Getting Started With Kubernetes

Overview

This procedure is intended for users of the Rubin Observatory that are interested in interacting with the Observatory Control System using Kubernetes. It contains basic procedures on how to get started with the Kubernetes. Kubernetes is the platform used to run many of the control system components and summit services.

To get a list of the different environments see Operational Environments

Precondition

  • Have a FreeIPA account and verify if you have access to the Kubernetes cluster, named yagan. Your IPA account will work if you are in the k8s-yagan-admins group. If you do not have access file an IHS JIRA ticket to request access to the site specific Rancher: yagan.

    • Set the Component/s to AAA and set the Responsible Organization to the appropriate site.

  • Make sure you read and understand the environments procedure.

Post-Condition

  • Successfully access the site specific Kubernetes resources.

Procedure Steps

  1. Log into the site specific Rancher instance using your FreeIPA account.

  2. Once logged in, select the site specific Kubernetes cluster.

    ../_images/rancher-cluster-selection.png

    Screenshot of selecting a Kubernetes cluster, in this case: yagan.

  3. Once the cluster is selected, you will get into the Cluster Dashboard. Click the Download KubeConfig button to get a kubeconfig file. In this example, it will be a yagan.yaml configuration file.

    ../_images/rancher-download-kubeconfig.png

    Screenshot of hovering over the Download KubeConfig button.

  4. Using the kubeconfig file requires the kubectl executable.

    • See the kubectl installation . Go to your machine and create the .kube folder in your home directory and move the yagan.yaml file into this new folder:

    mkdir .kube
ls -la
cd .kube
mv ~path/yagan.yaml ./

  5. Install kubectl command-line tool to allows the interaction with your operating system through text commands. Complementary, the LENS platform can be used in conjunction with a kubectl installation to access Kubernetes resources.

How to use the kubectl command accessing and manipulating Kubernetes resources is out of scope for this document.

Troubleshooting

If you are having trouble accessing the kubeconfig file from Rancher or accessing the site specific Kubernetes resources, please file an IHS JIRA ticket and assign it to the approriate site.

This procedure was last modified Sep 01, 2025.