How to use the command 'kind' (with examples)

The ‘kind’ command is a tool for running local Kubernetes clusters using Docker container “nodes”. It is primarily designed for testing Kubernetes itself, but it can also be used for local development or continuous integration purposes.

Use case 1: Create a local Kubernetes cluster

Code:

kind create cluster --name cluster_name

Motivation: Creating a local Kubernetes cluster is essential for testing and developing applications that will ultimately be deployed on a Kubernetes cluster. The ‘kind create cluster’ command allows you to quickly set up a local Kubernetes cluster for this purpose.

Explanation:

• ‘kind create cluster’: This is the command to create a local Kubernetes cluster.
• ‘–name cluster_name’: This argument allows you to specify a name for the cluster that will be created. You can choose any name you prefer.

Example output:

Creating cluster "cluster_name" ...
 ✓ Ensuring node image (kindest/node:v1.21.1) 🖼
 ✓ Preparing nodes 📦 📦 📦
 ✓ Creating kubeadm config 📜
 ✓ Starting control-plane 🕹️
 ✓ Installing CNI 🔌
 ✓ Installing StorageClass 💾
Set kubectl context to "kind-cluster_name"
You can now use your cluster with:

kubectl cluster-info --context kind-cluster_name

Thanks for using kind! 😊

Use case 2: Delete one or more clusters

Code:

kind delete clusters cluster_name

Motivation: Deleting one or more clusters is useful when you no longer need them and want to free up resources on your machine. It helps keep your system clean and organized.

Explanation:

• ‘kind delete clusters’: This is the command to delete one or more clusters.
• ‘cluster_name’: Specify the name of the cluster(s) you want to delete. You can provide multiple cluster names separated by spaces.

Example output:

Deleting cluster "cluster_name" ...

Use case 3: Get details about clusters, nodes, or the kubeconfig

Code:

kind get clusters|nodes|kubeconfig

Motivation: Getting details about the clusters, nodes, or the kubeconfig can provide useful information about your local Kubernetes setup. It is particularly helpful when you have multiple clusters and need to retrieve specific information about them.

Explanation:

• ‘kind get’: This is the command to retrieve information about clusters, nodes, or the kubeconfig.
• ‘clusters|nodes|kubeconfig’: Specify the type of information you want to retrieve. You can choose between ‘clusters’, ’nodes’, or ‘kubeconfig’.

Example output:

cluster_name

Use case 4: Export the kubeconfig or the logs

Code:

kind export kubeconfig|logs

Motivation: Exporting the kubeconfig or the logs can be necessary when working with external tools that require access to the kubeconfig file or when troubleshooting issues and need to analyze the logs.

Explanation:

• ‘kind export’: This is the command to export the kubeconfig or the logs.
• ‘kubeconfig|logs’: Specify whether you want to export the kubeconfig or the logs.

Example output (exporting kubeconfig):

Exported cluster kubeconfig to: /path/to/kubeconfig

Example output (exporting logs):

Exported cluster logs to: /path/to/logs

Conclusion:

The ‘kind’ command provides a convenient way to create, delete, and manage local Kubernetes clusters. It also offers options for retrieving information about clusters and exporting the kubeconfig or logs. These use cases can greatly assist with testing, development, and troubleshooting in a Kubernetes environment.