How to Deploy Applications on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE)
How to Deploy Applications on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE)
Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) is a managed, production-ready environment that makes it easy to deploy and manage containerized applications. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to deploy your applications to GKE, with detailed steps and best practices to ensure a smooth experience.
Prerequisites
- A Google Cloud Platform (GCP) account. Sign up here (Official site).
- Basic understanding of Kubernetes concepts.
- Have the Google Cloud SDK installed.
- A Docker image of your application ready to be deployed.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Set Up Your Google Cloud Project
- Navigate to the GCP Console.
- Create a new project or select an existing one.
- Ensure that the Google Kubernetes Engine API is enabled.
- Configure the gcloud Tool
- In your terminal, set your active project by running:
gcloud config set project [PROJECT_ID]. - Authenticate your session using:
gcloud auth login.
- In your terminal, set your active project by running:
- Create a GKE Cluster
- Create a cluster using:
gcloud container clusters create my-cluster --zone [COMPUTE_ZONE]. - Wait for the cluster creation process to complete.
- Create a cluster using:
- Deploying Your Application
- Build your Docker image and push it to Google Container Registry.
- Use the Kubernetes CLI to deploy the image:
kubectl create deployment my-app --image=gcr.io/[PROJECT_ID]/[IMAGE].
- Expose Your Application
- Expose your application to the Internet:
kubectl expose deployment my-app --type=LoadBalancer --port 80 --target-port 8080. - Retrieve the external IP with:
kubectl get service my-app.
- Expose your application to the Internet:
Troubleshooting Tips
- Ensure that you have the necessary IAM permissions for creating clusters and deploying applications.
- If your application cannot be reached, check the firewall settings in GCP.
- Use
kubectl logsto view logs and debug any issues with pods.
Summary Checklist
- Set up Google Cloud SDK and connect to your GCP project.
- Create and configure a GKE cluster.
- Deploy your Dockerized application.
- Expose the application to be accessed over the Internet.
- Verify the deployment via the provided external IP.
For those interested in setting up GKE itself, refer to our guide on installing GKE on Google Cloud.
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