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DCS

PRACTICAL GUIDE

Should your project use a VM or K3s?

Start with the way you want to run your application. Both choices need maintenance, resource capacity and a plan for your data; Kubernetes is useful when its workflow fits the project.

Choose a VM for an operating-system workflow

If your installation notes start with logging into a server, installing packages and configuring a process manager, a VM is a direct fit. It gives you room to explore the operating system and run software that is not packaged as a container.

For a single small application, a VM can also be easier to understand. You will still need to update the OS, configure the application, control access and keep copies of important files. A browser console helps you reach the guest; it does not perform these tasks for you.

Choose K3s for a Kubernetes workflow

If you already have container images, Kubernetes manifests or a Helm chart, K3s lets you work in that model. You can learn how Deployments manage pods and how Services provide stable application endpoints.

Kubernetes adds concepts to learn and resources to budget for. You must understand the difference between a container restarting and its data surviving. Multiple nodes on shared infrastructure do not by themselves provide protection against a physical host failure.

Plan connectivity before choosing

Decide which services should remain private and which HTTP application, if any, should be public. A private Kubernetes API needs both network connectivity and valid credentials. Publishing an application does not require making that API public.

For either resource type, HTTP publishing is a deliberate console action. Check the beta’s protocol limitations before choosing software that needs public TCP ports or WebSocket connections.

A short decision checklist

  1. Write down the application’s installation method: system packages, containers, or a Helm chart.
  2. Estimate CPU, memory and disk needs, including databases and any cluster overhead. Compare the complete plan shown in the console.
  3. Decide who maintains updates and application access, and where independent copies of important data will live.
  4. Start with a noncritical experiment. Do not migrate essential services on the assumption that beta capacity or availability is guaranteed.