Should a database be placed outside the Kubernetes container orchestration system?

Hosting a database outside of Kubernetes is a common practice, and the decision depends on requirements for reliability, performance, and management:

• Advantages of hosting outside Kubernetes:

  • More stable and specialized infrastructure for databases.
  • Ability to use managed database services (e.g., AWS RDS, Google Cloud SQL).
  • Simplified backup and recovery.
  • Isolation from container orchestration issues.

• Disadvantages:

  • Additional complexity in network interaction between applications in Kubernetes and the external database.
  • Possible delays due to network calls.

• When to host in Kubernetes:

  • For testing or small projects.
  • If tight integration with applications and quick deployment are needed.

Overall, for production systems, it is often recommended to use external, specialized database solutions rather than hosting them inside a Kubernetes cluster.