End-to-End Kubernetes with Rancher, RKE2, K3s, Fleet, Longhorn, and NeuVector

What You Will Learn

Rancher and SUSE offer a powerful suite of tools to simplify Kubernetes management and help you fully realize the potential of containerized applications. However, not all users are aware of the full range of features and capabilities provided by this dynamic ecosystem. Online documentation can be overwhelming, sometimes outdated, and often lacks real-world and practical implementation examples. Filling this gap is the primary goal of this guide.

This guide provides clear, practical steps to deploy, secure, and scale Kubernetes environments, from lightweight edge clusters with K3s to robust workloads with RKE2. You’ll explore tools like Rancher Manager, Fleet for GitOps, NeuVector for security, and Longhorn for distributed storage and gain the skills needed to address real-world challenges. Designed to resonate with Kubernetes users of all levels, this guide will help you leverage this ecosystem confidently. To achieve this goal, here are some of the key topics you will go through:

• Core Kubernetes and Rancher Concepts: Build a strong foundation in Kubernetes, including containerized applications, and understand the evolution of Rancher Kubernetes distributions (RKE, RKE2, K3s) tuned for various use cases such as edge computing, IoT, and high-security environments.

• RKE2 and K3s Deployments: Explore RKE2 and its key improvements, including containerd adoption, advanced security features, and compliance capabilities. Learn to deploy single-node and multi-node clusters using RKE2 and K3s for scalable and secure infrastructures.

• Rancher Deployment Strategies: Evaluate centralized and decentralized deployment strategies for Rancher Manager. Explore hub-and-spoke and regional architectures, understanding their trade-offs, benefits, and best-use scenarios.

• Drivers and Agents in Rancher: Gain insights into Rancher’s built-in cluster and node drivers for platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean. Understand the roles of Rancher agents, including Cattle Cluster Agent, Cattle Node Agent, and Rancher System Agent, in automating cluster operations and enabling advanced features.

• Cluster Management in Rancher: Master centralized cluster management using Rancher Manager to orchestrate diverse environments. Understand the differences between imported, Rancher-launched, and cloud-managed clusters, and learn to integrate them into a unified platform.

• Service and Workload Management: Deploy and manage Kubernetes applications and services using Rancher Manager. Leverage namespaces, deployments, health checks, Kubernetes services, and advanced networking features like network policies and LoadBalancer services.

• Scaling and Autoscaling: Learn to optimize application performance and scalability using Kubernetes autoscalers. Configure and use Rancher Autoscaler for dynamic cluster scaling, and explore its integration with Horizontal and Vertical Pod Autoscalers.