Learn Containers and Kubernetes from Microsoft Learn!

If you’re like me a few years ago, just hearing about Containers and Kubernetes or looking at some demos or documentation, would make your head spin. The transition from traditional IT to this new model of running compute resources, is not natural or simple. It requires understanding of another form of thinking about how to allocate resources, how to build the architecture of applications, and how to manage the environment.

With that in mind, I wanted to provide a path for you to start your journey with Containers and Kubernetes by leveraging the content of Microsoft Learn.

What is Docker and Containers?

These are some of the modules I’d recommend to better understand what containers are, what Docker has to do with the containers technology, and more specifically, how containers work on Windows:

• Introduction to Docker containers
• Run containers on Windows Server
  • This last module is a bit outdated and will feature new content soon!)

Kubernetes and Azure Kubernetes Service

The next step after understanding containers is to look into container orchestration. Kubernetes is the orchestrator of choice today, and we have tons of content for you:

• Introduction to Kubernetes
  • Teaches what Kubernetes is on a high level, very generic way.
• Introduction to Azure Kubernetes Service
  • Introduces you to the Azure managed version of Kubernetes – Azure Kubernetes Service.
• Manage Azure Kubernetes Service on Azure Stack HCI
  • If you’re planning to run Kubernetes on-premises, this course gives you an overview of running AKS on Azure Stack HCI.

Workload deployment and Networking with AKS

Now that you understand the concepts of containers and Kubernetes, it’s time to look at some more complex activities:

• https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/modules/aks-deploy-container-app/
  • This module provides an example of deploying Windows and Linux nodes on AKS, but only a Linux application. We’ll be adding some Windows examples in the future, but the example does a great job of showing the basics.
• Choose the best networking plugin for AKS
  • Getting your app up and running in Kubernetes is one thing. It’s whole other to get it with the right networking configuration and this module helps you understand the plugin options in AKS and when to use which.
• Design an Azure Kubernetes Service network with Azure CNI
  • After you understand the basics of each plugin, this module covers the design options for production workloads with the Azure CNI.

Hands-on exercise!

The above will give a great view on containers and Kubernetes. However, there’s nothing like running an exercise end-to-end, right? So in this module, you get exactly that:

• Azure Kubernetes Service Workshop

This is my curated list of modules to get started. There's so much more available at Microsoft Learn. It’s a lot of content to get started, but it also just scratches the surface of what is possible with this platform. We have some updates and new content coming your way soon, so keep an eye out for that! In the meantime, let us know what you think about these modules and what you expect to see that would help in your environment needs.