Didn’t find the answer you were looking for?
How does auto-scaling work in a Kubernetes cluster on AWS?
Asked on Dec 03, 2025
Answer
Auto-scaling in a Kubernetes cluster on AWS involves dynamically adjusting the number of running pods or nodes based on current demand, using the Kubernetes Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA) and the AWS Cluster Autoscaler. These tools ensure efficient resource utilization and maintain application performance by scaling workloads and infrastructure automatically.
Example Concept: In a Kubernetes cluster on AWS, the Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA) adjusts the number of pod replicas based on CPU utilization or other custom metrics. Simultaneously, the AWS Cluster Autoscaler manages the scaling of EC2 instances in an Auto Scaling Group to ensure there are enough resources to run the scheduled pods. This combination allows for seamless scaling of both application workloads and underlying infrastructure.
Additional Comment:
- The HPA uses metrics from the Kubernetes Metrics Server to determine when to scale pods.
- The AWS Cluster Autoscaler requires IAM permissions to modify the Auto Scaling Groups.
- Ensure that your EC2 instances are part of an Auto Scaling Group for node scaling to function.
- Consider configuring custom metrics for more granular control over scaling decisions.
Recommended Links:
