How to setup Minikube on Ubuntu

Posted on August 31, 2024

Minikube is a free and open-source tool that allows you to run a single-node Kubernetes cluster on your local machine. It provides a simple way to try out Kubernetes, develop and test applications, and learn about container orchestration.

Minikube creates a virtual machine (VM) on your computer and deploys a Kubernetes cluster within it. This cluster includes all the necessary components, such as the API server, controller manager, scheduler, and worker node.

With Minikube, you can:

  • Run Kubernetes on your laptop or desktop
  • Develop and test Kubernetes applications locally
  • Try out Kubernetes features and plugins
  • Learn about Kubernetes architecture and components

Minikube supports various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. It’s a great tool for anyone interested in Kubernetes, containerization, and cloud-native technologies.

Here are some key features of Minikube:

  • Easy installation: Minikube can be installed using a simple command
  • Quick startup: Minikube starts a Kubernetes cluster in minutes
  • Resource-efficient: Minikube runs on a single node, making it resource-efficient
  • Kubernetes compatibility: Minikube supports most Kubernetes features and plugins

Install Minikube

Note: Minikube requires atleast 2 cores. If you are using a VM, make sure it is allocated atleast 2 cores.

curl -LO https://storage.googleapis.com/minikube/releases/latest/minikube-linux-amd64
sudo install minikube-linux-amd64 /usr/local/bin/minikube
minikube start --driver=docker

Minikube can download the appropriate version of kubectl and you should be able to use it like this:

minikube kubectl -- get po -A

You can also make your life easier by adding the following to your shell config: (for more details see: kubectl)

alias kubectl="minikube kubectl --"

Enable the Kubernetes Dashboard

minikube addons enable dashboard
minikube addons enable metrics-server
minikube ip
kubectl proxy --address='0.0.0.0' --disable-filter=true

Dashboard will be available at the following URL:

http://<minikube-vm-ip>:8001/api/v1/namespaces/kubernetes-dashboard/services/http:kubernetes-dashboard:/proxy/

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