Request CPU, Memory, and GPU
Set resource limits so pods schedule correctly.
Request CPU, Memory, and GPU is a free MLOps Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the MLOps Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
The Scheduler Needs Numbers
Kubernetes places Pods onto nodes that have room. To decide, the scheduler needs you to declare how much CPU and memory each model Pod will use.
Requests vs Limits
A request is the amount guaranteed and used for scheduling. A limit is the ceiling a container may not cross. You almost always set both.
CPU Is Measured in Millicores
CPU is counted in millicores: 1000m equals one full core. Asking for 500m means your model Pod is promised half of one CPU core.
resources:
requests:
cpu: "500m"
memory: "512Mi"
limits:
cpu: "1"
memory: "1Gi"Memory Uses Mi and Gi
Memory is set in mebibytes or gibibytes, like 512Mi or 2Gi. Size it to your model plus its runtime, with a little headroom on top.
Too Low and the Pod Stays Pending
If no node can satisfy your requests, the Pod sits in Pending forever. Big GPU models often wait simply because nothing free is large enough.
OOMKilled When You Exceed Memory
Cross your memory limit and the kernel kills the container with an OOMKilled status. Right-sizing limits keeps your model server from being reaped mid-request. 💥
CPU Limits Throttle, Not Kill
Unlike memory, breaching a CPU limit does not kill the Pod. The container is just throttled, so latency climbs instead of the process dying.
GPUs Are Requested as Limits
GPUs are an extended resource. You ask for them only under limits with nvidia.com/gpu, and the value must be a whole number, never a fraction.
resources:
limits:
nvidia.com/gpu: 1A GPU Is Not Time-Shared
One GPU request grabs the entire device for that Pod by default. Two Pods cannot casually share a card without special MIG or time-slicing setup.
The Device Plugin Makes GPUs Visible
Nodes only advertise GPUs after the NVIDIA device plugin runs on them. No plugin, no nvidia.com/gpu resource, and your GPU Pod stays Pending.
Right-Sizing Saves Money
Over-requesting wastes whole nodes; under-requesting risks evictions. Watching real usage and tuning requests is how you keep serving both stable and cheap.
Quick Check
What happens when a container exceeds its memory limit?
Recap
Declare requests and limits for CPU and memory, ask for whole GPUs under limits, and right-size from real usage to keep model Pods healthy. ✅
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Request CPU, Memory, and GPU” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Request CPU, Memory, and GPU” is free to read here on the web, and the MLOps Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the MLOps Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Request CPU, Memory, and GPU”?
Set resource limits so pods schedule correctly. You practise MLOps Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start MLOps Academy?
No prior experience is required. MLOps Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Request CPU, Memory, and GPU” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this MLOps Academy lesson?
Yes. Every MLOps Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Pods, Deployments, and Services for Models
- Request CPU, Memory, and GPU
- Configure with ConfigMaps and Secrets
- Run Training as a Kubernetes Job