Kubernetes cluster

The Keptn Lifecycle Toolkit is meant to be installed into an existing Kubernetes cluster that runs your deployment software. See Requirements for information about supported releases and advice about resources required.

Create local Kubernetes cluster

You can also create a local cluster using packages such as KinD, k3d, k3s, and Minikube to set up a local, lightweight Kubernetes cluster where you can install the Keptn Lifecycle Toolkit for personal study, demonstrations, and testing. For more information, see the Kubernetes Install Tools documentation.

The Keptn Lifecycle Toolkit: Installation and KeptnTask Creation in Minutes video demonstrates how to create a KinD cluster. on which you can install the Lifecycle Toolkit. The basic steps are:

1. Download, install, and run Docker

2. Download KinD

3. Create the local KinD cluster with the following command:

   kind create cluster
   

   See the KinD Quick Start Guide for more information

4. When the cluster has been created, run the following to verify that the cluster is working and that it is running a supported version of Kubernetes with the following command:

   kubectl version --short
   

Prepare your cluster for KLT

The Keptn Lifecycle Toolkit installs into an existing Kubernetes cluster. When setting up a local Kubernetes cluster to study or demonstrate the Lifecycle Toolkit, you need to provide these components.

Your cluster should include the following:

• A supported version of Kubernetes. See Supported Kubernetes versions for details.

• kubectl

• Metric provider such as Prometheus, Dynatrace, or Datadog. This is used for the metrics used for the observability features.

• Deployment tools of your choice, such as Argo CD or Flux. Alternatively, KLT also works with just kubctl apply for deployment.

• If you want to use the standardized observability feature, you must have an OpenTelemetry collector and a Prometheus operator installed on your cluster.

  If you want a dashboard for reviewing metrics and traces, install Grafana or the dashboard of your choice.

  For traces, install Jaeger or a similar tool.

  For more information, see Requirements for Open Telemetry.

Also note that the Keptn Lifecycle Toolkit includes a light-weight cert-manager that, by default, is installed as part of the KLT software. If you are using another cert-manager in the cluster, you can configure KLT to instead use your cert-manager. See Use your own cert-manager for detailed instructions.