Managed Kubernetes

Q: What’s so special about your Kubernetes Hosting?

No vendor lock-in: Our open source cloud, pluscloud open, ensures not only data protection compliance, but also independence from individual cloud providers. With PSKE on pluscloud open, you can easily deploy manifests to Kubernetes clusters running on other OpenStack platforms as needed, giving you flexibility. Multi-cloud support: Choose which clouds your containers run in and benefit from best-of-breed. Pay-as-you-go: You only pay for what you use. Day 2 operations taken care of: As a developer, you want to spend as little time as possible on day 2 operations. With PSKE, you benefit from a noticeable reduction in day 2 operations such as patching and monitoring. Multi-region: PSKE allows you to implement complex multi-region Kubernetes setups. Decide which region to deploy your cluster in during cluster creation. We currently offer you four regions in Germany.

Quickly and easily orchestrate Kubernetes clusters in self-service

KUBERNETES TAKE-OFF SPECIAL SAVE UP TO 4,000€ FREE ONBOARDING WORKSHOP KUBERNETES TAKE OFF SPECIAL SAVE UP TO 4,000€ FREE ONBOARDING WORKSHOP

Kubernetes management at your fingertips

With the plusserver Kubernetes Engine (PSKE), you use a unique solution to quickly and easily orchestrate Kubernetes clusters in self-service. You can run your workloads in the BSI-C5 tested pluscloud open or at a hyperscaler and manage them centrally. With built-in Day 2 Operations, you can reduce the burden on your DevOps teams and you also benefit from optimized costs through autoscaling and hibernation. Start your cloud-native journey with us today!

Made in Germany

In our BSI-C5 audited open source cloud pluscloud open, your data is stored in Germany in compliance with GDPR.

Cost & Operational Efficiency

Benefit from automated Day 2 operations, autoscaling & hibernation, and pay-as-you-go cloud resources.

Certified Kubernetes

PSKE and plusserver are CNCF certified. You always use the latest K8s versions & compliant clusters.

Features

Self-service

Do a lot of things yourself: Provisioning, up/down scaling, user management, upgrades, OS lifecycle, …

Multi-region

Decide which region you want your cluster to run in when you create it. We currently offer you four regions in Germany.

Autoscaling

Nodes can be automatically scaled when compute resources become insufficient.

Hibernation

By switching off pods and nodes on a timed basis, for example overnight, you can save money.

Multi-Cloud ready

Unified deployments of Kubernetes clusters to different cloud infrastructures are possible via the user interface.

Security by design

The PSKE can be audited and provides regular patching of K8s and OS, encryption of persistent data (encryption at rest), etc.

ReadWriteMany (RWX)

The PSKE supports RWX volumes, which can be used by multiple pods as persistent volumes (separate NFS product required).

Use cases

A foundation for modern software architectures

Today’s applications consist of many individual components that communicate with each other. Kubernetes takes care of many of the tasks that make life easier for developers in such microservice architectures. It detects communication problems between components, organizes their behavior in the event of a failure, or handles authentication processes. When a component needs more or less resources, Kubernetes automatically scales it up or down. In this way, Kubernetes simplifies the management and deployment of microservices.

Migrating applications to the cloud

Legacy applications are typically not completely rewritten before being migrated to the cloud. Instead, lift & shift is a best practice. The application is first moved as a whole to a large Kubernetes pod. Then it is gradually broken down into smaller components (microservices). This is where the benefits of Kubernetes for a microservice architecture, as described above, come into play. In effect, lift & shift is an intermediate step on the path to cloud-native.

Software development as a continuous lifecycle

With Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery/Deployment, organizations can automate their software development processes and improve the quality of the code they deploy. Using a continuous and iterative build, test, and deploy process helps avoid bugs and code errors. By using a Kubernetes-based CI/CD pipeline, organizations can leverage the power of the Kubernetes platform for automation and efficient resource management.

Flexibility without vendor lock-in

Kubernetes in hybrid and multi-cloud environments helps organizations make their applications portable and independent of any single vendor or technology. Kubernetes features such as services, ingress controllers, and volumes enable abstraction from the underlying infrastructure. In addition, Kubernetes’ built-in self-healing and fault tolerance make it a great solution for smoothly scaling in a multi-cloud environment. PSKE is multi-cloud ready out of the box, with the ability to deploy clusters in pluscloud open as well as on AWS (other providers on the way).

Scalability and ease of use

Our customer first moved from a traditional server with a LAMP stack to a Docker Swarm-based solution to provide scalability and redundancy for his shop application. Finally, he moved to Managed Kubernetes with PSKE to stay on the cutting edge of technology and reduce the burden on his IT team.

The foundation for innovative software from the cloud

With its SaaS learning solution easyPLU®, the start-up company Knowledge Hero wants to revolutionize the learning of PLU codes (price look-up codes) in food retail. Because the solution has to support a large number of users learning at the same time and constantly process large amounts of live data, the startup was looking for a powerful infrastructure on which it could develop and operate its software flexibly. Both data security and performance were critical. Knowledge Hero chose Managed Kubernetes from plusserver because it provides an optimal environment for the microservice architecture of its learning software. The company also relies on workload protection to secure its SaaS offering from development through configuration and operations.

KUBERNETES TAKE-OFF SPECIAL SAVE UP TO 4,000€ FREE ONBOARDING WORKSHOP KUBERNETES TAKE OFF SPECIAL SAVE UP TO 4,000€ FREE ONBOARDING WORKSHOP

Pricing

All prices apply to PSKE usage based on plusserver’s cloud infrastructure. Resources in other clouds may differ.

Additional costs for IP addresses and load balancers.

Traffic fair use policy: Usage of the network according to normal behavior is free of charge.

Discounts are possible through commitments. All prices quoted are net plus applicable taxes and duties. Prices are subject to change.

Billing by consumption (monthly)

Save up to €4,000 in two months. Regular prices apply from the third month.

PSKE	0.0900 €~~0.0900 €~~ 0 €	per cluster hour
CPU	~~0.0205 €~~ 0 €	per vCPU/hour
RAM	~~0.0070 €~~ 0 €	vRAM/hour
Storage	~~0.0900 €~~ 0 €	GB/month
Traffic	free	incoming & outgoing
Onboarding (optional)	~~199.00 €~~ 0 €	one-time

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Profit from Kubernetes Take-off Special

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Managed Kubernetes Consulting and Services

Our Managed Kubernetes services include more than just deploying and operating the infrastructure.
We can guide you through your journey into the world of Kubernetes with additional services upon request.

Consulting

We’re here to help you on your Kubernetes journey, whether you are just getting started with Kubernetes or want to optimize your environment. Our experts are happy to help you leverage the strengths of a Kubernetes cluster architecture and develop a sustainable strategy.

Onboarding

Take advantage of our structured onboarding to PSKE for your DevOps team, as needed. We explain all the essential features and best practices and answer your specific questions, for example about planning and setting up a Kubernetes cluster. Afterwards, your team will be able to work successfully and independently with Kubernetes clusters.

Implementation

With the PSKE, which you use ‘as a service’ at plusserver, you have no effort with the implementation of a Kubernetes platform. Create the desired Kubernetes clusters directly in the pluscloud open. We take care of the day 2 operations for you.

Service & Support

With our own 24/7 service and support team, we provide you with personal and competent support if any obstacles should arise during operation.

Try now for free

Test all features of PSKE 30 days without obligation and free of charge.

FAQ

Can the Take-off Special be ordered through the CloudHub?

No, this offer is only available through the website.

Can I take advantage of this offer as an existing customer?

The offer is for new customers only, but existing customers can take advantage of the offer as part of an additional setup/contract.

How does the PSKE work?

With Kubernetes hosting at plusserver, you can deploy your clusters at the touch of a button. It is accessible via a management system (Gardener) that can be operated either via a graphical interface or via API. Using our web interface, you can spin up your clusters in minutes and be up and running. Administration of Kubernetes clusters created with this system is done via API or CLI.

i. What does Managed Kubernetes at plusserver include?

The PSKE is based on SAP Gardener and therefore consists of the following components: the Garden Cluster (contains the central control plane for the Gardener ecosystem), the Seed Cluster (contains the control plane of the Shoot Cluster) and the Shoot Cluster (contains the Worker Nodes). plusserver manages the Garden Cluster, Seed Cluster and Etcd backups for you.

Which Kubernetes versions do you offer?

As a member of the CNCF, we always develop closely on the upstream Kubernetes. We constantly provide you with the latest and the last two Kubernetes versions. Versions that are EOL are marked accordingly and you will be informed when your version is EOL. In addition, you can choose to automatically update the OS of the worker nodes and the Kubernetes patch version at your desired time.

What’s so special about your Kubernetes Hosting?

No vendor lock-in: Our open source cloud, pluscloud open, ensures not only data protection compliance, but also independence from individual cloud providers. With PSKE on pluscloud open, you can easily deploy manifests to Kubernetes clusters running on other OpenStack platforms as needed, giving you flexibility.

Multi-cloud support: Choose which clouds your containers run in and benefit from best-of-breed.

Pay-as-you-go: You only pay for what you use.

Day 2 operations taken care of: As a developer, you want to spend as little time as possible on day 2 operations. With PSKE, you benefit from a noticeable reduction in day 2 operations such as patching and monitoring.

Multi-region: PSKE allows you to implement complex multi-region Kubernetes setups. Decide which region to deploy your cluster in during cluster creation. We currently offer you four regions in Germany.

Which day 1 and day 2 operations are performed by the PSKE?

Day 1 operations:
Deployment of Kubernetes clusters using CNI/CSI/CCM.
Day 2 operations:
Automated patching of worker nodes and updating of Kubernetes patch version
Rolling Kubernetes minor version upgrade at the push of a button
Integrated lifecycle management of Kubernetes versions and worker OS

How can Managed Kubernetes help me transform my IT to cloud-native?

As defined by the CNCF, cloud-native technologies enable organizations to build and run scalable applications in modern, dynamic environments such as public, private and hybrid clouds. Containers, service networks, microservices, immutable infrastructures, and declarative APIs are examples of this approach. With PSKE, you get an open source, vendor-neutral platform that supports the above cloud-native approaches.

Can I choose my operating system?

Yes, you can currently choose between Flatcar (default) and Ubuntu to run the Worker nodes.

Can I see performance or monitoring data for my clusters?

With Plutono (a fork of Grafana), which we provide after cluster creation, you can already get many important cluster insights.

What load balancing option is available?

You can use an Octavia-based load balancer in the PSKE. This is automatically provided for you in conjunction with your service (of the LoadBalancer type).

Is the communication within my cluster encrypted?

The central control plane, the worker node control plane, and the worker nodes communicate with each other in encrypted form. Otherwise, communication within your customer cluster is unencrypted. You have the option to independently install a service mesh, such as Istio, to control communication.

What resources are charged or not charged when I activate Hibernation?

When a cluster is in hibernation state, it is inactive, so CPU and RAM resources are not used and therefore not charged. However, costs are still being generated, such as for load balancers, IPs, or cluster hours.

Does the Gardener dashboard, which is used as the GUI for Managed Kubernetes, provide any accessibility features?

Yes, the dashboard has been tested against the WCAG 2.1 criteria and achieved conformance level AA.

Is there any documentation for this product?

You can find the documentation here.

Some of our satisfied customers

Customer Testimonial

“We use the plusserver Kubernetes engine for our cloud-native application ‘ownCloud Infinite Scale’. The PSKE provides us with sufficient performance and the spontaneous scalability in Kubernetes that we need. Infinite Scale is by nature a storage-intensive solution. Again, this requirement was met with flexibility.”

Klaas Freitag

CTO owncloud

“Our SaaS learning solution easyPLU® has to guarantee simultaneous learning for a large number of users and constantly process large amounts of live data. To achieve optimal performance while maintaining data security, we chose the plusserver Kubernetes Engine including workload protection. When setting up the Kubernetes clusters, plusserver was a competent and present partner. This was very good and helpful for our team!”

Florian Sailer

CEO Knowledge Hero

CNCF-certified Kubernetes Hosting

As a member of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), we provide you with the latest version of Kubernetes and optimal compatibility. The CNCF validates this for each new release by listing it as a Certified Hosted Kubernetes Platform. In addition, we are listed by the CNCF as a trusted Kubernetes provider (Certified Service Provider) because we also support you with our Managed Kubernetes in the form of consulting and training. With our Kubernetes hosting, you also benefit from BSI C5 audited infrastructures for maximum security and compliance, confirmed by further certifications.