Earlier this year, AWS added support for Kubernetes v1.23 for their Amazon EKS offering. One significant change with this version is with theContainer Storage Interface (CSI) for working with AWS Elastic Block Store (Amazon EBS) volumes. Specifically, the updates to the CSI driver requirecustomers to take action to ensure a seamless upgrade process for EKS clusters from previous versions. The CSI was developed in Kubernetes to replacethe in-tree driver. With the CSI, there is now a simplified plug-in model that makes it easier for storage providers todecouple their releases from the Kubernetes release cycle. In a nutshell, this transition is good for Amazon EKS users because theydo not have to upgrade Kubernetes versions for their EKS clusters just to get some additional functionality or bug fixes for EBS storage via thein-tree driver.
Understanding Impact
A large number of users of Amazon EKS utilize Amazon EBS volumes. They need to make sure that they install the Amazon EBS CSI driver before upgradingtheir EKS clusters to v1.23.
How does Rafay help?
For our customers that use the Rafay Kubernetes Operations Platform for "Lifecycle Management" of Amazon EKS clusters, the platform providespeace of mind and simplicity with EKS Upgrades. For in-place upgrades to Kubernetes v1.23, they will experience a"seamless" and "zero impact" upgrade. We have implemented business logic where we automatically deploy the "EBS CSI driver" when the user initiates anupgrade of their managed EKS clusters to Kubernetes v1.23. Here is a screenshot showing the EBS CSI Kubernetes resources automatically deployed to anEKS Cluster that was upgraded from v1.22 to v1.23.
Learn More?
If you are interested in learning more about how the Rafay Platform can help you with "Kubernetes Operations" for Amazon EKS, explorehere.
