This project provides a comprehensive, flexible templating approach to creating Azure Kubernetes Service clusters and related Azure services.
It unifies guidance provided by the [AKS Secure Baseline](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/reference-architectures/containers/aks/secure-baseline-aks), [Cloud Adoption Framework](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/cloud-adoption-framework/) and [Enterprise-Scale](https://github.com/Azure/Enterprise-Scale) by providing tangible artifacts to deploy Azure resources from CLI or CI/CD systems.
The AKS Bicep Accelerator is part of the official [Enterprise Scale for AKS](https://github.com/Azure/enterprise-scale-for-aks) architectural approach. To read more about this project and how the AKS Bicep Accelerator fits with Enterprise Scale and the AKS Secure Baseline, look [here](referencearchs.md).
To help guide your AKS configuration, use the [Deployment Helper](https://azure.github.io/Aks-Construction/), which will provide a set of parameters and scripts to make deployment simple. The deployment helper provides links to the official Microsoft documentation to help provide additional context for each feature.
IaC (Infrastructure as Code) code files have been modularised into their component areas. [Main.bicep](bicep/main.bicep) references them and they are expected to be present in the same directory. The Deployment Helper leverages an Arm json compiled version of all the bicep files.
A number of [GitHub actions](https://github.com/Azure/Aks-Construction/tree/main/.github/workflows) are used in the repo that run on push/pr/schedules. These can be copied into your own repo and customised for your CI/CD pipeline. A robust deployment pipeline is essential when coordinating the deployment of multiple Azure services that work together, additionally there is configuration that cannot be set in the template and that needs to be automated (and tested) consistently.
For a more in depth look at the GitHub Actions used in this project, which steps are performed and the different CI practices they demonstrate, please refer to [this page](GhActions.md).
If this is the first time you're using the project, follow these steps.
1. Use the [Deployment Helper](https://azure.github.io/Aks-Construction/) to guide your AKS configuration.
1. Run the commands in the *Provision Environment* tab to create your AKS Environment in your Azure subscription
1. Run the commands in the *Post Configuration* tab to complete your implementation
1. [Connect to your AKS Cluster](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/kubernetes-walkthrough#connect-to-the-cluster), and deploy your applications as you see fit.
### Mature
If you're looking to use this project as part of your deployments, follow these steps.
1. (optionally) Author an Application Main bicep to represent *your application* (see [here](https://github.com/Azure/Aks-Construction/blob/main/samples/SampleAppMain.bicep) for an example)
1. In your CI/CD system, either using one of the GitHub Action Workflow files as a base, or by coding it yourself - initiate a deployment of the bicep code, using your parameter file
1. In your CI/CD system, deploy your application(s) to the AKS cluster
The guiding principal we have with this project is to focus on the the *downstream use* of the project (see [releases](https://github.com/Azure/Aks-Construction/releases)). As such, these are our specific practices.
1. Deploy all components through a single, modular, itempotent bicep template Converge on a single bicep template, which can easily be consumed as a module
2. Provide best-practice defaults, then use parameters for different environment deployments
3. Minimise "manual" steps for ease of automation
4. Maintain quality through validation & CI/CD pipelines that also serve as working samples/docs
5. Focus on AKS and supporting services, linking to other repos to solve; Demo apps / Developer workstations / Jumpboxes / CI Build Agents / Certificate Authorities
