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June 21, 2024 · 4 min read

Common Kubernetes interview questions and answers

Kubernetes developers are in high demand. 

Companies often need to package code with all its dependencies into standard software units. Why? So the software can run quickly and reliably in multiple environments. This is called containerization. 

For these sorts of jobs, Kubernetes developers are perfect. They help companies manage their containers using Google’s container orchestration solution Kubernetes (aka K8s).

However, hiring Kubernetes developers is difficult, as so many companies are trying to manage their containers using Kubernetes. Making the wrong hire could cost your company thousands of dollars.

So, to hire the best Kubernetes developers, you must craft a compelling job description. Then, you need to test the skills and knowledge of the developers who apply to see whether they can meet your demands.

These common Kubernetes interview questions can help you learn more about each candidate’s coding background and test these skills. You’ll get to know your developers thoroughly, and you can dig into their applications.

But what questions should you ask?

Aside from the standard questions like “What have you accomplished?” and “What are your strengths?”, you’ll want to assess your candidate’s knowledge of Kubernetes. 

And in this blog, you’ll find common Kubernetes interview questions and answers to help you do this.

Let’s go!

Common Kubernetes interview questions and answers

Q: What is Kubernetes? And what does it do?

Kubernetes is an open-source container management tool that automates the deployment, scaling, and descaling of containers. It was developed by Google based on their experience of running containerized workloads for over 15 years. 

Kubernetes has become the standard tool for managing containerized apps and has a large and active community contributing to its development.

Q: How are Kubernetes and Docker linked?

Docker builds containers, which then communicate with each other via Kubernetes. Kubernetes supports multiple container runtimes, including Docker, CRI-O, and others. 

In other words, Kubernetes is like an operating system, and Docker containers are like apps installed on that operating system. Kubernetes and Docker work together to deploy and manage apps in a distributed environment.

Q: What are some key features of Kubernetes?

Some of the features of Kubernetes are:

Automated scheduling: Kubernetes automatically schedules containers to run on the available resources in the cluster.

Self-healing capabilities: Kubernetes automatically replaces failed containers and reschedules them on healthy nodes in the cluster.

Automated rollouts and rollback: Kubernetes is responsible for automating the deployment process, letting users roll out new versions of their apps easily and roll them back in case of any issues.

Horizontal scaling and load balancing: Kubernetes automatically scales and distributes traffic across multiple instances of a containerized application.

Configuration management: Kubernetes lets users define and manage the app configuration settings separately from the application code.

Service discovery & networking: Kubernetes provides a built-in service discovery mechanism to locate and communicate with other services in the cluster.

Security & compliance: Kubernetes has lots of security features, including access control to ensure the security of the cluster and compliance with organizational policies.

Q: What is Minikube?

Minikube is a lightweight implementation of Kubernetes, which creates a VM on your local machine. It’s a tool that sets the Kubernetes environment on your laptop or PC, and it addresses a different type of use case than most other distributions, such as Rancher, EKS, and OpenShift. It creates a lightweight, self-contained environment with all the necessary components for running Kubernetes, such as the API server, etcd, and kubelet. This lets developers experiment with Kubernetes without the need for a full-scale production environment.

Q: What is Kubernetes controller manager?

The Kubernetes controller manager embeds controllers and is responsible for creating a namespace. Controllers are control loops that watch the state of your cluster, then make or request changes where needed. Every controller tries to move the current cluster state to the desired state.

Q: What is Ingress network?

An Ingress network is a set of protocols that acts as an entry point for external traffic into the Kubernetes cluster and manages access to services within the cluster. An Ingress network is traffic whose source lies in the public internet or an external network and is sent to the destined node in the private network. It’s used to manage user access for the services within the Kubernetes cluster.

Q: What is the role of the Ingress network?

The Ingress network manages external access to services in the cluster. Specifically, it loads balancing of traffic, the termination of SSL/TLS, and virtual hosting for HTTP and HTTPS routes exposed from outside the cluster to services within it. The Ingress network helps

streamline communication between the apps and external clients by providing a single entry point for incoming traffic.

Meet available, vetted talent today!

So these common Kubernetes interview questions should help you hire a Kubernetes developer or two for your company.

But would you like help with this hiring process?

Whether you’re looking for temporary help or your next full-time developer, let Gun.io help you find the right person for the job. We’ve helped hundreds of companies – from Fortune 500s to start ups – hire world-class talent.
Contact us today!

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