Cloud Native applications
# Cloud Native Applications: A Server Configuration Overview
This article details the server configuration considerations for deploying and running cloud native applications on a MediaWiki platform. Cloud native applications are designed to take full advantage of the cloud computing model, emphasizing scalability, resilience, and rapid deployment. This guide is intended for system administrators and developers new to deploying such applications within a MediaWiki environment.
What are Cloud Native Applications?
Cloud native applications are built and deployed using a set of technologies and practices that allow them to thrive in dynamic, distributed environments like the cloud. Key characteristics include:
- **Microservices:** Applications are broken down into small, independently deployable services.
- **Containers:** Applications and their dependencies are packaged into containers (like Docker) for portability.
- **Dynamic Orchestration:** Container orchestration platforms (like Kubernetes) automate deployment, scaling, and management.
- **DevOps Practices:** Automation and collaboration between development and operations teams.
- **Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD):** Frequent and reliable software releases.
- **Operating System:** Linux distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian) are the most common choice.
- **Container Runtime:** Docker is the industry standard.
- **Container Orchestration:** Kubernetes is the leading platform for managing containers. Alternatives include Docker Swarm and Apache Mesos.
- **Service Mesh:** Istio or Linkerd can manage service-to-service communication.
- **Monitoring and Logging:** Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) are popular tools.
- **CI/CD Pipeline:** Tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, and CircleCI automate the build, test, and deployment process.
- **Database Access:** Ensure the cloud native applications can securely access the MediaWiki database (typically MySQL or PostgreSQL).
- **API Integration:** Expose APIs from your cloud native applications that MediaWiki can consume. Use RESTful APIs for interoperability.
- **Authentication:** Integrate authentication mechanisms between the cloud native applications and MediaWiki. Consider using OAuth or OpenID Connect.
- **Resource Allocation:** Carefully allocate resources to avoid contention between MediaWiki and the cloud native applications.
- **Monitoring:** Monitor both MediaWiki and the cloud native applications to ensure optimal performance and identify potential issues. Utilize a centralized monitoring system.
- **Container Security:** Scan container images for vulnerabilities.
- **Network Security:** Implement strict network policies to control traffic flow.
- **Authentication and Authorization:** Enforce strong authentication and authorization mechanisms.
- **Data Encryption:** Encrypt data at rest and in transit.
- **Regular Security Audits:** Conduct regular security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities.
- Cloud Computing
- Docker Documentation
- Kubernetes Documentation
- Microservices Architecture
- DevOps Practices
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Server Infrastructure Requirements
To support cloud native applications, the underlying server infrastructure needs to be robust and flexible. We will explore the key components below.
Compute Resources
The foundation of any cloud native deployment is sufficient compute power. We generally recommend a cluster of servers, rather than a single large instance, to provide high availability and scalability.
| Server Role | Minimum Specifications | Recommended Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Application Servers | 4 vCPUs, 8 GB RAM, 50 GB SSD | 8 vCPUs, 16 GB RAM, 100 GB SSD |
| Database Servers | 8 vCPUs, 16 GB RAM, 100 GB SSD | 16 vCPUs, 32 GB RAM, 200 GB SSD (RAID 1) |
| Orchestration Node (e.g., Kubernetes Master) | 4 vCPUs, 8 GB RAM, 50 GB SSD | 8 vCPUs, 16 GB RAM, 100 GB SSD |
These are base recommendations and will vary based on application load and complexity. Consider using virtual machines or bare-metal servers depending on cost and performance needs.
Networking
Reliable and high-bandwidth networking is crucial for communication between microservices.
| Network Component | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Internal Network | 10 Gbps Ethernet |
| External Network | Sufficient bandwidth to handle expected traffic. Consider a Content Delivery Network (CDN) for static assets. |
| Load Balancing | Hardware or software load balancer to distribute traffic across application servers. HAProxy and NGINX are common choices. |
Proper network segmentation and security groups are also essential.
Storage
Cloud native applications often require persistent storage for data.
| Storage Type | Use Case | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| SSD | Application code, frequently accessed data | High performance, relatively expensive |
| Network Attached Storage (NAS) | Shared files, backups | Scalability, cost-effective |
| Object Storage (e.g., Amazon S3) | Static assets, large files | Highly scalable, durable, cost-effective |
Consider using a distributed file system for increased resilience.
Software Stack Considerations
The software stack must be designed to support the principles of cloud native architecture.
Integrating with MediaWiki
Deploying cloud native applications alongside MediaWiki requires careful planning. Consider the following:
Security Best Practices
Security is paramount when deploying cloud native applications.
Further Resources
Intel-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Core i7-6700K/7700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 512 GB | CPU Benchmark: 8046 |
| Core i7-8700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2x1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 13124 |
| Core i9-9900K Server | 128 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 49969 |
| Core i9-13900 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i9-13900 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Workstation | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 NVMe SSD, NVIDIA RTX 4000 |
AMD-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 3600 Server | 64 GB RAM, 2x480 GB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 17849 |
| Ryzen 7 7700 Server | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2x1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 35224 |
| Ryzen 9 5950X Server | 128 GB RAM, 2x4 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 46045 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X Server | 128 GB DDR5 ECC, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 63561 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/1TB) | 128 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/2TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/4TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/1TB) | 256 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/4TB) | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 9454P Server | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe |
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⚠️ *Note: All benchmark scores are approximate and may vary based on configuration. Server availability subject to stock.* ⚠️