VMware floats new standard to make sure apps don’t break in hybrid K8s environments

VMware has introduced a new initiative to establish a standard for ensuring applications function correctly in hybrid Kubernetes environments. The Workload Conformance Working Group within the Kubernetes community aims to create a shared standard for how workloads operate on Kubernetes. Currently, cluster operators manually assess each application before routine maintenance or a Kubernetes upgrade, leading to redundant efforts.

The proposed solution is a common specification equipped with repeatable tests, providing both application maintainers and cluster operators with a consistent baseline. VMware's VP of product marketing, Prashanth Shenoy, explains that this standard is necessary as applications designed for public clouds may not perform optimally in hybrid environments.

The working group has identified several key areas for their standard, including security, resilience, resource usage, networking, storage, API usage, and observability. However, they have not yet finalized specific requirements or testing methods. Initially, the group agrees on the necessity of objective tests for their specifications.

VMware has also moved its Virtual Machine (VM) API to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation's (CNCF) Sandbox. This API allows Kubernetes users to create VMs compatible with other hypervisors, including VMware's ESXi. This move aligns with the company's strategy of making VMs a first-class citizen of Kubernetes, an approach VMware believes will gain support from application vendors aiming for cross-platform compatibility.