kubernetes is and its main components.

• Understanding the role of Kubernetes: Students will be able to discuss the benefits of using Kubernetes in container orchestration.

• Hands-on experience: Students will be able to deploy a multi-container application to a Kubernetes cluster.

Week 6: Extended Kubernetes Concepts Part 1

• Introduction to Service Mesh: Explain what a Service Mesh is, its main components, and its role in improving service communication and security in a Kubernetes cluster.

• Understanding Ingress and Kubernetes Services: Discuss the role of Ingress and Kubernetes Services in routing traffic to pods within a cluster, and how to configure and use them.

• Understanding Volumes and VolumeMounts: Explain the role of Volumes and VolumeMounts in providing persistent storage for pods, and how to configure and use them.

• Introduction to Operators and Service Accounts: Explain what Operators and Service Accounts are, and how they can be used to automate and manage complex applications and to provide specific permissions and access controls to pods.

• Introduction to Helm: Explain what Helm is and how it can be used as a package manager for Kubernetes to manage, install, and upgrade applications and resources.

Weekly Objectives

• Introduction to Service Mesh: Students will be able to understand what a Service Mesh is, its main components, and its role in improving service communication and security in a Kubernetes cluster.

• Understanding Ingress and Kubernetes Services: Students will be able to understand the role of Ingress and Kubernetes Services in routing traffic to pods within a cluster, and how to configure and use them.

• Understanding Volumes and VolumeMounts: Students will be able to understand the role of Volumes and VolumeMounts in providing persistent storage for pods, and how to configure and use them.

• Introduction to Operators and Service Accounts: Students will be able to understand what Operators and Service Accounts are, and how they can be used to automate and manage complex applications and to provide specific permissions and access controls to pods.

• Introduction to Helm: Students will be able to understand what Helm is and how it can be used as a package manager for Kubernetes to manage, install, and upgrade applications and resources.

Week 7: Extended Kubernetes Concepts Part 2

• Introduction to mTLS and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Explain the importance of mutual Transport Layer Security (mTLS) in securing communication between pods and services, and how to configure it. Understand the Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) in securing access to a Kubernetes cluster and how to configure it.

• Introduction to the Open Policy Agent (OPA): Explain what the Open Policy Agent is, its role in providing fine-grained policy enforcement in a Kubernetes cluster, and how to use it to define and enforce policies.

• Introduction to Container Network Interface (CNI): Explain what the CNI is, its role in providing network connectivity to pods, and how to configure and use it in a Kubernetes cluster.

• Hands-on exercise: Securing a Kubernetes cluster with mTLS and RBAC, Enforcing policies with OPA, and Configuring network connectivity with CNI.

Weekly Objectives

• Introduction to mTLS and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Students will be able to understand the importance of mutual Transport Layer Security (mTLS) in securing communication between pods and services, and how to configure it. They will also be able to understand the Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) in securing access to a Kubernetes cluster and how to configure it.

• Introduction to the Open Policy Agent (OPA): Students will be able to understand what the Open Policy Agent is, its role in providing fine-grained policy enforcement in a Kubernetes cluster, and how to use it to define and enforce policies.

• Introduction to Container Network Interface (CNI): Students will be able to understand what the CNI is, its role in providing network connectivity to pods, and how to configure and use it in a Kubernetes cluster.

• Hands-on experience: Students will be able to secure a Kubernetes cluster with mTLS and RBAC, enforce policies with OPA, and configure network connectivity with CNI.

Week 8: Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

• Introduction to Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Explain what IaC is, its benefits, and how it can be used to automate the provisioning, configuration, and management of infrastructure.

• Introduction to Terraform: Introduce Terraform, its features and how it can be used to define, provision and manage infrastructure as code.

• Hands-on exercise: Creating and deploying a Kubernetes cluster using Terraform: Provide instructions on how to create and deploy a Kubernetes cluster using Terraform, including configuring and provisioning resources such as VMs, Load Balancers, and DNS, and how to manage and update the cluster over time.

• Hands-on exercise: Creating a CI/CD pipeline using Github Actions: Provide instructions on how to create a CI/CD pipeline using Github Actions, including building, testing, and deploying code changes to the Kubernetes cluster provisioned using Terraform.

Weekly Objectives

• Introduction to IaC: Students will be able to understand what IaC is, its benefits, and how it can be used to automate the provisioning, configuration, and management of infrastructure.

• Introduction to Terraform: Students will be able to understand what Terraform is, its features and how it can be used to define, provision, and manage infrastructure as code.

• Hands-on experience: Students will be able to create and deploy a Kubernetes cluster using Terraform.

• Hands-on experience: Students will be able to create a CI/CD pipeline using Github Actions, including building, testing, and deploying code changes to the Kubernetes cluster provisioned using Terraform.

Week 9: Monitoring and Logging

• Introduction to Kubernetes monitoring: Explain the importance of monitoring in a Kubernetes cluster and discuss the different types of monitoring such as resource, application, and system monitoring.

• Introduction to Core Observability concepts: Explain the key observability concepts, such as metrics, logging, and tracing, and how they can be used to understand the behavior and performance of a system.

• Introduction to Prometheus: Introduce Prometheus, its features and how it can be used to monitor Kubernetes clusters.

• Hands-on exercise: Setting up Prometheus monitoring for a Kubernetes cluster: Provide instructions on how to set up Prometheus monitoring for a Kubernetes cluster, including how to scrape metrics, create alerts, and visualise data.

• Introduction to Kubernetes logging: Explain the importance of logging in a Kubernetes cluster and discuss different types of logging such as application and system logging.

• Introduction to Grafana: Introduce Grafana, its features, and how it can be used to visualise and alert on metrics, traces and logs in a Kubernetes cluster.

• Hands-on exercise: Setting up Grafana for monitoring, logging and tracing in a Kubernetes cluster: Provide instructions on how to set up Grafana to collect and visualise metrics, traces and logs from a Kubernetes cluster.

Weekly Objectives:

• Introduction to Kubernetes monitoring: Students will be able to understand the importance of monitoring in a Kubernetes cluster and the different types of monitoring such as resource, application, and system monitoring.

• Introduction to Core Observability concepts: Students will be able to understand the key observability concepts, such as metrics, logging, and tracing, and how they can be used to understand the behavior and performance of a system.

• Introduction to Prometheus: Students will be able to understand what Prometheus is, its features, and how it can be used to monitor Kubernetes clusters.

• Hands-on experience: Students will be able to set up Prometheus monitoring for a Kubernetes cluster.

• Introduction to Kubernetes logging: Students will be able to understand the importance of logging in a Kubernetes cluster and different types of logging.

• Introduction to Grafana: Students will be able to understand what Grafana is, its features, and how it can be used to visualise and alert on metrics, traces and logs in a Kubernetes cluster.

• Hands-on experience: Students will be able to set up Grafana for monitoring, logging and tracing in a Kubernetes cluster, they will be able to collect and visualise metrics, traces and logs from a Kubernetes cluster.