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Introduction to Google Kubernetes Engine

Welcome to your comprehensive guide on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). In this lesson, we’ll explore how GKE—a fully managed, production-ready Kubernetes service on Google Cloud—differs from the open-source Kubernetes project. You’ll learn how GKE accelerates cluster provisioning, automates operations, and enhances security for your containerized workloads.
Before you begin, make sure you have:
  • A Google Cloud project with billing enabled
  • The Google Cloud SDK (gcloud) installed
  • Basic familiarity with Kubernetes concepts

What You’ll Learn

  • Key differences between GKE and upstream Kubernetes
  • GKE’s high-level architecture and core components
  • How managed control planes and node pools work together
  • Best practices for deploying and scaling applications on GKE
At the end of this section, you’ll test your understanding with a short quiz on GKE cluster concepts.