How to build highly available Kubernetes applications with Amazon EKS Auto Mode

How to build highly available Kubernetes applications with Amazon EKS Auto Mode Solution overview Test scenarios Pod fail scenario Node fail scenario AZ fail scenario Cluster version upgrade scenario Karpenter node disruption Conclusion About the authors As organizations scale their Kubernetes deployments, many find themselves facing critical operational challenges. Consider how DevOps teams spend countless hours planning and executing cluster upgrades, managing add-ons, and making sure that security patches are applied consistently. There is a clear need for reliable, automated cluster lifecycle management with teams struggling to maintain consistent cluster configurations and security postures across environments. Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS) Auto Mode addresses these challenges by automating control plane updates, streamlining add-on management, and making sure that clusters maintain current best practices. This post explores the capabilities of EKS Auto Mode in depth, subjecting it to a series of challenging scenarios such as failure simulations, node recycling, and cluster upgrades—all while maintaining uninterrupted service traffic. This guide delves into strategies for achieving high availability in the face of the dynamic nature of EKS Auto Mode by using a range of Kubernetes features to maximize uptime. The goal is to provide a comprehensive guide that shows how to harness the potential of EKS Auto Mode, thus making sure that your services remain robust and resilient in the demanding environments. Although there is a wealth of comprehensive literature on the broader subject of reliability in container ecosystems, this post specifically narrows its scope to the nuanced considerations of operating reliable workloads within EKS Auto Mode environments. Before delving into the specifics of Amazon EKS and its Auto Mode feature , you must understand key Kubernetes concepts that are instrumental in maximizing service uptime during different cluster events. These foundational elements form the bedrock of resilient application architectures in Kubernetes environments, regardless of the specific cloud provider or management mode. Mastering these concepts enables you to use EKS Auto Mode effectively and build highly available systems that withstand various operational challenges. In the rest of this section we explore these essential Kubernetes features that play a pivotal role in maintaining service continuity during both planned and unplanned events.