Backstage and Kubernetes is a relationship made in DevOps heaven. Backstage is an open-source platform by Spotify that can transform the way you manage your software development cycle. Kubernetes, on the other hand, is an orchestration system. This is also an open-source container. You can use it to boost and automate the software deployment, scaling, and overall management.
Kubernetes Backstage offers numerous useful benefits to developers. To enjoy these benefits, they need to be deployed backstage on Kubernetes. However, this deployment cannot be initiated immediately. You need to consider different things before deploying Backstage on Kubernetes. In this post, we tell you about the major things you need to consider in this regard.
Key Things to Consider to Deploy Backstage on Kubernetes
From installation and configuration to the availability of plugins, different things need to be considered to deploy Backstage on Kubernetes. The following are some major considerations in this regard. Let’s go through them without any ado.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites are the first thing you need to consider in this regard. You cannot start the deployment without understanding Kubernetes Backstage. Therefore, you first need to get basic ideas about the Backstage platform. Then gather information about Kubernetes and try to understand the functionality of these two. After that, you must understand how these two platforms can be used together to assist you in the software development process.
Deployment Method
The next thing you need to consider is the selection of the right deployment method. You need to choose the right method to ensure the installation of different Kubernetes plugins takes place smoothly. The most common deployment methods are listed below.
- You can opt for Backstage operators. These operators use Helm charts to deploy this platform on Kubernetes.
- The second method you can try is to process this deployment by yourself. You have to follow a series of steps for this. It involves the installation of different Kubernetes plugins. This method requires some extra effort but offers control.
- The most convenient deployment method is to leverage the power of third-party operators. They will use Pre-configured deployments for Backstage.
Customization
The next thing to consider in this regard is atomization. You must understand how to customize the Backstage during the deployment. It is essential to understand customization as it enables you to use Backstage according to your organization’s requirements. When customizing the Backstage, try to integrate authentication and authorization tools with it. This will be helpful in managing access across systems.
Security
When deploying Backstage on Kubernetes, pay special attention to the security of sensitive information. Considering security is necessary to ensure that your system keeps working smoothly without any interruptions. When it comes to security, you first need to restrict access to the Backstage. You can do so by implementing different network policies. Along with that, you need to keep sensitive information and APIs secured. This can be done by using Kubernetes Secrets plugins.
Monitoring
You need to consider monitoring for troubleshooting different problems and enhancing the functionality of Backstage. In monitoring, you have to pay special attention to the key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics. Try to improve the metrics that are directly associated with the performance of the platform. Along with monitoring, you should consider the configuration of a centralized logging system. It enables you to smoothly troubleshoot issues using different tools.
Availability
When you are trying to deploy Backstage on Kubernetes, the chances of failure are always there. These failures can impact the availability of the platform. Therefore, the next thing you need to consider is the availability of Backstage even during failures. You can leverage different Kubernetes features to maintain high availability. These features ensure that your Backstage always has the required number of pods.
Updates and Rollbacks
Kubernetes Backstage keeps on evolving to introduce new features and improve the platform. You need to consider these updates so that you can leverage new features. However, not all the updates go well with your software development system. Sometimes, you may have to face some issues after updating the platform. In such cases, consider rollback to the previous version to eliminate errors.
We have told you about the key things you need to consider when deploying Backstage on Kubernetes. Make sure to keep them in mind for successful deployment and get the desired results.
