Virtual Livefire Solutions: Kubernetes Networking with NSX-T

Livefire Solutions, Global Strategic Programs

At-a-Glance
Virtual Livefire aims to bring the same classroom experience of an on-site Livefire class to online attendees. It consists of individual deep-dive sessions taken from current Livefire curriculum about advanced topics and integrations. Each session consists of a lecture and a custom Livefire hands-on lab designed to simulate a real-world customer use case and implementation
TARGET AUDIENCE
  • Network and Data Center Architects
  • Network Virtualization Consultants
DELIVERY METHOD
  • Instructor-led online
  • 30% lecture, 70% hands on lab
COURSE DURATION
Two hours of instructor-led lecture followed by approximately 5 hours of hands-on lab time.
PREREQUISITES
Highly Recommended:
  • VCP-NV Certification
  • VMware NSX-T: Install, Configure, Manage [2.4] Class
  • Containers and Kubernetes fundamentals.
AVAILABILITY
This session is being offered by invitation only to VMware SI/SO, MSC and Ignite partners, along with internal customer-facing employees. Roadmap topics may be discussed; therefore, a signed NDA is required.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
  • Have a full-size laptop.
  • Secondary device is recommended for reading and lab materials, which are only delivered electronically.
  • Please ensure you have the US Keyboard mapping added to your devices.
Session Overview
The Kubernetes Networking with NSX-T session is a full-day event that covers every aspect of the integration between NSX-T and Kubernetes, including design options, implementation strategies, and the added value compared to other container networking solutions. This integration underpins the networking stack of the more holistic solution of VMware Enterprise PKS, and it is usually one of its less understood components.
Lecture Topics
The lecture is approximately 2 hours and covers the following topics:
  • Review of Kubernetes architecture, components, and concepts
  • Overview of alternative container networking solutions for Kubernetes such as Calico and Flannel
  • Details of the NSX-T Container Plug-in (NCP) architecture and implementation
  • NSX-T implementation of Kubernetes objects such as namespace, load balancer, ingress, and network policy
  • Operational benefits of NSX-T compared to open-source alternatives
  • NCP 2.5 enhancements including Policy API consumption, T1 shared model, and installation workflow
Lab Topics
The lab is approximately 5 hours and covers the following tasks:
  • NSX-T configuration preparation to support Kubernetes
  • From scratch installation of Kubernetes via Kubeadm
  • Kubernetes integration with local Harbor registry
  • NCP deployment leveraging the new 2.5 install enhancements
  • Application deployments to the new Kubernetes Cluster to validate the NCP functionalities and features