Node Autoscaling with Karpenter — Part 1

In the previous chapters, you already explored node autoscaling concepts and some of the tooling available to manage node groups. Now, you’ll take a closer look at how Karpenter works behind the scenes and why it has become a popular choice to improve resource utilization and reduce operational overhead. Karpenter leverages real-time scheduling simulations and direct integration with cloud provider APIs. This allows it to launch right-sized nodes exactly when they are needed—and remove them just as efficiently when they’re not.

Throughout this chapter, you’ll be introduced to the foundational components that make Karpenter work. You’ll learn how to define a NodeClass, configure NodePools to shape provisioning behavior, and understand the role of NodeClaims in representing and tracking newly launched capacity. You’ll also explore Karpenter’s bin-packing strategy, scheduling logic, and...