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World A4: Containers in the Cloud

EKS: managed Kubernetes

You will learn: what EKS runs for you, how kubectl reaches it, and when ECS is the simpler pick.

Checked with AWS 2026-11 on 1 Nov 2026

The problem

You ran a whole food court in Kubernetes. The manager’s office was the hard part: the API server, etcd, upgrades. Who could run that office for you?

Watch

EKS: Elastic Kubernetes Service: AWS runs the Kubernetes control plane for you. Each cluster has an hourly fee. runs the control plane: The manager's office: the parts that decide what runs where. for you. Some jobs stay yours. Sort them.

Drag a card into a box. Or tap the card, then tap the box.

      Watch

      One AWS CLI command points kubectl at your EKS cluster. Here is the official example. Tap the line that shows what changed.

      Tap the line that shows what changed.

      0 of 1 found

      Predict

      You make an EKS cluster for practice. It runs no pods for a week. Does it cost money?

      Try it

      ECS or EKS for each shop? Both run containers. Sort the reasons.

      Drag a card into a box. Or tap the card, then tap the box.

          Check

          Which managers cost money while nothing runs?

          One at a time: does it keep costing money while it sits idle?

          1 of 4

          EKS cluster with no apps

          On the bill (costs even when idle)

          Nothing here yet.

          Free shelf (free when idle)

          Nothing here yet.

          You did it!

          You can now explain what EKS runs for you, and pick between ECS and EKS.

          Go deeper (optional)

          EKS supports each Kubernetes version for a while. Older versions move to extended support, which costs more. Check the EKS versions page before you plan upgrades. Real rep: the K worlds use kind on your laptop. That is free practice.