Application deployment to GKE cluster using Kubernetes plugin

Objective

The goal of the tutorial is to deploy manifest files on GKE Cluster using the Kubernetes plugin. For this tutorial we shall be doing automated deployment of the Nginx application, using the manifest files(yaml) which are present in a Git repository. The steps will include:

• configuration of the properties e.g. config file path, Cloud account, and CLI path.

• cloning the manifest files from a Git repository

• deploying the Nginx Application to GKE Cluster

• verifying the application is successfully created on the GKE cluster.

We will walk through each of the FlexDeploy features that will be created/configured to accomplish this goal and have the Nginx application deployed on the GKE Cluster in a very short amount of time.

Checklist

Configure Cloud account

To connect with GKE cluster, we required to configure Cloud account, with credentials details. Configure GCP Cloud Account under Integration. FlexDeploy will connect to the GKE cluster and deploy the Nginx Application.

1. Navigate to the Integrations

2. Select Cloud from the left-hand pane

3. Create a new Containers account with the “+” button. Create a new Cloud account of provider type “GCP”

Open

It should have a Project Id and Key File configured in it. The user must have relevant access to do the deployment on GKE cluster.

Open

1. Key File is a password field and hence needs to be kept hidden. To update the same click on the pencil icon as shown below

2. Update the entire Key File value under Secret Text. This is to make sure no one else can retrieve the password

After configuration we would be able to use the Cloud Account as a drop down from the list.

Git repository structure

The Git repository should contain the manifest file.

The Sample Git repository structure is given below.

Pre-requisite

Configure service account

To access the GKE cluster we need to create a service account.

Creating a service account to connect with the GKE cluster. Adding Kubernetes Engine Developer role for this tutorial. Different roles are available with different access(which can be assigned).

Next we have to create a Service Account Key file which will verify the identity of the Service Account during execution. For more information about key file: https://cloud.google.com/iam/docs/creating-managing-service-account-keys , this key file we have to configured in GCP Cloud account.

Created key file should have the following format, where PRIVATE_KEY is the private portion of the public/private key pair:

e.g of the Key File -

The entire content of the key file we have to configured in GCP Cloud account as secret text.

Configure kubeconfig file

A Kubeconfig is a YAML file with the details to connect to Kubernetes Cluster using certificate/secret tokens to authenticate the cluster. This is essential for Kubernetes Plugin to connect to target GKE cluster.

CLI installation

GCP CLI should be installed in the m/c where the plugin is to be executed. Preferably add GCP CLI path in m/c classpath. Please ref. https://cloud.google.com/sdk/docs/install for more information about installation.

Build and Deploy Workflows

Navigate to the Workflows tab and create a workflow using the “+”(Click to create new Workflow) button as highlighted below.

Next, create one Build and Deploy workflow as shown below. The workflow Type field defines the type of workflow.
Build Workflow

1. Navigate to the Workflows

2. Select the “+” button from the left-hand pane to create a new workflow

Deploy Workflow

1. navigate to the Workflows

2. Select the “+” button from the left-hand pane to create a new workflow

The Workflow Group and Subgroup define the folder hierarchy. Once both workflows are created it should look like the below. No constraint on workflow or folder naming convention.

The steps of the workflow execution can be configured through the Workflow Definition section.

Below given is a sample build workflow to copy the file from Git repository.

Step-i: Clone Git Repository
This step will clone the Git repository codebase into the project execution working directory. The Git URL will be retrieved from Source Control configured under Project Configuration.

Step-ii: Copy the manifest file
The below step will copy the manifest file to the artifact directory. Also check the Produces Artifact option to save the files as Artifact so that can be used from Deploy workflow.

Below given is a sample build workflow to deploy application on the GKE cluster.

Step-i: deploy the application

This step will deploy the Nginx application, using the manifest on the GKE cluster. Context must be provided to apply changes. The context should be present inside kubeconfig file.

Project configuration

Navigate to the Project tab and create a Project with a logical name(KubernetesGCP in this case)

Configure the Build and Deploy workflow that has been created in previous steps as shown below.

Source Control

Configure the Source SCM repository under Source Control as shown below.

1. To configure Project specific Source Control one first need to navigate to the Project Configuration tab.

2. Next, expand the SOURCE CONTROL option from the left-hand pane.

3. Select SOURCES for configuring the Source Repository

4. Select the appropriate Source Control Type

5. Configure Source Repository. For detailed steps of Source Control configuration please refer to Configure Source Control in FlexDeploy

Target Properties

Select Topology from the menu and then select Targets. Select the target group and environment, provide the properties detail, according to the description.

Below given are the environment-specific values which need to be updated.

Cloud Account

The GCP Cloud account needs to be set here from the drop-down. It will show all Cloud Accounts configured under Topology, which we have already mentioned earlier.

Kubeconfig file path

Absolute path of config file can be set as environment property, if path is not set then by default plugin look for config file in user directory.

CLI path

GCP CLI path can be set as environment property, if it’s not set then by default plugin will check for CLI in system classpath.

Kubernetes Home Path

Kubernetes home path can be set as environment property, plugin check for kubectl on the given directory.

Override properties at Project level

Let assume a scenario, where we want to change Cloud account for any specific project. Apart from setting at environment level, it can also be set at project properties by using Override Property. Please check below mentioned steps.

1. Navigate to the Project Configuration tab as shown above.

2. Next, select the PROPERTIES option from the left-hand pane.

3. Click on the OVERRIDE option.

4. Select the Cloud Account option from Property.

5. Select the Environment from the drop down list.

6. Select the Target Group from the drop down list.

We can do the same for other properties as well.

Build Execution

For detailed steps on how to initiate deploy operation using Kubernetes plugin, please refer to Deploy through FlexDeploy for Kubernetes plugin

Post deployment

Post deployment success from plugin it can take a little while for the deployment and running.

Once deployment successfully completed, we can see the related details on GKE cluster by using GCP console.

Congratulations! You have successfully completed the Nginx Application deployment.

Now that you have configured FlexDeploy for deployment operation using Kubernetes plugin, it is extremely easy to replicate the same for other Cloud Provider. Simply use the Copy Project feature and a new project will be created with all of the configuration completed already. You just need to make the necessary configuration changes.