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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 platform
Lab Info
Level
Intermediate
Last updated
Sep 06, 2025
Duration
1h 0m

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Table of Contents
  1. 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
    
  2. 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
    }
    
  3. 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
    }
    
  4. 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
    }
    
  5. 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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