Getting Started with Kubernetes using MiniKube

The best part of open source is learning comes pretty inexpensive. Take Kubernetes for example with all the resources on Github and Kubernetes there is no limit to learning. The other piece of learning Kubernetes on the cheap is the ability to run a smaller version of Kubernetes on your computer. This is known as MiniKube which can be run locally on any computer using a hypervisor. This guide is based on running MiniKube on Windows 10 running Hyper-V.

Prerequisites to get started are below.

• Install the windows package manager known as Chocolatey. There is a guide on the site to walk you through the very easy installation.
• Install Hyper-V on your Windows 10 computer. (follow the guide to get Hyper-V installed)

Installing MiniKube

Open a command line window with administrator privileges.

Now you will use chocolatey to install minikube. Enter the below commands at the prompt.

choco install minikube

Chocolatey will start the process of installing minikube. When prompted to run the script type y for the process to run successfully. Your screen should look like the below image when it is running and completed.

Next you will install kubectl which is the command line process for Kubernetes. This is needed to do everything with MiniKube locally and for any deployment in the cloud.

Use the below command line to use chocolatey to install kubectl.

choco install kubernetes-cli

To complete the installation there are some modifications to Hyper-V you will need to make. Follow the steps below to finish your installation and then you will get started Kubernetes.

1. Open Hyper-V Manager.

2. When Hyper-V Manager is open go to the Virtual Switch Manager located along the right panel.

3. You will need to create a virtual switch for minikube. Select New virtual network switch on the right hand side, select External for the network type, and then press the Create Virtual Switch button.

4. Give the Switch a name it can be anything.

Once the switch is created you are now ready to install minikube and have it run under Hyper-V.

Run the following command from you elevated command prompt.

minikube start --vm-driver hyperv --hyperv-virtual-switch "{Switch Name Here}"

Open Hyper-V manager again and you will see minikube running.

To further verify that minikube is running correctly enter the below command in your elevated command prompt.

kubectl get pods -n kube-system

You should see the below on your screen.

If you would like to see a GUI known as the minikube dashboard type the below command. It will open the dashboard in your default browser.

minikube dashboard

Congratulations! You are now ready to hit the high seas running Kubernetes locally!