Generating Kubeconfigs for a New Kubernetes Cluster

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Generating Kubeconfigs for a New Kubernetes Cluster

To set up a new Kubernetes cluster from scratch, we need to provide various components of the cluster with kubeconfig files so that they can locate and authenticate with the Kubernetes API. In this learning activity, you will generate a set of kubeconfigs that can be used to build a Kubernetes cluster.

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Lab Info

Level

Intermediate

Last updated

Sep 06, 2025

Duration

1h 0m

Challenge

Generate kubelet kubeconfigs for each worker node.

To complete this task, generate a kubelet kubeconfig for each worker node. You can do so like this:

KUBERNETES_PUBLIC_ADDRESS=172.34.2.0

for instance in worker0.mylabserver.com worker1.mylabserver.com; do
  kubectl config set-cluster kubernetes-the-hard-way 
    --certificate-authority=ca.pem 
    --embed-certs=true 
    --server=https://${KUBERNETES_PUBLIC_ADDRESS}:6443 
    --kubeconfig=${instance}.kubeconfig

  kubectl config set-credentials system:node:${instance} 
    --client-certificate=${instance}.pem 
    --client-key=${instance}-key.pem 
    --embed-certs=true 
    --kubeconfig=${instance}.kubeconfig

  kubectl config set-context default 
    --cluster=kubernetes-the-hard-way 
    --user=system:node:${instance} 
    --kubeconfig=${instance}.kubeconfig

  kubectl config use-context default --kubeconfig=${instance}.kubeconfig
done

Challenge

Generate a kube-proxy kubeconfig.

To complete this task, generate a kubeconfig for kube-proxy. You can do so like this:

KUBERNETES_PUBLIC_ADDRESS=172.34.2.0

{
  kubectl config set-cluster kubernetes-the-hard-way 
    --certificate-authority=ca.pem 
    --embed-certs=true 
    --server=https://${KUBERNETES_PUBLIC_ADDRESS}:6443 
    --kubeconfig=kube-proxy.kubeconfig

  kubectl config set-credentials system:kube-proxy 
    --client-certificate=kube-proxy.pem 
    --client-key=kube-proxy-key.pem 
    --embed-certs=true 
    --kubeconfig=kube-proxy.kubeconfig

  kubectl config set-context default 
    --cluster=kubernetes-the-hard-way 
    --user=system:kube-proxy 
    --kubeconfig=kube-proxy.kubeconfig

  kubectl config use-context default --kubeconfig=kube-proxy.kubeconfig
}

Challenge

Generate a kube-controller-manager kubeconfig.

To complete this task, generate a kubeconfig for kube-controller-manager. You can do so like this:

{
  kubectl config set-cluster kubernetes-the-hard-way 
    --certificate-authority=ca.pem 
    --embed-certs=true 
    --server=https://127.0.0.1:6443 
    --kubeconfig=kube-controller-manager.kubeconfig

  kubectl config set-credentials system:kube-controller-manager 
    --client-certificate=kube-controller-manager.pem 
    --client-key=kube-controller-manager-key.pem 
    --embed-certs=true 
    --kubeconfig=kube-controller-manager.kubeconfig

  kubectl config set-context default 
    --cluster=kubernetes-the-hard-way 
    --user=system:kube-controller-manager 
    --kubeconfig=kube-controller-manager.kubeconfig

  kubectl config use-context default --kubeconfig=kube-controller-manager.kubeconfig
}

Challenge

Generate a kube-scheduler kubeconfig.

To complete this task, generate a kubeconfig for kube-scheduler. You can do so like this:

{
  kubectl config set-cluster kubernetes-the-hard-way 
    --certificate-authority=ca.pem 
    --embed-certs=true 
    --server=https://127.0.0.1:6443 
    --kubeconfig=kube-scheduler.kubeconfig

  kubectl config set-credentials system:kube-scheduler 
    --client-certificate=kube-scheduler.pem 
    --client-key=kube-scheduler-key.pem 
    --embed-certs=true 
    --kubeconfig=kube-scheduler.kubeconfig

  kubectl config set-context default 
    --cluster=kubernetes-the-hard-way 
    --user=system:kube-scheduler 
    --kubeconfig=kube-scheduler.kubeconfig

  kubectl config use-context default --kubeconfig=kube-scheduler.kubeconfig
}

Challenge

Generate an admin kubeconfig.

To complete this task, generate a kubeconfig for the admin user. You can do so like this:

{
  kubectl config set-cluster kubernetes-the-hard-way 
    --certificate-authority=ca.pem 
    --embed-certs=true 
    --server=https://127.0.0.1:6443 
    --kubeconfig=admin.kubeconfig

  kubectl config set-credentials admin 
    --client-certificate=admin.pem 
    --client-key=admin-key.pem 
    --embed-certs=true 
    --kubeconfig=admin.kubeconfig

  kubectl config set-context default 
    --cluster=kubernetes-the-hard-way 
    --user=admin 
    --kubeconfig=admin.kubeconfig

  kubectl config use-context default --kubeconfig=admin.kubeconfig
}

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