Simplifying Kubernetes Cluster Management with Claudie and Sveltos
Tags: kubernetes, showdev, opensource, devops
Published: 2023-12-05 15:14:01

Kubernetes has become the de facto standard for container orchestration, enabling efficient deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. However, managing multiple Kubernetes clusters across different cloud providers and on-premises environments can be a complex and time-consuming task. To address this challenge, Claudie and Sveltos emerge as powerful tools that streamline Kubernetes cluster management and application deployment.

## Claudie: Seamless Cluster Provisioning

 [Claudie](https://github.com/berops/claudie) simplifies the process of programmatically establishing Kubernetes clusters across multiple cloud vendors and on-premises datacenters. It provides a centralized management interface for provisioning and managing clusters, eliminating the need for manual configuration and maintenance. Claudie's capabilities include:

- Cluster provisioning across various cloud providers and on-premises environments
- Automated cluster configuration and management
- Secure and centralized access to clusters

Current supported list of cloud providers:

1. AWS
2. Azure
3. GCP
4. OCI
5. Hetzner
6. Cloudflare

## Sveltos: Effortless Add-on and Application Deployment

 [Sveltos](https://github.com/projectsveltos) complements Claudie by providing a Kubernetes add-on controller that simplifies the deployment and management of add-ons and applications across multiple clusters. It runs in the management cluster and can programmatically deploy and manage add-ons and applications on any cluster in the fleet, including the management cluster itself. Sveltos supports a variety of add-on formats, including Helm charts, raw YAML, Kustomize, Carvel ytt, and Jsonnet.

## Install Claudie and Sveltos in the management cluster

![Claudie and Sveltos](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/bgjow4h7yabgsf54u9s8.png)

To deploy Claudie in the management cluster, simply run:

```
kubectl apply -f https://github.com/berops/claudie/releases/latest/download/claudie.yaml
```

To deploy Sveltos in the management cluster, simply run:

```
kubectl apply -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/projectsveltos/sveltos/main/manifest/manifest.yaml
kubectl apply -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/projectsveltos/sveltos/main/manifest/default-classifier.yaml
```

To seamlessly integrate Claudie-powered clusters with Sveltos, an additional [controller](https://github.com/gianlucam76/claudie-sveltos-integration) is deployed in the management cluster. This controller continuously monitors Claudie's secrets and automatically creates corresponding SveltosCluster objects. Conversely, when a secret is deleted, the controller ensures the corresponding SveltosCluster object is also removed. This integration enables Sveltos to effectively manage add-ons and applications on Claudie-provisioned clusters.

```
kubectl apply -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gianlucam76/claudie-sveltos-integration/main/manifest/manifest.yaml
```

## Deploying Applications with Claudie and Sveltos

 The combined power of Claudie and Sveltos streamlines the process of deploying applications across multiple Kubernetes clusters. Claudie provisions the clusters, while Sveltos handles the deployment of add-ons and applications. This combination simplifies application deployment and management, reducing operational overhead and ensuring consistent configurations across clusters.


![Claudie Sveltos integration](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ilbmkc0yc0oermqn13m5.gif)

All YAMLs to:

1. create a cluster with Claudie on Hetzner and Google Cloud
2. deploy add-ons with Sveltos

can be found [here](https://github.com/projectsveltos/demos/blob/main/claudie-sveltos/README.md).

## Benefits of Using Claudie and Sveltos

 The integration of Claudie and Sveltos offers several benefits for managing Kubernetes clusters and applications:

1. **Simplified cluster management**: Claudie centralizes cluster provisioning and management, reducing complexity and manual tasks.
2. **Automated add-on and application deployment**: Sveltos automates the deployment and management of add-ons and applications across clusters.
3. **Unified cluster and application management**: The integration of Claudie and Sveltos provides a unified platform for managing clusters and applications.
4. **Reduced operational overhead**: The automation provided by Claudie and Sveltos reduces operational overhead and improves efficiency.
5. **Consistent configurations across clusters**: The unified management approach ensures consistent configurations and deployments across clusters.

##  Conclusion

 Claudie and Sveltos emerge as powerful tools that simplify Kubernetes cluster management and application deployment. Their integration provides a unified platform for managing clusters and applications, reducing operational overhead and ensuring consistent configurations across multiple cloud providers and on-premises environments. As Kubernetes adoption continues to grow, Claudie and Sveltos will play an increasingly important role in streamlining cluster management and enabling efficient application deployment.