Kubernetes Documentation
- Kubernetes Documentation
This article provides a technical overview of configuring a server environment for running [Kubernetes](https://kubernetes.io/). It is intended for newcomers to the MediaWiki site and assumes a basic understanding of server administration and networking concepts. We'll cover hardware requirements, operating system considerations, and essential software prerequisites. This guide focuses on a single-node Kubernetes cluster for initial setup and learning, but the principles apply to multi-node clusters as well.
== Understanding Kubernetes
[Kubernetes](https://kubernetes.io/) is an open-source container orchestration system for automating application deployment, scaling, and management. It groups containers into logical units called *Pods*, which are the smallest deployable units. Kubernetes manages these Pods across a cluster of machines. This allows for high availability, scalability, and efficient resource utilization. Understanding [containerization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Containerization) with tools like [Docker](https://www.docker.com/) is crucial before diving into Kubernetes.
== Hardware Requirements
The minimum hardware requirements for running Kubernetes depend on the applications you plan to deploy. However, a reasonable starting point for a single-node cluster is detailed below. These specifications are a baseline; production environments will require significantly more resources.
| Component | Minimum Requirement | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 2 Cores | 4+ Cores |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 GB | 4+ GB |
| Storage | 20 GB | 50+ GB (SSD recommended) |
Consider using a virtual machine (VM) provided by [VirtualBox](https://www.virtualbox.org/) or [VMware](https://www.vmware.com/) for initial testing. Cloud providers like [Amazon Web Services (AWS)](https://aws.amazon.com/), [Google Cloud Platform (GCP)](https://cloud.google.com/), and [Microsoft Azure](https://azure.microsoft.com/) offer pre-configured Kubernetes instances as well. If using a VM, ensure nested virtualization is enabled if you intend to run Kubernetes within another VM.
== Operating System Considerations
Kubernetes supports several Linux distributions. Common choices include:
- [Ubuntu](https://ubuntu.com/)
- [CentOS](https://www.centos.org/)
- [Debian](https://www.debian.org/)
- [Fedora](https://getfedora.org/)
For simplicity, we recommend using Ubuntu Server LTS (Long Term Support) for beginners. Ensure your operating system is up-to-date before proceeding with Kubernetes installation. Use the package manager appropriate for your chosen distribution (e.g., `apt` for Ubuntu/Debian, `yum` for CentOS/Fedora).
== Software Prerequisites
Several software packages are required before installing Kubernetes. These include container runtime, networking tools, and package managers.
| Software | Purpose | Installation Command (Ubuntu) |
|---|---|---|
| Docker | Container runtime | `apt update && apt install -y docker.io` |
| containerd | Alternative container runtime | `apt update && apt install -y containerd` |
| kubelet | Kubernetes node agent | `apt update && apt install -y kubelet` |
| kubectl | Kubernetes command-line tool | `apt update && apt install -y kubectl` |
| kubeadm | Kubernetes cluster bootstrap tool | `apt update && apt install -y kubeadm` |
After installation, ensure that the Docker or containerd service is running. You can check the status using `systemctl status docker` or `systemctl status containerd`. Also, verify that `kubectl` is configured correctly by running `kubectl version`. You may need to configure the `KUBECONFIG` environment variable.
== Networking Configuration
Kubernetes requires a Container Network Interface (CNI) plugin for networking between Pods. Several options are available, including:
- [Calico](https://www.projectcalico.org/)
- [Flannel](https://github.com/flannel-io/flannel)
- [Weave Net](https://www.weave.works/oss/net/)
For a simple single-node cluster, Flannel is often the easiest to set up. Installation instructions vary depending on the chosen CNI plugin. Ensure that your firewall allows communication between Pods on the necessary ports.
== Kubernetes Cluster Initialization
Once the prerequisites are met, you can initialize the Kubernetes cluster using `kubeadm init`. This command downloads the necessary Kubernetes components and configures the node as the control plane.
```bash sudo kubeadm init --pod-network-cidr=10.244.0.0/16 ```
The `--pod-network-cidr` flag specifies the IP address range for Pods. After initialization, `kubeadm` will output a command to configure `kubectl` to connect to the cluster. Execute this command to access your cluster.
== Deploying a Sample Application
To verify that your Kubernetes cluster is functioning correctly, deploy a simple application, such as [nginx](https://nginx.org/).
| Step | Command |
|---|---|
| Create a deployment file (e.g., `nginx-deployment.yaml`) | `apiVersion: apps/v1\nkind: Deployment\nmetadata:\n name: nginx-deployment\nspec:\n replicas: 1\n selector:\n matchLabels:\n app: nginx\n template:\n metadata:\n labels:\n app: nginx\n spec:\n containers:\n - name: nginx\n image: nginx:latest\n ports:\n - containerPort: 80` |
| Apply the deployment | `kubectl apply -f nginx-deployment.yaml` |
| Expose the deployment as a service | `kubectl expose deployment nginx-deployment --port=80 --type=NodePort` |
| Get the service URL | `kubectl get service nginx-deployment` |
Access the application by navigating to the NodePort URL in your web browser. This confirms that Kubernetes is successfully deploying and managing your application.
== Further Resources
- [Kubernetes Documentation](https://kubernetes.io/docs/)
- [Docker Documentation](https://docs.docker.com/)
- [kubectl Cheat Sheet](https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubectl/cheatsheet/)
- [Understanding Pods](https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/workloads/pods/)
- [Understanding Services](https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/services-networking/)
Container Orchestration Docker Kubernetes Networking Kubernetes Architecture kubectl kubeadm Containerization Pods (Kubernetes) Deployments (Kubernetes) Services (Kubernetes) Namespaces (Kubernetes) Helm (Package Manager) Minikube K9s (Kubernetes CLI) Server Administration Virtualization
Intel-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Core i7-6700K/7700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 512 GB | CPU Benchmark: 8046 |
| Core i7-8700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2x1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 13124 |
| Core i9-9900K Server | 128 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 49969 |
| Core i9-13900 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i9-13900 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Workstation | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 NVMe SSD, NVIDIA RTX 4000 |
AMD-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 3600 Server | 64 GB RAM, 2x480 GB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 17849 |
| Ryzen 7 7700 Server | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2x1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 35224 |
| Ryzen 9 5950X Server | 128 GB RAM, 2x4 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 46045 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X Server | 128 GB DDR5 ECC, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 63561 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/1TB) | 128 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/2TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/4TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/1TB) | 256 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/4TB) | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 9454P Server | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe |
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⚠️ *Note: All benchmark scores are approximate and may vary based on configuration. Server availability subject to stock.* ⚠️