Lab Intro: Kubernetes Engine: Qwik Start

Introduction

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide to getting started with Kubernetes Engine using Qwiklabs. It covers the essential steps needed to set up a Kubernetes cluster and deploy a simple application. Understanding Kubernetes is vital for managing containerized applications, making this tutorial relevant for developers and system administrators looking to enhance their skills in cloud computing and container orchestration.

Step 1: Set Up Your Google Cloud Environment

• Create a Google Cloud account if you don’t have one.
• Access the Google Cloud Console.
• Enable billing for your account to utilize Google Cloud services.
• Navigate to the “Kubernetes Engine” section in the console.

Step 2: Create a New Kubernetes Cluster

• In the Kubernetes Engine menu, select “Clusters.”
• Click on the “Create Cluster” button.
• Choose the type of cluster you want to create (Standard or Autopilot).
• Configure your cluster settings:
  • Set the cluster name.
  • Choose the location (select either a regional or zonal cluster).
  • Adjust the node settings (machine type, number of nodes).
• Review your settings and click “Create” to provision the cluster. This process may take several minutes.

Step 3: Install and Configure Google Cloud SDK

• Download the Google Cloud SDK from the official website.
• Install the SDK following the provided instructions for your operating system.
• Initialize the SDK by running the following command in your terminal:

  gcloud init
  

• Follow the prompts to log in and set your project settings.

Step 4: Connect to Your Kubernetes Cluster

• Use the following command to configure kubectl to use your newly created cluster:

  gcloud container clusters get-credentials [CLUSTER_NAME] --zone [ZONE]
  

  Replace [CLUSTER_NAME] with your cluster's name and [ZONE] with the zone you selected.
• Verify the connection by running:

  kubectl get nodes
  

Step 5: Deploy a Sample Application

• Create a deployment using the following command:

  kubectl create deployment [DEPLOYMENT_NAME] --image=[IMAGE_NAME]
  

  Replace [DEPLOYMENT_NAME] with your desired name and [IMAGE_NAME] with a valid container image (e.g., nginx).
• Expose the deployment to create a service:

  kubectl expose deployment [DEPLOYMENT_NAME] --type=LoadBalancer --port 80
  

• Check if the service is running:

  kubectl get services
  

Step 6: Access Your Application

• After the service is created, the external IP address will be displayed.
• Open a web browser and enter the external IP address to access the deployed application.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to set up a Kubernetes cluster using Google Cloud, deploy a sample application, and access it through a web browser. Key steps included configuring your Google Cloud environment, creating and managing Kubernetes resources, and deploying applications. As a next step, consider exploring more advanced features of Kubernetes, such as scaling applications and managing persistent storage.