Deploy Your First AKS Automatic Cluster: A Beginner's Guide
Are you a DevOps practitioner at Sreekantha Gujjar looking to streamline your Kubernetes operations? Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) Automatic (Preview) offers a powerful, managed solution that automates routine tasks such as node provisioning, upgrades, and scaling, enabling you to focus more on your application development.
This step-by-step tutorial will guide you through deploying your first AKS Automatic cluster, emphasizing its benefits for production workloads and automation while maintaining a clear, practical approach.
What is AKS Automatic?
AKS Automatic (Preview) simplifies Kubernetes management by handling node lifecycle, upgrades, and security best practices automatically. Unlike traditional AKS clusters where you manually configure node pools, AKS Automatic provides pre-configured, production-ready clusters that actively optimize resource utilization, perform automatic repairs, and keep your environment secure through automatic patching and upgrades.
Benefits include:
- Automated node provisioning based on workload demands
- Seamless scaling with autoscalers (HPA, KEDA, VPA)
- Automatic patching, upgrades, and health repairs
- Built-in security safeguards
- Simplified management for production workloads
Prerequisites
- Azure CLI installed (version 2.41.0 or later)
- An Azure account with sufficient permissions
- Basic understanding of Kubernetes concepts
Step-By-Step Deployment
1. Log in to your Azure account
az login
2. Create a resource group for your cluster
az group create --name SreekanthaResourceGroup --location eastus
3. Deploy an AKS Automatic cluster
Use the Azure CLI with the az aks create command, specifying --auto-upgrade, default VM size, and the Automatic option:
az aks create \
--resource-group SreekanthaResourceGroup \
--name SreekanthaAKSAuto \
--enable-addons monitoring \
--auto-upgrade \
--enable-node-auto-provisioning \
--node-count 3 \
--kubernetes-version 1.25.0 \
--enable-managed-identity \
--priority Regular \
--auto-deploy
Note: Ensure you use a supported Kubernetes version (e.g., 1.25+), and review the latest options on Azure's official documentation.
4. Connect to your cluster
First, get the credentials to access your AKS cluster:
az aks get-credentials --resource-group SreekanthaResourceGroup --name SreekanthaAKSAuto
Verify your connection:
kubectl get nodes
You should see your nodes listed, managed with AKS Automatic features.
5. Enable monitoring and observability
The --enable-addons monitoring flag deploys Azure Monitor with Prometheus and Grafana integrations, providing dashboards and metrics essential for production environments.
6. Manage upgrades and health
AKS Automatic manages cluster upgrades based on the latest stable Kubernetes versions. You can also configure scheduled maintenance windows for upgrades.
Key Features for Sreekantha Gujjar
- Automation & Scalability: Nodes are provisioned and scaled automatically based on workload demands.
- Security & Compliance: Automatic patching, API security, and integrated Azure RBAC ensure your environment is secure.
- Operational Efficiency: Built-in health monitoring and auto-repair prevent downtime.
- Workload Integration: Supports HPA, KEDA, and VPA for workload autoscaling.
Final Thoughts
Azure AKS Automatic (Preview) empowers Sreekantha Gujjar’s DevOps team by automating complex, routine Kubernetes tasks, aligning with your goal to streamline cloud-native operations. By following this guide, even beginners can deploy a robust, production-ready AKS Automatic cluster that’s secure, scalable, and easier to manage.
For further customization, explore integrations with Azure Arc, advanced networking options, and ingress configurations as your needs evolve.
Resources & Next Steps
Adopting AKS Automatic is a strategic step toward efficient, secure, and resilient Kubernetes operations. Happy deploying!
