Kubernetes

In the world of high-performance Kubernetes deployments, network overhead can become a significant bottleneck. Traditional overlay networks like VXLAN or IPIP add encapsulation layers that consume CPU cycles, introduce latency, and reduce overall throughput. For organizations running latency-sensitive applications or high-bandwidth workloads, every microsecond and every bit of throughput matters. This is where zero-encapsulation networking with Calico BGP and Top-of-Rack (ToR) switch integration becomes a game-changer. Calico’s BGP mode eliminates overlay network overhead entirely by leveraging the Border Gateway Protocol to announce pod and node IP addresses directly to your network infrastructure.

The Dell Container Storage Interface (CSI) Driver for Unity XT enables Kubernetes clusters to provision and manage storage volumes from Dell Unity XT arrays. This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough for deploying CSI-Unity on a bare-metal Kubernetes cluster running Ubuntu 24.04, including multipath configuration and troubleshooting strategies. Prerequisites Kubernetes cluster (version 1.27+) running on Ubuntu 24.04 Dell Unity XT storage array with: Management IP address accessible from Kubernetes nodes iSCSI or Fibre Channel connectivity configured Storage pools created and available Administrative access to Kubernetes cluster and Unity XT array Helm 3.