EKS on AWS vs Standalone Kubernetes
A Straightforward Comparison
Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) and standalone Kubernetes serve a similar purpose: they both orchestrate containerised applications. However, the two have distinct differences that developers need to understand. This article offers a straightforward comparison between EKS on AWS and standalone Kubernetes.
1. Introduction to Kubernetes and EKS
Kubernetes, first developed by Google, is an open-source platform designed to automate deploying, scaling, and operating application containers. It groups containers that make up an application into logical units for easy management and discovery. For more information, refer to the official Kubernetes Documentation.
Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) is a fully managed service provided by AWS that makes it easier to deploy, manage, and scale containerised applications using Kubernetes on AWS. You can check the official AWS EKS Documentation for detailed insight.
2. Differences between EKS on AWS and Standalone Kubernetes
Management and Operations: Standalone Kubernetes requires considerable manual setup and management. All tasks must be done manually, from setting up the control plane to managing nodes. On the other hand, EKS is a managed service where AWS takes care of the Kubernetes control plane. This includes updates, patching, and scalability, making it less operational-heavy for developers.
Integration with AWS Services: EKS naturally integrates with AWS services like Elastic Load Balancer (ELB) for load distribution, Identity and Access Management (IAM) for security, and CloudWatch for logging and monitoring. With standalone Kubernetes, you must manually integrate any cloud services you need, which may not be as seamless as with EKS.
Cost: Running Kubernetes “manually” might cost less if you only count the infrastructure cost. But remember, the total cost should also account for management time and resources. In contrast, EKS comes with a management fee but provides value by reducing the operational burden and seamlessly integrating with AWS services.
Scalability and Availability: EKS leverages AWS’s infrastructure’s power, providing better scalability and availability compared to standalone Kubernetes. With EKS, you can easily create multiple Availability Zones, ensuring your applications stay resilient.
“fun facts” of EKS
- On AWS: run managed Kubernetes service without needing to install, operate, and maintain Kubernetes control plane or nodes
- EKS runs Kubernetes control plane instances across multiple AZs to ensure high availability
- Automatically detects and replaces unhealthy control plane instances
- Provides automated version updates and patching for control plane instances
3. Choosing between EKS and Standalone Kubernetes
The choice between EKS and standalone Kubernetes is your specific use case and resources. If you require greater control and customisation, or if you want to deploy your cluster across multiple cloud providers or on-premises, standalone Kubernetes could be the right fit. However, if you prefer a less operationally intense option with seamless integration with other AWS services, then EKS would be your best bet.
In conclusion, while both Kubernetes and Amazon EKS serve to orchestrate containerised applications, the difference lies in operational responsibility, integration capabilities, cost considerations, and scalability and availability. Your project’s specific needs and resources should guide the choice between the two.
