Getting Started with Kubernetes: Installation and Setup

Setting up Kubernetes can vary based on your operating system and whether you prefer to go local or leverage the cloud. In this guide, we will explore the best ways to install Kubernetes on your local machine as well as through popular cloud services. Buckle up as we dive into the world of container orchestration!

Prerequisites

Before we delve into the installation process, let’s ensure that you have the necessary prerequisites:

Operating System: Linux, macOS, or Windows.
Virtualization: Enable hardware virtualization on your machine (usually found in the BIOS/UEFI settings).
Package Manager: Familiarity with a command-line interface and basic knowledge of package managers.
kubectl: The command-line tool for interacting with Kubernetes. We will cover the installation steps for this as well.

Step 1: Installing kubectl

Let’s begin by installing kubectl, the command-line tool that allows you to run commands against Kubernetes clusters.

For macOS:

brew install kubectl

For Linux:

curl -LO "https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/$(curl -s https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/stable.txt)/bin/linux/$(uname -m)/kubectl"
chmod +x ./kubectl
sudo mv ./kubectl /usr/local/bin/kubectl

For Windows:

You can utilize choco:

choco install kubernetes-cli

Step 2: Setting Up a Local Kubernetes Cluster

There are several options for setting up a Kubernetes cluster locally. We'll focus on two popular tools: Minikube and Docker Desktop.

Minikube

Minikube lets you run Kubernetes locally and is a great way to start learning.

Installing Minikube:

For macOS:
```
brew install minikube
```

For Linux:

curl -LO https://storage.googleapis.com/minikube/releases/latest/minikube-linux-amd64
sudo install minikube-linux-amd64 /usr/local/bin/minikube

For Windows: Download the installer from Minikube releases.

Starting Minikube: Once Minikube is installed, start it with:
```
minikube start
```
Verify the Installation: Check the status to ensure everything is running correctly:
```
minikube status
```

Docker Desktop

If you're already using Docker Desktop, it has built-in support for Kubernetes.

Installing Docker Desktop: Download and install Docker Desktop from the Docker website.
Enable Kubernetes:
- Open Docker Desktop.
- Go to Settings (gear icon) > Kubernetes.
- Check the "Enable Kubernetes" option and click "Apply & Restart".
Verify the Installation: You can run the following command to confirm that Kubernetes is up and running:
```
kubectl cluster-info
```

Step 3: Deploying Your First Application

Once your local cluster is up and running, let’s deploy a simple application to see Kubernetes in action.

Create a Deployment: Here we’ll create a basic nginx deployment:
```
kubectl create deployment nginx --image=nginx
```
Expose the Deployment: To make the application accessible, you need to expose it:
```
kubectl expose deployment nginx --port=80 --type=NodePort
```
Access the Application: Get the URL to access your deployment:
```
minikube service nginx --url
```
Test your Application: Open the URL in your browser and you should see the nginx welcome page!

Step 4: Setting Up Kubernetes on Cloud Services

If you're looking to set up Kubernetes in the cloud, there are several managed services available. We'll focus on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) and Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS).

Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE)

Create a Google Cloud Account: Start with creating an account and setting up your project on the Google Cloud Console.
Install gcloud SDK: Follow the installation instructions.
Authenticate:
```
gcloud auth login
```

Set the Project:

gcloud config set project your-project-id

Create a GKE Cluster:

gcloud container clusters create my-cluster --num-nodes=1

Get Authentication Credentials:

gcloud container clusters get-credentials my-cluster

Verify the Installation: Use kubectl to check the nodes:
```
kubectl get nodes
```

Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS)

Create an AWS Account: Start by creating an account at AWS.
Install AWS CLI if you haven’t already: Follow the installation guide.
Install eksctl: This is a simple CLI tool for creating clusters:
```
brew tap weaveworks/tap
brew install weaveworks/tap/eksctl
```

Create an EKS Cluster:

eksctl create cluster --name my-cluster --region us-west-2 --nodes 1

Verify the Installation: After the cluster is ready, check the nodes:
```
kubectl get nodes
```

Step 5: Clean Up

Once you’re done experimenting, remember to clean up the resources to avoid unnecessary charges.

For Minikube:
```
minikube stop
minikube delete
```

For GKE:

gcloud container clusters delete my-cluster

For EKS:

eksctl delete cluster --name my-cluster

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully set up a Kubernetes environment on both local machines and cloud services. Whether you choose Minikube or a managed service like GKE or EKS, you’re now equipped with the basics to start exploring the vast capabilities of Kubernetes.

As you move forward, consider diving deeper into topics like service discovery, scaling applications, persistent storage, and monitoring. The Kubernetes ecosystem has a wealth of resources to help you grow your skills and ensure your applications are running seamlessly. Happy Kuberneting!

DevOps - Kubernetes