Replicated's Embedded Cluster vs. Existing Cluster: Choosing What's Right for Your End-Customer
Blog post from Replicated
Replicated's Deep Dive Series explores the decision-making process for deploying Kubernetes-based applications in either an existing customer-managed cluster or using Replicated's Embedded Cluster. This architectural choice can affect onboarding, supportability, maintenance, and scalability. The session, featuring insights from Chuck D'Antonio, Amber Alston, and Alex Parker, emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, as the decision depends on factors such as customer maturity, DevOps capabilities, and security requirements. Misconceptions about the Embedded Cluster's reliability are addressed, highlighting its robustness and suitability for both proof-of-concept and production environments. Replicated's Embedded Cluster, built on K0s, offers ease of deployment and maintenance but may not suit customers with sophisticated existing Kubernetes environments, such as those in finance or healthcare. The ultimate goal is a customer-centric deployment strategy that accommodates both models, allowing vendors to meet diverse customer needs while reducing friction throughout the customer lifecycle.