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Introduction

This is a technical overview of open-source tools by Krestomatio to deploy Moodle Learning Management Systems (LMS) on Kubernetes. These tools automate the provisioning, configuration, and management of the Moodle stack on a Kubernetes cluster.

Why Kubernetes?​

It offers a compelling strategy for application management due to several key benefits, particularly in multi-cloud and on-premises environments:

  • Multi-Cloud Agnostic: Kubernetes is designed to be cloud-agnostic, meaning it can run on various cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) or even on-premises infrastructure. This allows you to deploy your Moodle instances consistently across different environments, providing flexibility and avoiding vendor lock-in.
  • Standardized Automation: Kubernetes operators extend the capabilities of Kubernetes by packaging application-specific logic for deployment, configuration, and lifecycle management. This approach streamlines automation, reduces manual errors, and ensures consistent deployments across environments.
  • Declarative Management: Both Kubernetes and operators leverage a declarative approach to configuration. You define the desired state of your application (Moodle in this case) and the underlying platform handles achieving that state. This simplifies management and makes it easier to track and rollback changes.
  • Scalability and Elasticity: Kubernetes excels at scaling applications based on demand. With operators managing Moodle deployments, you can automatically scale your Moodle instances up or down to handle fluctuating workloads, optimizing resource utilization.

Key Components​

The strategy involves multiple open-source components to achieve a fully operational Moodle deployment on Kubernetes, including:

  • LMS Moodle Operator: This is a meta-operator acting as the central component, automating the deployment and management of Moodle instances. It manages the entire Moodle stack through the respective Operators.
  • Moodle Operator: This operator specifically focuses on deploying and managing Moodle itself. It utilizes the Ansible Operator SDK for provisioning and configuration of the Moodle web layer components like php-fpm and nginx.
  • Postgres Operator: Manages deployment and configuration of PostgreSQL databases for Moodle data storage.
  • Keydb Operator: Manages deployment and configuration of Keydb, a high-performance in-memory data store.
  • NFS Operator: Deployment and configuration of shared storage using NFS Ganesha
  • Ansible Collection: krestomatio.k8s: Provides automation and deployment logic for Kubernetes operators built with Ansible.
  • Container Image Builder: Designed for automating the process of building container images from scratch.

Where to Start?​

The LMS Moodle Operator has everything to get you started. This operator offers a declarative approach for provisioning and configuring Moodle along with its dependencies, ensuring consistent and repeatable deployments in a cloud-native environment. It was designed as a meta-operator with an Operator of Operators architecture, serving as the central hub for managing the entire LMS Moodle stack, including:

  • Moodle Web Layer: This includes the core Moodle application along with its dependencies like PHP and Nginx.
  • Database Layer: The LMS Moodle Operator integrates and manages a Postgres database for persistent storage of your Moodle data.
  • Caching Layer: The operator can also handle the deployment and configuration of a Keydb database specifically for caching purposes, potentially improving Moodle's performance.
  • Shared Storage Layer: The operator can manage additional resources like NFS Ganesha storage, providing a shared storage solution for Moodle data persistence.

Krestomatio Managed Service for Moodle​

This documentation enables self-managed deployments using open-source tools. However, Krestomatio recognizes that some organizations may prefer a managed service approach. For those seeking a streamlined experience, Krestomatio offers a comprehensive managed service for Moodle LMS

Krestomatio's managed service abstracts away the underlying infrastructure and operational complexities of hosting Moodle. This allows development and system administration teams to focus on core competencies like application development, content creation, and user management. Krestomatio's service automatically provisions, configures, optimizes, and maintains your Moodle environment, ensuring a production-grade LMS platform that is scalable, secure, and up-to-date.