Description: The Service CIDR, or Classless Inter-Domain Routing, is a block of IP addresses used in cloud-native environments, including Kubernetes, to assign IP addresses to services within a cluster. Unlike traditional IP addresses that are organized into classes, CIDR allows for a more flexible and efficient allocation of IP addresses, which is crucial in microservices environments where services can scale and change dynamically. This CIDR block defines a range of IP addresses that can be utilized for services, facilitating communication between them and with the outside world. The CIDR notation includes an IP address followed by a slash and a number indicating the prefix length, which determines how many IP addresses are available in that block. For example, a CIDR block of 10.96.0.0/12 provides a wide range of IP addresses, allowing multiple services to run simultaneously without address conflicts. Proper configuration of the Service CIDR is essential to ensure that services are accessible and that the network operates optimally, avoiding connectivity issues and facilitating resource management within the environment.
