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Shiva Shanmugam
Shiva Shanmugam

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Mastering kubectl: Your Gateway to Kubernetes

#kubectl #kubernetes #devops #cli

When working with Kubernetes, kubectl is your essential command-line tool. It helps you deploy applications, inspect cluster resources, debug issues, and more.

What is kubectl?

kubectl is the CLI tool for interacting with Kubernetes clusters. It allows you to deploy applications, manage resources, and view logs efficiently.

Basic Structure 

kubectl <command> <type> <name> [flags]
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  • command: The operation to perform (get, describe, create, delete, apply, etc.)
  • type: Resource type (pods, deployments, services, etc.)
  • name: Resource name (optional)

Common Resource Types

  • pods
  • deployments
  • services
  • nodes
  • configmaps
  • secrets
  • namespaces
  • ingress

Essential kubectl Commands & Use Cases

1. Check Cluster Info 

kubectl cluster-info
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Use Case: Verify cluster connection and endpoints.

2. List All Resources 

kubectl get all
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Use Case: Get a quick overview of all resources in the current namespace.

3. Get Specific Resources 

kubectl get pods
kubectl get deployments
kubectl get services
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Use Case: Monitor resource status.

4. View Detailed Resource Info 

kubectl describe pod <pod-name>
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Use Case: Debug failed pods and view event logs.

5. Apply Configuration (YAML) 

kubectl apply -f <file>.yaml
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Use Case: Deploy apps or update configurations using manifest files.

6. Delete Resources 

kubectl delete pod <pod-name>
kubectl delete -f <file>.yaml
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Use Case: Remove unwanted or failed resources.

7. Logs and Debugging 

kubectl logs <pod-name>
kubectl logs <pod-name> -c <container-name>
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Use Case: Debug container issues.

8. Execute Commands in a Pod 

kubectl exec -it <pod-name> -- /bin/bash
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Use Case: Access a container shell for troubleshooting.

9. Port Forwarding 

kubectl port-forward svc/my-service 8080:80
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Use Case: Access internal services locally.

10. Scaling Deployments 

kubectl scale deployment <deployment-name> --replicas=3
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Use Case: Adjust the number of replicas based on load.

11. View Events 

kubectl get events
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Use Case: Monitor recent cluster activities.

12. Switch Context / Namespace 

kubectl config use-context <context-name>
kubectl config set-context --current --namespace=<namespace>
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Use Case: Manage multiple clusters or focus on a specific namespace.

Bonus Tips

Shortcuts:

  • po = pods
  • svc = services
  • dep = deployments
  • ns = namespaces

Example:

kubectl get po
kubectl get svc
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Watch Mode:

kubectl get pods -w
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Use Case: Continuously monitor status changes in real-time.

kubectl is a powerful tool that gives you control over your Kubernetes cluster. Mastering it will make managing containerized applications much more efficient.

HappyReading!

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