Getting started with Minikube

Category : Kubernetes | Sub Category : Kubernetes With Java | By Prasad Bonam Last updated: 2023-11-21 10:56:25 Viewed : 222

Minikube is a tool that allows you to run a single-node Kubernetes cluster on your local machine. It is a great way to get started with Kubernetes without the need for a full-scale cluster. Here is a step-by-step guide to getting started with Minikube:

Prerequisites:

1. Install Virtualization Software:

   • Make sure you have a virtualization software installed, such as VirtualBox, KVM, Hyper-V, or Docker (Docker Desktop includes Kubernetes support).

2. Install kubectl:

   • kubectl is the command-line tool for interacting with a Kubernetes cluster.
   • Follow the instructions in the official documentation to install kubectl on your local machine.

Installing Minikube:

On Linux:

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curl -LO https://storage.googleapis.com/minikube/releases/latest/minikube_latest_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i minikube_latest_amd64.deb

On macOS:

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brew install minikube

On Windows:

Download the Minikube installer for Windows and add the executable to your system PATH.

Starting Minikube:

1. Open a terminal and run the following command to start Minikube:

   bashCopy code
   minikube start
   

   This command downloads the Minikube ISO, creates a virtual machine, and starts the Kubernetes cluster.

2. To verify that Minikube is running, use the following command:

   bashCopy code
   minikube status
   

   You should see a message indicating that the cluster and kubectl are running.

Interacting with Minikube:

1. To view the Kubernetes dashboard in your default web browser:

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   minikube dashboard
   

2. To check the status of the Minikube cluster:

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   minikube status
   

3. To stop the Minikube cluster:

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   minikube stop
   

Deploying a Sample Application:

1. Create a simple deployment YAML file (nginx-deployment.yaml):

   yamlCopy code
   apiVersion: apps/v1
   kind: Deployment
   metadata:
     name: nginx-deployment
   spec:
     replicas: 3
     selector:
       matchLabels:
         app: nginx
     template:
       metadata:
         labels:
           app: nginx
       spec:
         containers:
         - name: nginx
           image: nginx:latest
           ports:
           - containerPort: 80
   

2. Apply the deployment to the Minikube cluster:

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   kubectl apply -f nginx-deployment.yaml
   

3. Expose the deployment as a service:

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   kubectl expose deployment nginx-deployment --type=LoadBalancer --port=80
   

4. Retrieve the service URL:

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   minikube service nginx-deployment --url
   

   Open the provided URL in your web browser to access the running NGINX application.

Cleaning Up:

When you are done experimenting with Minikube, you can stop or delete the cluster:

• To stop the Minikube cluster:

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  minikube stop
  

• To delete the Minikube cluster:

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  minikube delete
  

This guide provides a basic introduction to Minikube and deploying a simple application. As you become more comfortable, you can explore additional features, configurations, and use Minikube to experiment with various aspects of Kubernetes locally.