Standalone App and Database Migration to a Modern High Availability Architecture using Google Kubernetes Engine and Cloud SQL

I acted as a cloud specialist to modernize an application and database in this project. After a lift and shift from on-premise to Google Compute Engine VM instances, the task was to migrate to a containerized high availability architecture using Google Kubernetes Engine managed services, and Cloud SQL for the database layer.

The migration plan involved a two-pronged approach. First, leverage Cloud SQL for MySQL to migrate the existing MySQL database VM instance. Cloud SQL offers high availability by deploying the database across multiple zones, ensuring redundancy and disaster recovery. Secondly, modernize the web application by containerizing it with Docker. Finally, deploy this containerized image to a Google Kubernetes Engine Autopilot cluster. This managed Kubernetes service offers self-healing capabilities and automatic scaling taking care of infrastructure management, allowing the application to adapt to changing demands. These actions enhance scalability, fault tolerance, and simplify overall application management for the business.

I migrated the MySQL database using the Database Migration Service. This seamlessly transferred the data from the existing VM instance to a Cloud SQL for MySQL database. To ensure high availability, I configured Cloud SQL for deployment across two zones, minimizing downtime during potential zonal outages. In parallel, I containerized the web application by building a Docker image that encapsulated the application code and its dependencies. This image was then pushed to Google Container Registry for secure storage and version control. Finally, I deployed the containerized application using Google Kubernetes Engine Autopilot. This managed service eliminated the need for me to manage the underlying Kubernetes infrastructure, allowing me to focus on configuration and scaling the deployment. This approach streamlined the development workflow, improved fault tolerance through zonal redundancy, and ultimately provided a scalable platform for the web application.