Home > Communication Service Provider Solutions > Telecom Technical White Papers > Sizing a Bare Metal Kubernetes Telco Cloud > Executive summary
The emergence of Kubernetes in the Telco industry has revolutionized the management and deployment of applications within the cloud infrastructure. However, sizing a bare metal Kubernetes cluster presents specific challenges requiring careful consideration compared to a virtual Kubernetes cluster.
The discrepancy between the traditional virtual machine (VM) methodologies used by Virtual Network Function (VNF) or Cloud Native Function (CNF) vendors, and the Kubernetes containerized environment, is a critical challenge. These vendors still rely on VMs to abstract containers, creating a dilemma for Telco operators who must reconcile the VM-based hardware sizing approach with Kubernetes' containerization. This white paper delves into strategies for bridging this gap, and provides a practical methodology for sizing bare metal Kubernetes clusters while considering the unique requirements of VNFs or CNFs.
Understanding the specific requirements of Telco workloads is essential. Telco operators must accurately assess application types, traffic expectations, resource utilization patterns, and peak load scenarios. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of workload needs, Telco operators can confidently size their clusters to handle the demands of their applications without oversizing or under-sizing their Kubernetes clusters.
Choosing the appropriate hardware infrastructure is crucial for achieving optimal cluster performance and resource allocation. Telco operators must consider factors such as CPU, memory, storage, and networking capabilities while aligning with recommendations from VNF or CNF vendors. By making informed decisions about hardware infrastructure, operators can ensure that their bare-metal Kubernetes clusters are equipped to meet workload requirements.