Minikube and Kubectl Installation Guide: Deploy Kubernetes Clusters in a Few Simple Steps :
Tags: devops, kubect, minikub, tutorial
Published: 2023-10-24 15:43:26


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/jkt5kigplhfphfbiplls.jpg)


When it comes to working with Kubernetes, two essential tools are Minikube and Kubectl. Minikube is a tool that allows you to create a local Kubernetes cluster for development and testing, while Kubectl is the command-line tool for managing Kubernetes clusters. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to install Minikube and Kubectl on your machine, allowing you to dive into the fascinating world of Kubernetes.

**Installing Minikube**

The first step to working with Minikube is to install it on your system. Here's how to do it:

**Prerequisites**: Before you start, make sure you have installed a hypervisor such as VirtualBox or KVM because Minikube uses virtual machines to create Kubernetes clusters.

**Installation**: Follow the installation instructions for Linux:

```bash
# Download the Minikube executable
curl -LO https://storage.googleapis.com/minikube/releases/latest/minikube-linux-amd64

# Make it executable
chmod +x minikube-linux-amd64
# Move it to a reachable directory
sudo mv minikube-linux-amd64 /usr/local/bin/minikube
```

**Starting Minikube**: Once Minikube is installed, you can start a local Kubernetes cluster using the following command:

```bash
minikube start
```

**Verification**: To check if your Minikube cluster is running, use the following command:

```bash
minikube status
```

**Installing Kubectl**

1/ Download the latest version of `kubectl`:
   ```bash
   curl -LO "https://dl.k8s.io/release/$(curl -L -s https://dl.k8s.io/release/stable.txt)/bin/linux/amd64/kubectl"
   ```

2/ Make the `kubectl` binary executable:
   ```bash
   chmod +x kubectl
   ```

3/ Move the `kubectl` binary to a directory included in your system's PATH, so you can run it from anywhere:
   ```bash
   sudo mv kubectl /usr/local/bin/
   ```

4/ Verify the installation by running:
   ```bash
   kubectl version --client
   ```

**Verification of Installation**

After installing Minikube and Kubectl, make sure everything is working correctly by running some verification commands. You should see a functional Minikube cluster ready for use. Here's how to do it:

**Checking Minikube Status**: Use the following command to check if Minikube is running and in what state:

```bash
minikube status
```

**Kubectl Verification**: Run the following command to verify that Kubectl is properly configured to connect to your Minikube cluster:

```bash
kubectl version --short
```

With Minikube and Kubectl in place, you're ready to create local Kubernetes clusters and explore Kubernetes features.

**Creating a Minikube Cluster**

To create a Minikube cluster, follow these simple steps:

**Starting the Cluster**: Use the following command to start a Minikube cluster with default settings:

```bash
minikube start
```

**Customization**: You can customize your cluster by specifying options such as the amount of memory and CPU allocated. For example, to create a cluster with 4GB of memory and 2 CPUs, use:

```bash
minikube start --memory 4096 --cpus 2
```

**Stopping the Cluster**: When you're done, you can stop the cluster with the following command:

```bash
minikube stop
```

**Using Kubectl**

Now that your Minikube cluster is active, you can use Kubectl to interact with Kubernetes. Here are some common command examples:

**Get the List of Nodes**: To see the list of nodes in your cluster, use:

```bash
kubectl get nodes
```

**Deploying an Application**: You can deploy an application in your cluster using a YAML configuration file. For example, to deploy an application named "myapp" from a file named myapp.yaml, use:

```bash
kubectl apply -f myapp.yaml
```

**Get Information About Resources**: You can get detailed information about Kubernetes resources. For example, to get information about pods:

```bash
kubectl get pods
```

This is how you can install, configure, and start using Minikube and Kubectl to work with Kubernetes on your local machine.

**Advanced Minikube Cluster Management**

Now that you have a Minikube cluster up and running, it's time to explore advanced features to gain a better understanding of Kubernetes.

**Updating Minikube**

To update Minikube to the latest version, use the following command:

```bash
minikube update
```

**Deleting a Cluster**

When you're finished with a Minikube cluster, you can delete it with the following command:

```bash
minikube delete
```

**Managing Kubernetes Resources**

Kubectl provides full management of Kubernetes resources. Here are some common operations:

**Creating a Deployment**

You can create a deployment with the following command, for example, for an application named "myapp":

```bash
kubectl create deployment myapp --image=my_image
```

**Scaling an Application**

You can adjust the number of replicas in a deployment to scale your application:

```bash
kubectl scale deployment/myapp --replicas=3
```

**Exposing a Service**

To expose a service, use the following command:

```bash
kubectl expose deployment/myapp --type=LoadBalancer --port=80 --target-port=8080
```

**Deploying and Updating Applications**

Kubectl simplifies the deployment and updating of applications. You can deploy new versions of your applications without downtime using deployments. For example, to update the image of a running application:

```bash
kubectl set image deployment/myapp myapp=my_image:v2
```



![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/9u7hqsiw8vw2ynsqq9dj.jpg)


With Minikube and Kubectl, you now have the tools you need to explore Kubernetes on your own machine. Kubernetes is a powerful technology for container management and application orchestration. Explore its advanced features, test various scenarios, and develop your skills to master this powerful orchestrator.

We hope this installation and usage guide for Minikube and Kubectl has provided you with a solid foundation to begin your journey into the world of Kubernetes. Feel free to explore further, experiment, and create increasingly complex applications to discover everything Kubernetes has to offer.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/mryl540pv9r9w4aa9mb4.jpeg)


- [Official Kubernetes Website](https://kubernetes.io/): The official Kubernetes website is an essential resource, offering guides, documentation, tutorials, and more.
- [Minikube Documentation](https://minikube.sigs.k8s.io/docs/): The official Minikube documentation is an excellent starting point to learn more about this tool.
- [Kubectl Documentation](https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubectl/overview/): The official Kubectl documentation provides detailed information on using this tool to interact with Kubernetes clusters.
- [Kubernetes the Hard Way](https://github.com/kelseyhightower/kubernetes-the-hard-way): This training guide by Kelsey Hightower teaches you how to create a Kubernetes cluster from scratch for an in-depth understanding of Kubernetes.
- [Kubernetes Up and Running](https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/kubernetes-up-and/9781492046530/): This book by Kelsey Hightower, Brendan Burns, and Joe Beda is ideal for those seeking a detailed introduction to Kubernetes.
- [Kubernetes Podcast](https://kubernetespodcast.com/): The Kubernetes podcast is an excellent resource to stay up to date with the latest news, best practices, and success stories related to Kubernetes.
- Online Courses: Many platforms offer online courses on Kubernetes, such as Coursera, edX, Udemy, and Pluralsight, allowing you to learn at your own pace.
- [Kubernetes Stack Overflow](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/kubernetes) and [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/kubernetes/): Join forums like Stack Overflow and Reddit groups dedicated to Kubernetes to ask questions, share experiences, and learn from others.
- Technical Blogs: Many experts share their knowledge of Kubernetes through technical blogs. Look for blogs by individuals like Kelsey Hightower, Brendan Burns, and others.
- [GitHub](https://github.com/kubernetes): Explore open-source projects related to Kubernetes on GitHub to discover tools, scripts, and code examples.

These resources should help you deepen your knowledge of Kubernetes, Minikube, and Kubectl, whether you are a beginner or interested in exploring more advanced topics.