Using K9s CLI for Effective Kubernetes Management

How to Use K9s CLI for Kubernetes Management

K9s is a powerful command-line tool designed to simplify the process of managing Kubernetes clusters. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to install and effectively use K9s to monitor and interact with your Kubernetes environments. We’ll cover everything from basic setup to advanced usage tips, ensuring you have the tools needed for efficient cluster management.

Prerequisites

Basic understanding of Kubernetes and its components.
Kubernetes cluster up and running.
Access to a terminal with kubectl installed and configured.
K9s (Official site) installed on your system.

Step 1: Installing K9s

K9s is a cross-platform application that can be installed on major operating systems. To install K9s, follow these steps:

# macOS
brew install derailed/k9s/k9s

# Linux
curl -sS https://webinstall.dev/k9s | bash

# Windows
choco install k9s

Ensure that k9s is available in your system’s PATH by typing k9s version to verify the installation.

Step 2: Accessing Your Cluster

Once K9s is installed, simply enter k9s in your terminal to launch the application. K9s automatically uses your existing kubeconfig to connect to your Kubernetes cluster. The default view displays a real-time dashboard of your Pods.

Step 3: Navigating K9s

K9s provides a comprehensive interface for managing different Kubernetes resources. Here are a few common commands:

: – Initiate command mode.
: + pod – Switch to Pods view.
: + ns – Switch namespaces.
: + logs – View logs (add -f to follow).
: + cow – Show cluster metrics.

Step 4: Managing Resources

Within K9s, you can manage Pods, Deployments, Services, and more:

To delete a resource, select it and press d.
To describe a resource, use enter.
To edit a resource, press e (requires the EDITOR environment variable set).

Troubleshooting

If you encounter permission issues, ensure your kubeconfig is correctly configured and has sufficient permissions. For connectivity issues, check that your Kubernetes cluster is accessible from your machine.

Summary Checklist

Installed K9s using the appropriate method for your OS.
Verified K9s installation with k9s version.
Connected to Kubernetes cluster with K9s using the kubeconfig.
Navigated and managed resources efficiently using K9s commands.

By leveraging the capabilities of K9s, you can improve your operational efficiency and streamline Kubernetes cluster management. For further reading, consider checking out our guides on Configuring Rook Ceph Storage in Kubernetes and Using Longhorn for Kubernetes Storage.