Zero-Scaling Kubernetes Pods with KEDA: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Introduction

Efficient resource management is a cornerstone of Kubernetes. One way to enhance this is by scaling Pods down to zero when they’re not needed, a feature not natively available in Kubernetes. In this guide, we’ll explore how KEDA (Kubernetes Event-Driven Autoscaler) allows you to achieve zero-scaling seamlessly, saving costs and optimizing workloads.

What is KEDA?

KEDA is an open-source event-driven autoscaler for Kubernetes. Unlike the default Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA), which primarily works with CPU and memory metrics, KEDA extends scaling capabilities by integrating with external metrics or event sources. This makes it a versatile tool for managing diverse workloads.

Why HPA Alone Isn’t Enough

Kubernetes’ HPA doesn’t natively support scaling Pods to zero replicas. While Kubernetes introduced the HPAScaleToZero feature gate in version 1.29, it remains in alpha and is not production-ready.

With KEDA, zero-scaling is not only possible but also straightforward, offering a practical solution for environments where workloads are intermittent or predictable.

Core Concept: ScaledObject