CDM Cloud & Containerization Flashcards

What is the primary role of a container orchestration platform like Kubernetes in a DevOps environment?

Answer: To automate the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications across a cluster

Kubernetes automates scheduling, self-healing, scaling, and service discovery for containerized workloads across multiple nodes, enabling reliable production operations at scale.

In Docker, what is the difference between a Docker image and a Docker container?

Answer: An image is a read-only blueprint; a container is a running instance of that image

A Docker image is an immutable, layered filesystem snapshot used as a template, while a container is a live, isolated process created from that image.

Which Kubernetes object is responsible for ensuring that a specified number of identical pod replicas are running at all times?

Answer: ReplicaSet

A ReplicaSet continuously monitors the cluster and creates or deletes pods to maintain the desired replica count specified in its configuration.

What is a multi-stage Docker build and what is its main benefit?

Answer: A Dockerfile technique that uses intermediate build stages to produce a smaller final image by excluding build-time dependencies

Multi-stage builds allow you to compile and test code in a full build environment, then copy only the artifacts into a minimal runtime image, drastically reducing image size and attack surface.

What does 'immutable infrastructure' mean in the context of cloud and containerization?

Answer: Servers and containers that are never modified after deployment — changes are made by replacing, not patching

Immutable infrastructure replaces running instances with new ones built from a known-good image rather than patching in place, ensuring consistency and eliminating configuration drift.

Which cloud service model gives a DevOps team the most control over the operating system and runtime environment?

Answer: IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

IaaS provides virtual machines where the team manages the OS, middleware, and runtime, offering the greatest control compared to PaaS or SaaS abstractions.