learn-k8s-minikube

Master Minikube with essential commands and tips in this comprehensive guide, enabling seamless Kubernetes development on your local machine.

Getting Started with Minikube:

This tutorial will help you to setup Kubernetes on Your Local Machine.

Kubernetes has become the de facto standard for container orchestration, allowing developers to deploy, scale, and manage containerized applications.

Minikube is a powerful tool that enables you to run a Kubernetes cluster locally on your machine, making it easy to develop and test applications in a Kubernetes environment.

In this article, we'll explore what Minikube is, how to set it up, and some important commands to get you started.

What is Minikube?

Minikube is an open-source tool that facilitates the setup of a single/multi-node Kubernetes cluster on your local machine. It's designed for developers who want to experience Kubernetes without the need for a full-scale, multi-node cluster. Minikube allows you to develop and test Kubernetes applications in an environment that closely mirrors a production cluster.

Minikube vs. Kubernetes: Understanding the Differences

Minikube and Kubernetes are not opposing entities; in fact, Minikube is a lightweight version of Kubernetes designed for local development and testing. However, there are notable distinctions between Minikube and more comprehensive Kubernetes distributions. Let's examine these variances in a comparative chart:

Feature	Minikube	Most Other Kubernetes Distros
Supported Operating Systems	Linux, Windows, macOS	Linux (Windows can host worker nodes)
Cluster Size by Default	Single-node	Multi-node
Deployment in the Cloud	Not recommended (theoretically possible)	Yes
Managed Service Availability	No	Yes (for many distributions)
Storage Handling	Local directories inside Minikube	Container Storage Interface (CSI) in most cases

Installation

Before diving into Minikube, make sure you have the following prerequisites installed on your machine:

Prerequisites for Minikube

Ensure a smooth installation and operation of Minikube by meeting the following requirements:

CPU: A minimum of 2 CPUs is required.
Memory: Allocate at least 2GB of free memory.
Disk Space: Ensure you have a minimum of 20GB of free disk space.
Internet Connection: Maintain a stable and reliable Internet connection for seamless functionality.
Container or VM Manager: Install a suitable container or virtual machine manager before initiating the Minikube installation. Options include Docker, Hyperkit, Hyper-V, KVM, Parallels, Podman, VirtualBox, or VMWare. Prioritize the installation of one of these tools to facilitate a smooth Minikube experience.

Note: I would suggest to go with Docker and for installing you could effectively use either VMware workstation or VirtualBox or if you have free cloud subscription spin up simple VM or you can use like me on your workstation if you have good configuration. In my case, I have installed and using it on MacOS

Once you have the prerequisites installed, you can install Minikube.

The installation steps vary depending on your operating system, so refer to the official documentation for detailed instructions.

Installing Minikube on Linux

On most Linux systems, you can effortlessly install Minikube using the following commands:

curl -LO https://storage.googleapis.com/minikube/releases/latest/minikube-linux-amd64

sudo install minikube-linux-amd64 /usr/local/bin/minikube

Additionally, many major Linux distributions provide RPM or Debian packages for a straightforward Minikube installation.

Installing Minikube on Windows

For Windows users, the simplest method to install Minikube is by downloading and running the installer. Alternatively, you can employ PowerShell to set it up by following these steps:

New-Item -Path 'c:\' -Name 'minikube' -ItemType Directory -Force

Invoke-WebRequest -OutFile 'c:\minikube\minikube.exe' -Uri 'https://github.com/kubernetes/minikube/releases/latest/download/minikube-windows-amd64.exe' -UseBasicParsing

Installing Minikube on macOS

On macOS, installing Minikube is a breeze with the following commands:

curl -LO https://storage.googleapis.com/minikube/releases/latest/minikube-darwin-amd64

sudo install minikube-darwin-amd64 /usr/local/bin/minikube

For macOS users who prefer Homebrew, an alternative installation method is available:

Note: in my case, I have installed minikube using brew

brew install minikube

Now, you have multiple options to install Minikube based on your operating system and personal preferences. Choose the method that best suits your needs and get started with Kubernetes on your local machine.

Post installation you can verify it by running

minikube version

Basic Minikube Commands

Starting Minikube To start Minikube, use the following command:

minikube start

This command will create a single-node Kubernetes cluster with default settings.

Driver Selection:

If you use the Docker driver,

minikube start -p dev --container-runtime=docker --vm=true

Here, we explicitly specify --driver=docker because, by default, Minikube may choose the Docker driver if Docker is installed on your system. If Docker is not present and if you want to choose any other driver that is also possible.

Specific Kubernetes Version If you want to install a specific Kubernetes version, you can use the --kubernetes-version flag. For example:

minikube start --kubernetes-version=1.28.0 --driver=docker

These guidelines help tailor your Minikube setup based on your preferred driver, runtime environment, and Kubernetes version.

If you want to start minikube as multi node,

minikube start --nodes 2 -p dev

Stopping Minikube When you're done working with Minikube, you can stop the cluster with:

minikube stop

In case, if you have created a profile then mention the profile name accordingly.

minikube stop -p dev

Checking Minikube Status To check the status of your Minikube cluster, use:

minikube status

In case, if you have created a profile then mention the profile name accordingly.

minikube status -p dev

This command provides information about whether the cluster is running.

Accessing the Kubernetes Dashboard Minikube comes with a web-based Kubernetes dashboard. You can access it with:

minikube dashboard

This opens the dashboard in your default web browser.

If you want only the url to be printed,

minikube dashboard --url

Deleting Minikube When you no longer need the Minikube cluster, you can delete it with:

minikube delete

This removes the entire cluster and its associated resources.

In case, if you have created a profile then mention the profile name accordingly.

minikube delete -p dev

Advanced Minikube Commands

Using a Specific Kubernetes Version

You can specify a Kubernetes version when starting Minikube:

minikube start --kubernetes-version=v1.21.0

Configuring CPU and Memory

Adjust the CPU and memory allocated to the Minikube VM:

minikube start --cpus=2 --memory=4096

Switching Between Minikube Profiles

If you have multiple Minikube profiles, you can switch between them:

minikube profile list          # List available profiles
minikube profile set <profile> # Switch to a specific profile

Listing Add-ons

Minikube supports various add-ons, which you can list using below command,

minikube addons list

Enabling Add-ons

Minikube supports various add-ons. To enable an add-on, use:

minikube addons enable <addon-name>

Replace with the name of the desired add-on.

Retrieving Minikube IP To get the IP address of your Minikube cluster, use:

minikube ip

This is useful for accessing services deployed in your cluster.

Accessing Minikube Nodes via SSH

When you need to inspect Kubernetes configurations or troubleshoot, you can SSH into the Minikube node using the following command:

minikube ssh

To edit files within the node, use the sudo command.

If your Minikube setup involves multiple nodes, you can SSH into a specific node. Begin by listing the available nodes using kubectl:

kubectl get nodes

Identify the desired node and SSH into it with the following command, replacing "dev-m02" with the appropriate node name:

minikube ssh -n dev-m02

This process allows you to gain direct access to the Minikube nodes, facilitating detailed inspection and troubleshooting as needed.

List All Services:

To view all available services and their endpoints, use

minikube service list

To Retrieve the URL for a specific service by executing:

minikube service --url <service-name>

Replace with the actual name of the service.

Enabling Feature Gates in Minikube

To explore alpha and beta features introduced in new Kubernetes versions, Minikube provides a feature gates option.

For instance, let's consider the NodeSwap feature gate. To enable it during Minikube installation, utilize the following command:

minikube start -p dev --kubernetes-version=v1.28.0 --feature-gates=NodeSwap=true

Replace v1.28.0 with your desired Kubernetes version. This command activates the NodeSwap feature gate, allowing you to experiment with the associated functionalities.

Conclusion

Minikube is an invaluable tool for Kubernetes development and testing. Whether you're a beginner exploring Kubernetes or an experienced developer working on a local environment, Minikube simplifies the process of setting up and managing Kubernetes clusters on your machine. The commands highlighted in this article should serve as a solid foundation for your Minikube journey. As you delve deeper into Kubernetes development, continue exploring the extensive features and capabilities that Minikube offers to enhance your local Kubernetes experience.

License

This project is licensed under the Apache License 2.0 - see the LICENSE file for details.

Please replace https://github.com/devopshubproject/learn-k8s-minikube with the URL of your Git repository if you have one. This README provides a comprehensive guide to your Git Mirroring concept and can be extended or modified as needed.

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