Transforming Mercedes-Benz’s Kubernetes Fleet Management with Cluster API

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Mercedes-Benz Tech Innovation has embarked on an impressive journey to optimize its Kubernetes fleet management. Faced with the challenge of a rapidly growing Kubernetes fleet and the need for efficient management across multiple cloud environments, they embarked on a transformational path by adopting Cluster API, a Kubernetes project designed to simplify cluster provisioning and management.

Challenges

1. Mercedes-Benz Tech Innovation GmbH, a subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz, heavily relies on Kubernetes in its tech stack. However, as their Kubernetes fleet grew rapidly, they encountered several challenges:
2. Complex Infrastructure: Managing the growing fleet with a self-written Terraform pipeline became overly complex and hard to maintain.
3. Multi-Cloud Objectives: They aimed to be better prepared for public cloud environments like AWS and provide multi-cloud configuration.

Solution

After extensive research, Mercedes-Benz decided to migrate to Cluster API, which provides a declarative API for Kubernetes cluster provisioning and management.

1. Simplified Management: Cluster API enabled Mercedes-Benz to manage clusters using Kubernetes itself, reducing the number of frameworks and tools required.
2. Multi-Cloud Compatibility: Cluster API’s design seamlessly works across various cloud providers and infrastructures, ensuring consistency in cluster management across different environments.
3. Lifecycle Loop Repair: Cluster API replaced legacy cluster lifecycle management, resulting in a more stable and predictable infrastructure, significantly reducing Kubernetes cluster deployment times.
4. Gradual Upgrades: Gradual upgrades became smoother, minimizing downtime and ensuring high service availability.
5. Multi-Cloud Onboarding: The pluggable nature of Cluster API allowed for faster onboarding of new public clouds, facilitating scalability.
6. Open Source Collaboration: Leveraging an open-source project allowed Mercedes-Benz to focus on its core business while benefiting from contributions and support from the broader community.
7. Scalability: With Cluster API, Mercedes-Benz effectively manages nearly 1000 clusters, ensuring a scalable and reliable system.

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Mercedes-Benz’s remarkable journey in optimizing its Kubernetes fleet management through the adoption of Cluster API demonstrates the power of cutting-edge technologies and solutions. Furthermore, the integration of the Cuemby Cloud Platform into their infrastructure management process has played a crucial role in optimizing their operations and achieving impressive results.

By harnessing Cluster API alongside the Cuemby Cloud Platform, Mercedes-Benz has effectively addressed the challenges of managing a complex and rapidly growing Kubernetes fleet. The combination of Cluster API’s declarative approach, multi-cloud compatibility, and enhanced infrastructure management has resulted in reduced deployment times, smoother gradual upgrades, and improved scalability.

As Mercedes-Benz continues to evolve its Kubernetes infrastructure, the synergistic relationship between Cluster API and the Cuemby Cloud Platform will undoubtedly remain a key driver of their success. This collaboration exemplifies the potential for innovation and efficiency when industry-leading technologies collaborate, ultimately empowering organizations to focus on delivering value to their users and achieving their digital transformation goals.

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Since 2019, Cuemby has proudly held the distinction of being a Silver Member of the CNCF. Our long-standing commitment to this foundation underscores our dedication to working intimately with communities to evangelize open source. Further solidifying our unique position in the market, Cuemby is honored to be the sole Kubernetes training partner and service provider offering services in both English and Spanish. Discover the Cuemby Difference! Dive into our rich partnership with CNCF and uncover the advantages for your projects. Let's discuss! ✉️ Learn more about how to get started here.

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