Multi-cluster Object for Cross-Cluster Resource Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Kubernetes systems lack an efficient method for cross-cluster resource discovery and access control, particularly in multi-cluster environments, leading to redundancy and security vulnerabilities in full mesh architectures and limitations in hybrid cloud support and rack-awareness.
Innovation Solution
A method for cross-cluster resource discovery is implemented by creating a multi-cluster object that associates service resources across multiple node clusters, allowing access to endpoints through a common store, enabling efficient resource sharing and network policy enforcement across clusters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If full mesh architecture is used to enable multi-cluster network communication, then all member clusters can access each other's resources, but system complexity and security vulnerabilities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary component that mediates communication between clusters. Instead of direct peer-to-peer connections in a full mesh, the gateway handles service discovery and resource access requests, reducing the complexity of direct connections while maintaining cross-cluster accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the multi-cluster environment into distinct components: local clusters, a common store for shared resources, and a gateway for coordinated communication. This segmentation allows each component to have well-defined responsibilities, reducing overall system complexity while enabling cross-cluster access.
2Loss of information
If full mesh architecture is used for multi-cluster communication, then resource discoverability improves, but security vulnerabilities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway acts as a security intermediary that authenticates and authorizes access requests between clusters. It mediates the discovery and access processes, enabling resource findability while implementing security controls that prevent unauthorized access, thus reducing security vulnerabilities inherent in full mesh architectures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the common store and gateway provide information about available resources and access policies to requesting clusters. This controlled information flow enables resource discoverability while maintaining security through policy enforcement based on feedback from authorization systems.
3Reliability
If multiple Kubernetes clusters are operated in multiple regions, then application redundancy is achieved, but cross-cluster access and control become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal interface through the gateway and common store that works across multiple clusters and regions. The gateway provides unified service discovery and access control functionality that is consistent across all clusters, making cross-cluster operations as easy as single-cluster operations while maintaining redundancy benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway serves as a universal intermediary that handles access control and communication protocols for all clusters regardless of their location. This standardized intermediary layer simplifies cross-cluster access control by providing a consistent interface and policy enforcement mechanism across all regions.
4Productivity
If rack-aware service discovery is implemented, then endpoint selection optimization is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring rack awareness and location information in the common store and gateway. Endpoint selection optimizations are prepared in advance through pre-established routing rules and affinity configurations, allowing efficient rack-aware selection without adding significant runtime complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides an approach for cross-cluster service resource discovery. A method includes obtaining, at a common store in a first node cluster in a cluster set information about a service resource of a second node cluster. The method includes creating a multi-cluster object associated with the service resource, wherein the multi-cluster object provides an association between the service resource and one or more endpoints on the second node cluster. The method includes storing the multi-cluster object in the common store, wherein the multi-cluster object is accessible in the common store by any of the plurality of node clusters in the cluster set to access the service resource on any of the one or more endpoints on the second node cluster.