Getting started with Kubernetes (Part -1 ): Setting up k8s cluster with Minikube

I will assume you already know about Kubernetes, you have some knowledge with Docker and you want to utilize your Docker knowledge to get started with Kubernetes. It’s kind of hard to get to see the big picture with Kubernetes, but once you there it will be worth it. This post is not going to make you a pro, but at least you will be getting started with Kubernetes on your local machine. Sit tight and let’s get started.

Things you will need before getting started with Hands-on:

1. A Working Kubernetes Cluster ( We are going to use Minikube )
2. Kubectl (Command line tool for controlling Kubernetes clusters)
3. Virtualbox
4. Docker

Install Kubectl on Ubuntu

Run the following command to install kubectl to your Ubuntu.

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y apt-transport-https gnupg2
curl -s https://packages.cloud.google.com/apt/doc/apt-key.gpg | sudo apt-key add -
echo "deb https://apt.kubernetes.io/ kubernetes-xenial main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubernetes.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y kubectl

If you are on Linux and using Homebrew package manager, kubectl is available for installation.

brew install kubectl 
kubectl version --client

Install kubectl binary with curl on macOS

1. Download the latest release:

• curl -LO "https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/$(curl -s https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/stable.txt)/bin/darwin/amd64/kubectl"

1. To download a specific version, replace the $(curl -s https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/stable.txt) portion of the command with the specific version.
2. For example, to download version v1.18.0 on macOS, type:

• curl -LO https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/v1.18.0/bin/darwin/amd64/kubectl

Make the kubectl binary executable.

• chmod +x ./kubectl

Move the binary in to your PATH.

• sudo mv ./kubectl /usr/local/bin/kubectl

Test to ensure the version you installed is up-to-date:

• kubectl version --client

Install with Homebrew on macOS

If you are on macOS and using Homebrew package manager, you can install kubectl with Homebrew. Run the installation command:

brew install kubectl
brew install kubernetes-cli 

Test to ensure the version you installed is up-to-date:

kubectl version --client

Install kubectl binary with curl on Windows

1. Download the latest release v1.18.0 from this link.
2. Or if you have curl installed, use this command:

curl -LO https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/v1.18.0/bin/windows/amd64/kubectl.exe

To find out the latest stable version (for example, for scripting), take a look at https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/stable.txt.

Add the binary to your PATH. Test to ensure the version of kubectl is the same as downloaded:

kubectl version --client

Install Minikube

Before installing Minikube, you need to make sure if virtualization is supported by your system. Run the following command and make sure that the output is non-empty:

Linux

grep -E --color 'vmx|svm' /proc/cpuinfo

Windows

systeminfo

Mac

sysctl -a | grep -E --color 'machdep.cpu.features|VMX'

If you see VMX in the output (should be colored), the VT-x feature is enabled in your machine.

Install Virtual Box

Download and install Virtualbox from here.

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Install Docker

You can install Docker for Mac, Windows, or Linux from here:

https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/

Install Minikube and setup k8s cluster

For Linux users, we provide 3 easy download options:

Binary download

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

Debian package

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

RPM package

curl -LO https://storage.googleapis.com/minikube/releases/latest/minikube-latest.x86_64.rpm
sudo rpm -ivh minikube-latest.x86_64.rpm

If the Brew Package Manager installed:

brew install minikube

If which minikube fails after installation via brew, you may have to remove the minikube cask and link the binary:

brew cask remove minikube
brew link minikube

Otherwise, download minikube directly:

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

If the Chocolatey Package Manager is installed, use it to install minikube:

choco install minikube

Otherwise, download and run the Windows installer.

Let’s get our hands dirty with minikube . In the second part, I have written how to start using Minikube , you can find it here.