DevOps
1. Storage Area Network (SAN):
● Definition: SAN is a high-speed network that provides access to consolidated
block-level data storage.
Block-Level Data Storage:
● Definition:
Block-level data storage is a method of storing data where data is divided into
fixed-sized blocks, and each block is assigned a unique identifier. The storage system
manages these blocks independently.
Key Features:
1. Raw Data Storage:
○ Data is stored as blocks without any file structure.
○ The operating system or application organizes and manages the data on these
blocks.
2. Flexibility:
○ Supports any file system format (e.g., NTFS, ext4, FAT32).
○ Applications can access and manage data at the block level.
3. Independent Access:
○ Each block can be accessed directly using its identifier, making it suitable for
random access.
4. High Performance:
○ Ideal for high-speed read/write operations, especially in databases and
virtualized environments.
How It Works:
● Storage systems (like SANs) provide block storage to servers over a network.
● Servers interact with this storage as if it were a local disk.
● Applications or operating systems handle the file system structure and data organization.
Use Cases:
1. Databases:
○ Databases require fast, random read/write access to data, which is best achieved
with block storage.
2. Virtual Machines:
○ Block storage can create virtual disks for virtualized environments like VMware or
Hyper-V.
3. Transaction-Heavy Workloads:
○ Applications like ERP systems benefit from block-level access for real-time data
processing.
Comparison with File and Object Storage:
Feature Block Storage File Storage Object Storage
Data Unit Blocks Files Objects (data + metadata)
Performance High (random Moderate (hierarchical High (optimized for large
access) access) data)
Use Case Databases, VMs File sharing, directories Cloud storage, backups
Examples of Block Storage Solutions:
● SAN (Storage Area Network)
● iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface)
● AWS EBS (Elastic Block Store)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
● Purpose: Primarily used to enhance storage devices' performance, reliability, and
accessibility in enterprise environments.
● Key Features:
○ High Performance: Uses Fibre Channel or iSCSI (Internet Small Computer
System Interface) for fast data transfer.
○ Centralized Storage: All data is stored in a centralized location for easier
management.
○ Scalability: Allows seamless addition of storage devices.
○ Data Security: Provides robust access controls and data encryption.
● Components:
○ Host Bus Adapters (HBAs): Connect servers to the SAN.
○ Switches: Manage data flow within the SAN.
○ Storage Devices: Disk arrays or tape libraries for data storage.
● Advantages:
○ Improved data availability.
○ Centralized backups and disaster recovery.
○ High-speed performance compared to traditional storage.
2. Virtualization:
● Definition: A technology that allows creating virtual versions of physical hardware,
operating systems, or networks.
● Types:
○ Server Virtualization: Dividing a physical server into multiple virtual servers.
○ Desktop Virtualization: Running multiple desktop environments on a single
machine.
○ Network Virtualization: Combining multiple networks into one or dividing a
single network into multiple.
○ Storage Virtualization: Abstracting physical storage into a single virtual pool.
● Benefits:
○ Efficient resource utilization.
○ Cost reduction by minimizing hardware needs.
○ Simplified IT management.
○ Enhanced disaster recovery and testing environments.
● Tools: VMware, Hyper-V, VirtualBox.
3. Docker:
● Definition: An open-source platform for developing, shipping, and running applications
in lightweight, portable containers.
● Key Concepts:
○ Container: A standalone executable package containing an application and its
dependencies.
○ Dockerfile: A script used to build Docker images. (blueprints or templates that
encapsulate everything needed to run a specific software application)
○ Docker Hub: A repository for Docker images.
● Advantages:
○ Fast deployment and startup.
○ Resource efficiency compared to virtual machines.
○ Consistent development and production environments.
● Use Cases:
○ Microservices development.
○ CI/CD pipelines.
○ Cross-platform development.
4. Kubernetes:
● Definition: An open-source system for automating deployment, scaling, and
management of containerized applications.
● Key Components:
○ Pods: Smallest unit that holds containers.
○ Nodes: Machines (virtual/physical) where containers run.
○ Cluster: A group of nodes managed by Kubernetes.
○ Master Node: Manages the cluster and its operations.
● Features:
○ Load Balancing: Efficient distribution of network traffic.
○ Self-Healing: Restarts failed containers automatically.
○ Scaling: Adds or removes containers based on load.
● Advantages:
○ Simplifies container management.
○ Improves resource utilization.
○ Enhances application availability and resilience.
5. Introduction to Virtual Private Cloud (VPC):
● Definition: A virtual network isolated within a public cloud environment to provide a
private, secure area for resources.
● Key Features:
○ Isolation: Ensures resources are private using subnets.
○ Customizable: Choose IP ranges, route tables, and gateways.
○ Connectivity: Integrates with on-premises networks via VPN or direct
connection.
● Advantages:
○ High security within a public cloud.
○ Customizable and scalable.
○ Cost-efficient compared to private clouds.
● Example Providers: AWS VPC, Google Cloud VPC.
6. Private Cloud Setup:
● Definition: A cloud environment exclusively dedicated to a single organization, offering
greater control and security.
● Steps to Set Up:
○ Choose a private cloud platform (e.g., OpenStack, VMware vSphere).
○ Set up hardware (servers, storage, and networking).
○ Install private cloud software.
○ Configure security policies and access controls.
○ Monitor and maintain the cloud environment.
● Benefits:
○ Enhanced data privacy and security.
○ Better control over resources.
○ Tailored infrastructure to specific needs.
● Challenges:
○ High initial setup cost.
○ Requires skilled staff for management.
7. Automation Using Cloud API:
● Definition: The use of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to automate cloud
tasks such as provisioning, configuration, and scaling.
● How It Works:
○ APIs act as a communication interface between the user and the cloud service.
○ Common APIs include REST and SOAP.
● Examples of Tasks:
○ Automatically scaling resources based on demand.
○ Setting up virtual machines or containers.
○ Automating backups and monitoring.
● Benefits:
○ Reduces manual effort and human errors.
○ Increases operational efficiency.
○ Improves deployment speed.
● Popular Tools:
○ AWS CLI/SDK.
○ Azure REST API.
○ Google Cloud API.
1. Version Control System (VCS):
● Definition: A tool that tracks changes in files or code, enabling collaboration, version
management, and rollback capabilities.
● Types:
○ Centralized VCS: Single server stores all versions (e.g., SVN).
○ Distributed VCS: Every user has a complete copy of the repository (e.g., Git).
● Key Features:
○ Commit: Save changes to the repository.
○ Branching: Create independent versions of code for parallel work.
○ Merging: Combine changes from different branches.
○ Rollback: Revert to previous versions in case of errors.
● Advantages:
○ Simplifies collaboration among teams.
○ Maintains a history of changes for audits or debugging.
○ Facilitates continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD).
● Popular Tools: Git, Mercurial, Apache Subversion.
2. Containerization with Docker:
(See Docker explanation from above for general understanding)
Key Advantages in Containerization:
● Isolation: Each container operates independently of others.
● Portability: Containers run consistently across different environments.
● Resource Efficiency: Containers share the host OS kernel, reducing overhead.
● How to Use Docker for Containerization:
1. Write a Dockerfile defining application dependencies.
2. Build a Docker image using docker build.
3. Run the image as a container using docker run.
4. Manage containers with Docker commands like docker ps, docker stop, etc.
3. GitHub:
● Definition: A web-based platform built on Git that provides version control and
collaboration features.
● Key Features:
○ Repositories (Repos): Store code and track changes.
○ Pull Requests: Allow team members to propose changes and request reviews.
○ Actions: Automate workflows, such as CI/CD.
○ GitHub Pages: Host static websites directly from a repository.
○ Collaboration: Supports team discussions and issue tracking.
● Advantages:
○ Simplifies team collaboration.
○ Integrates with DevOps tools for CI/CD workflows.
○ Provides backup and access to code from anywhere.
4. AWS (Amazon Web Services):
● Definition: A cloud platform offering on-demand computing resources and services.
● Key Services:
○ Compute: Amazon EC2 (virtual servers), Lambda (serverless computing).
○ Storage: S3 (object storage), EBS (block storage).
○ Database: RDS (relational databases), DynamoDB (NoSQL).
○ Networking: VPC (Virtual Private Cloud), Route 53 (DNS).
○ Other Services: AI/ML, analytics, IoT, and DevOps tools.
● Advantages:
○ Scalability: Adjust resources based on demand.
○ Cost-Efficiency: Pay-as-you-go pricing.
○ High Availability: Data centers worldwide ensure reliability.
● Use Cases:
○ Hosting websites or applications.
○ Big data analytics.
○ Backup and disaster recovery.
5. Microservice Deployment:
● Definition: Microservices are small, independent services designed to perform specific
functions within an application. Deployment focuses on running and managing these
services.
● Key Principles:
○ Independence: Each service can be developed and deployed independently.
○ Scalability: Services can scale individually based on demand.
○ Communication: Uses APIs (REST or gRPC) to communicate.
● Deployment Methods:
○ Containers: Deploy services in Docker containers for isolation.
○ Orchestration: Use Kubernetes or Docker Swarm to manage service clusters.
○ Serverless: Deploy functions as a service using AWS Lambda or Azure
Functions.
● Benefits:
○ Faster updates and deployments.
○ Fault isolation – issues in one service don’t affect others.
○ Easier to adopt new technologies for specific services.
6. Terraform:
● Definition: An Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool that allows defining, deploying, and
managing infrastructure in a declarative language.
● Key Features:
○ Declarative Syntax: Write infrastructure configurations in .tf files.
○ Multi-Cloud: Supports multiple cloud providers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
○ State Management: Tracks the state of infrastructure in .tfstate files.
○ Reusability: Allows creating reusable modules for repetitive configurations.
● How It Works:
○ Write the infrastructure code.
○ Use terraform init to initialize the working directory.
○ Apply the code with terraform apply to deploy resources.
○ Modify and update infrastructure using terraform plan and terraform
apply.
● Benefits:
○ Automates infrastructure provisioning.
○ Ensures consistency across environments.
○ Facilitates collaboration using version control for infrastructure code.
7. Ansible:
● Definition: An open-source automation tool for configuration management, application
deployment, and task automation.
● Key Features:
○ Agentless: Does not require software installation on managed nodes.
○ Playbooks: YAML files containing automation instructions.
○ Modules: Predefined tasks, such as installing packages or restarting services.
○ Idempotency: Ensures repeated tasks have the same outcome.
● How It Works:
○ Define tasks in a playbook.
○ Use the Ansible command-line tool to execute the playbook on managed nodes.
○ Ansible communicates with nodes over SSH.
● Benefits:
○ Simplifies complex IT tasks.
○ Saves time and reduces human error.
○ Supports hybrid cloud environments.
● Use Cases:
○ Automating server setup.
○ Rolling out application updates.
○ Orchestrating containerized environments.