Series

Kubernetes and Cloud Networking

Running Kubernetes before managed services existed, and the modern networking stack: Gateway API, service mesh and API gateways.

5 parts · 15 min total reading
  1. 1
    InfrastructureKubernetesEC2AWS

    Kubernetes on EC2 Before EKS: What We Got Wrong (And Right)

    We've run Kubernetes on bare EC2 instances since 2017, and Amazon's managed EKS is on its way. The things we've learned self-managing Kubernetes are things managed-service users will take for granted: hard-won lessons worth sharing.

    10 Apr 2018 · 2 min read
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  2. 2
    InfrastructureKubernetesEC2AWS

    Common Kubernetes Pitfalls on EC2 (And How to Avoid Them)

    After two years of running Kubernetes on EC2, here are the failure modes that caught us out: OOMKilled pods, node pressure, IMDS conflicts, and more. Save yourself the pain.

    15 Sept 2019 · 2 min read
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  3. 3
    InfrastructureIstioservice-meshKubernetes

    Istio Ambient Mode: A Service Mesh Without the Sidecar Tax

    For years the honest answer to 'should we run Istio?' was 'probably not, unless you have a platform team'. Ambient mode changes the cost side of that equation. Here's how it works, what it gives you, and when I'd now consider a mesh.

    20 Jan 2026 · 3 min read
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  4. 4
    InfrastructureKubernetesGateway APIIngress

    Ingress-NGINX Is Retired: A Practical Migration to the Kubernetes Gateway API

    The community ingress-nginx controller reached end of maintenance in March 2026. If it's still routing your production traffic, you're running an unpatched edge proxy. Here's how the Gateway API differs from Ingress, and a pragmatic path to migrate.

    24 Mar 2026 · 3 min read
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  5. 5
    ArchitectureKubernetesIngressIstio

    Ingress, Istio Service Mesh and API Gateway Explained: What Each Does and When to Use It

    Ingress controllers, service meshes and API gateways all sit in the path of your traffic, and their feature lists overlap enough to confuse anyone. This is a plain-English knowledge article on what each one is for, how they fit together, and when you actually need them.

    8 Sept 2026 · 5 min read
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