How to access Kubernetes Dashboard?

Introduction

Kubernetes is a powerful open-source container orchestration platform that has become the de facto standard for managing and deploying containerized applications. The Kubernetes Dashboard is a web-based user interface that provides an intuitive way to interact with your Kubernetes cluster. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of accessing and navigating the Kubernetes Dashboard, helping you unlock the full potential of your Kubernetes environment.

Skills Graph

What is Kubernetes Dashboard?

The Kubernetes Dashboard is a web-based user interface for Kubernetes clusters. It allows users to manage and monitor applications running on their Kubernetes clusters, as well as perform administrative tasks such as creating, updating, and deleting resources.

The Kubernetes Dashboard provides a user-friendly interface that makes it easier for developers and operators to interact with their Kubernetes clusters. It offers a range of features, including:

Cluster Overview

The Dashboard provides an overview of the current state of the Kubernetes cluster, including the number of running pods, deployments, services, and other resources.

Resource Management

The Dashboard allows users to create, view, update, and delete Kubernetes resources such as deployments, services, and pods.

Logs and Events

The Dashboard displays logs and events for the resources running in the cluster, making it easier to troubleshoot issues.

Scaling and Autoscaling

The Dashboard provides the ability to scale deployments and enable autoscaling based on CPU utilization or other metrics.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

The Dashboard supports RBAC, allowing administrators to grant specific permissions to users and groups.

The Kubernetes Dashboard is a powerful tool that can help simplify the management and monitoring of Kubernetes clusters, especially for users who are new to the platform.

Accessing the Kubernetes Dashboard

To access the Kubernetes Dashboard, you need to follow these steps:

1. Enable the Kubernetes Dashboard

First, you need to ensure that the Kubernetes Dashboard is enabled in your cluster. You can do this by running the following command:

kubectl apply -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kubernetes/dashboard/v2.7.0/aio/deploy/recommended.yaml

This will deploy the Kubernetes Dashboard to your cluster.

2. Access the Kubernetes Dashboard

There are two main ways to access the Kubernetes Dashboard:

2.1. Access the Dashboard through the Kubernetes API Server

You can access the Kubernetes Dashboard by forwarding the Dashboard service to your local machine using the following command:

kubectl proxy

This will start a proxy server on your local machine, and you can then access the Dashboard at http://localhost:8001/api/v1/namespaces/kubernetes-dashboard/services/https:kubernetes-dashboard:/proxy/.

2.2. Access the Dashboard through a NodePort Service

Alternatively, you can create a NodePort service to expose the Kubernetes Dashboard externally. To do this, you can use the following YAML configuration:

apiVersion: v1
kind: Service
metadata:
  name: kubernetes-dashboard
  namespace: kubernetes-dashboard
spec:
  type: NodePort
  ports:
    - port: 443
      targetPort: 8443
  selector:
    k8s-app: kubernetes-dashboard

Save this YAML to a file (e.g., dashboard-nodeport.yaml) and apply it to your cluster using kubectl apply -f dashboard-nodeport.yaml. You can then access the Dashboard using the node's IP address and the assigned NodePort.

Once you've accessed the Kubernetes Dashboard, you can start exploring and managing your Kubernetes resources.

Navigating the Kubernetes Dashboard

Once you have accessed the Kubernetes Dashboard, you can start exploring its various features and functionalities. Here's a breakdown of the main sections and how to navigate them:

1. Cluster Overview

The Cluster Overview page provides a high-level view of your Kubernetes cluster, including the number of running pods, deployments, services, and other resources. You can quickly see the overall health and status of your cluster.

2. Workloads

The Workloads section allows you to manage your application deployments, replica sets, and pods. You can view the status, logs, and events for each resource, as well as scale, edit, or delete them.

3. Services & Ingress

The Services & Ingress section displays the services and ingress resources in your cluster. You can view the details of each service, including the endpoints and the associated pods.

4. Storage

The Storage section allows you to manage your persistent volumes and persistent volume claims. You can view the details of each storage resource and the associated pods.

5. Config & Storage

The Config & Storage section provides access to your cluster's configuration, including ConfigMaps and Secrets. You can view and edit these resources as needed.

6. Discover & Load Balancing

The Discover & Load Balancing section displays your cluster's ingress resources and load balancers. You can view the details of each resource and the associated services.

7. Events

The Events section provides a comprehensive view of all the events that have occurred in your cluster. This can be useful for troubleshooting and monitoring purposes.

8. Logs

The Logs section allows you to view the logs for your running pods. You can filter the logs by namespace, pod, and container.

By navigating through these sections, you can effectively manage and monitor your Kubernetes cluster using the Kubernetes Dashboard.

Summary

The Kubernetes Dashboard is a valuable tool for managing and monitoring your Kubernetes cluster. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you will learn how to access the Dashboard, navigate its various features, and leverage its capabilities to streamline your Kubernetes operations. With the Kubernetes Dashboard, you can gain a deeper understanding of your cluster's health, manage your applications, and troubleshoot issues more efficiently, ultimately enhancing your overall Kubernetes experience.