Explain what is a Master Node and what component does it consist of?

A Master Node in Kubernetes, also known as the control plane, is responsible for managing the Kubernetes cluster. It handles the orchestration of the cluster, including scheduling, maintaining cluster state, and managing the lifecycle of applications running on the cluster. The Master Node ensures that the desired state of the cluster is maintained and that the applications are running as expected.

Components of a Master Node

The Master Node consists of several key components, each serving a specific function:

1. kube-apiserver:

   • Acts as the front end of the Kubernetes control plane.
   • Exposes the Kubernetes API, which is used by external clients and internal components to interact with the cluster.
   • Handles authentication, authorization, and API requests, ensuring that only authorized users and applications can access the API[1][2][5][7].

2. etcd:

   • A distributed key-value store that stores all the configuration data and state of the cluster.
   • Ensures high availability and consistency of the data, making it a critical component for the cluster's operation[1][5][7].

3. kube-scheduler:

   • Responsible for scheduling pods to nodes based on resource requirements, constraints, and policies.
   • Considers factors such as resource availability, data locality, and workload interference when making scheduling decisions[1][2][5][7].

4. kube-controller-manager:

   • Runs various controller processes that regulate the state of the cluster.
   • Includes controllers like the Node Controller, Job Controller, EndpointSlice Controller, and ServiceAccount Controller, each managing different aspects of the cluster's state and ensuring that the desired state is maintained[1][2][5][7].

5. cloud-controller-manager (optional):

   • I...