Building a production-ready Kubernetes cluster from scratch

From hardware assembly to network configuration, this guide will guide you through the process of building a production-ready Kubernetes cluster from scratch using Raspberry Pi devices.

Welcome to my new series on building a production-ready Kubernetes cluster from scratch using Raspberry Pi devices. In this series, you can follow along to build your own dedicated Kubernetes cluster at home, from hardware assembly to cluster setup and management. The learnings can then be applied to real-world scenarios, and scaled up to larger clusters as needed.

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I originally planned to offer this guide as a paid online course, but as a strong believer in free open source resources, I made it available for free instead.

Please, if my guides helped you, I would be very grateful if you could support my work by becoming a GitHub Sponsor and by sharing the guides in your network. 🙏

Eventually I might offer additional guides as paid online courses, but for now, I want to focus on providing free guides.

Thank you! ❤️

In particular, this series will cover the following topics:

Set up a high-availability Kubernetes cluster using Raspberry Pi devices, from hardware assembly to network configuration
Install, configure, and manage Kubernetes control plane nodes for redundancy and fault tolerance
Deploy persistent storage and learn to manage container images and data effectively across multiple nodes
Implement security best practices, monitoring, and logging to maintain a resilient and secure Kubernetes cluster

This series is perfect for you, if you are any of the following:

Tech enthusiasts, developers, and IT professionals who want to prototype cluster using Raspberry Pi devices.
Beginner to intermediate learners with basic Linux and networking knowledge who want to deepen their understanding of Kubernetes.
DIY hobbyists and makers interested in hands-on projects and building home labs or edge computing solutions with affordable hardware.
DevOps engineers and system administrators looking to explore Kubernetes clustering, high availability, and storage management in resource-constrained environments.
Educators and students in computer science or IT fields seeking practical experience with Kubernetes and cloud-native technologies.

To follow along you will need to meet these requirements:

Basic understanding of Linux command line and shell scripting (e.g., navigating directories, editing files, running commands).
Basic understanding of containerization and Docker concepts (e.g., containers, images, volumes).
Know-how on Kubernetes concepts (pods, services, deployments) is helpful but not required.
Familiarity with networking concepts, including IP addresses, subnets, DNS, and SSH.
A computer running a unix-like system, such as Linux/macOS or Windows Subsystem with Linux (WSL), with access to a network connection.
SSH client (e.g., OpenSSH, PuTTY) for remote access to Raspberry Pi devices.
At least 3 Raspberry Pi devices (e.g. Raspberry Pi 5 with 8GB RAM) with MicroSD card (32GB or higher, high endurance recommended), USB-C power supplies for each
NVMe HATs for each Raspberry Pi with an SSD (512GB or higher)
A gigabit Ethernet router (e.g. TP-Link ER605) and Ethernet cables (CAT5e or higher)

Overview

As this series was written as an online course, the guide is structured as a curriculum with sections and lessons. Each lesson is a separate post in this series, and the names `lesson`, `article` and `posts` are used interchangeably.

This series is divided into multiple sections, each focusing on a specific area of the guide. Here's an overview of what you can expect in each section, with links to individual lessons:

Section 1: Introduction to the Course and Project

Understand the course objectives, the hardware and software requirements, and the fundamentals of Kubernetes and high availability.
- Lesson 1: Welcome and Course Overview
  
  Get an introduction to the course structure, objectives, and the skills you will acquire by the end. Understand how this course will help you build a high-availability Kubernetes cluster with Raspberry Pi devices.
- Lesson 2: Tools and Equipment Needed
  
  Discover the hardware and software requirements for building your Kubernetes cluster. Learn about the specific tools and equipment you’ll need to follow along with the course.
- Lesson 3: Kubernetes Concepts and High Availability
  
  Learn the basics of Kubernetes, its core components, and the principles of high availability. Understand how these concepts apply to the cluster you’ll build in this course.
Section 2: Building the Physical Setup

Assemble the Raspberry Pi hardware, set up and configure the operating system, and establish a reliable network connection for the cluster.
- Lesson 4: Unboxing Raspberry Pi devices
  
  Unbox your Raspberry Pi devices and prepare them for the cluster setup. Learn about the hardware components and their roles in the Kubernetes cluster.
- Lesson 5: Flashing Raspberry Pi OS and Initial Configuration
  
  Follow a step-by-step guide to install Raspberry Pi OS on your devices, configure essential settings, and prepare them for networking.
- Lesson 6: Setting Up NVMe SSDs for Persistent Storage
  
  Learn how to install NVMe HATs and configure SSD storage for use with Longhorn and local container image storage.
- Lesson 7: Networking Setup and Configuration
  
  Set up the network for your Raspberry Pi cluster, including configuring static IPs, ensuring connectivity, and verifying network settings.
Section 3: Preparing the Environment for Kubernetes

Install essential Kubernetes tools, configure a container runtime, and prepare all Raspberry Pi nodes for cluster initialization.
- Lesson 8: Installing Kubernetes Tools (kubectl, kubeadm, kubelet)
  
  Install and configure essential Kubernetes tools on your Raspberry Pi devices to prepare them for cluster initialization.
- Lesson 9: Setting Up Docker or Container Runtime
  
  Set up Docker or another container runtime to run containers on your Raspberry Pi devices as part of the Kubernetes cluster.
- Lesson 10: Preparing Nodes for Kubernetes Initialization
  
  Configure each Raspberry Pi node to ensure it’s ready for Kubernetes cluster initialization, including system requirements and configurations.
Section 4: Configuring the Kubernetes Cluster

Initialize the Kubernetes control plane, join additional nodes to the cluster, and install a pod network to enable communication between nodes.
- Lesson 11: Initializing the First Control Plane Node
  
  Step-by-step guide to initializing the first control plane node in your Kubernetes cluster, including running kubeadm init and configuring the control plane.
- Lesson 12: Installing a Pod Network (CNI Plugin)
  
  Install a Container Network Interface (CNI) plugin to enable communication between pods running on different nodes.
- Lesson 13: Joining Additional Control Plane Nodes
  
  Join additional Raspberry Pi devices as control plane nodes to create a high-availability Kubernetes cluster.
- Lesson 14: Benchmark Networking
  
  Test and verify the high-availability configuration of your Kubernetes control plane.
Section 5: Setting Up High Availability for the Control Plane

Implement load balancing for the control plane API, set up redundancy using tools like Keepalived or HAProxy, and verify high availability.
- Lesson 15: Configuring Load Balancing for the Control Plane
  
  Discuss the importance of load balancing for the control plane in a Kubernetes cluster and guide you through choosing and configuring a suitable load balancer.
- Lesson 16: Testing Control Plane High Availability
  
  Test and verify the high-availability configuration of your Kubernetes control plane.
Section 6: Deploying Persistent Storage with Longhorn

Install and configure Longhorn for distributed block storage, create storage classes, and manage persistent volumes across the cluster.
- Lesson 17: Installing Longhorn for Distributed Block Storage
  
  Install and configure **Longhorn**, a lightweight and reliable distributed block storage solution for your Kubernetes cluster.
- Lesson 18: Configuring Longhorn Storage Classes
  
  Configure Longhorn storage classes to manage your Kubernetes cluster's storage resources efficiently.
- Lesson 19: Testing and Optimizing Longhorn Performance
  
  Test and optimize the performance of your Longhorn storage setup to ensure it meets the needs of your applications running in the Kubernetes cluster.
Section 7: Securing the Cluster

Apply role-based access control (RBAC), enable mutual TLS authentication, and implement network policies to secure the Kubernetes cluster.
- Lesson 20: Implementing Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
  
  Implement **Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)** in your Kubernetes cluster to manage and secure access to resources.
- Lesson 21: Enabling Mutual TLS Authentication
  
  Enable Mutual TLS (mTLS) Authentication in your Kubernetes cluster to secure communication between its components.
- Lesson 22: Applying Network Policies
  
  Implement **Network Policies** in your Kubernetes cluster to control and secure traffic between pods and other network entities.
Section 8: Monitoring and Logging

Deploy and configure monitoring tools like Prometheus and Grafana, set up the EFK stack (ElasticSearch, Fluentd, Kibana) for logging, and create alerts and dashboards.
- Lesson 23: Installing Prometheus and Grafana
  
  Deploy Prometheus and Grafana for real-time monitoring and visualization of your Kubernetes cluster’s performance and health.
- Lesson 24: Setting Up the EFK Stack (Elasticsearch, Fluentd, Kibana)
  
  Install and configure the EFK stack for centralized logging and log analysis within your Kubernetes cluster.
- Lesson 25: Creating Alerts and Dashboards
  
  Create alerts and dashboards in Grafana to monitor critical metrics and receive notifications of potential issues in your Kubernetes cluster.
Section 9: Testing and Validating Cluster Resilience

Deploy applications, simulate failures, test cluster resilience, and verify that security and monitoring configurations are working correctly.
- Lesson 26: Deploying Sample Applications
  
  Deploy example applications to test your Kubernetes cluster’s functionality and ensure that it’s correctly configured.
- Lesson 27: Simulating Node Failures and Recovery
  
  Simulate node failures and practice recovery procedures to validate the resilience of your Kubernetes cluster.
Section 10: Regular Maintenance and Updates

Perform backups and disaster recovery for etcd, update Kubernetes components, and conduct routine security audits and vulnerability scans.
- Lesson 28: Verifying Security and Monitoring Configurations
  
  Verify that the security measures and monitoring configurations you have implemented are working correctly.
- Lesson 29: Backup and Disaster Recovery for etcd
  
  Learn how to back up and restore the etcd data store to protect your cluster’s critical data and configurations.
- Lesson 30: Updating Kubernetes Components and Nodes
  
  Safely update the components and nodes of your Kubernetes cluster to ensure it remains secure, up-to-date, and functional.
Section 11: Conclusion and Next Steps

Review key concepts learned, access additional resources for further study, and provide feedback for course improvements.
- Lesson 31: Performing Routine Security Audits
  
  Conduct routine security audits and vulnerability scans to maintain the security posture of your Kubernetes cluster.
- Lesson 32: Review and Final Thoughts
  
  Recap key concepts covered throughout the course and reflect on what you have learned.
- Lesson 33: Additional Resources and Further Learning
  
  Access additional resources, tools, and materials for further learning and exploring Kubernetes in more depth.
- Lesson 34: Course Feedback and Future Updates
  
  Provide feedback on the course and learn about potential updates and future enhancements.

Getting Started

To get started with the series, head over to the first section to learn more about the course objectives and the skills you will acquire by the end. .