Patching Live Kubernetes Deployments and Draining a Node for Maintenance

Libraries: If you want this lab, consider one of these libraries.
Cloud

Patching Live Kubernetes Deployments and Draining a Node for Maintenance

This lab guides the student through the creation of a cluster using kops. Once created, the cluster is used to deploy four replicas of the NGINX web server. Then the kubectl patch command is used to update the version of NGINX running in the pod containers. The last exercise is to drain a node for maintenance.

Get started Contact sales

Lab Info

Level

Intermediate

Last updated

Aug 10, 2025

Duration

2h 0m

Challenge

Create the Cluster
1. Create the cluster configuration using the script provided.
2. Update the cluster using kops.
3. Validate the cluster.
Challenge

Deploy the NGINX Replicas
1. Deploy four replicas of the NGINX web server, version 1.7.9 from the GitHub repo.
2. View the Pods running.
3. View the version of the container within the Pod.
Challenge

Patch the Live Containers
1. Download the NGINX 1.9.1 Pod spec with the wget command from the GitHub repo.
2. Patch the live containers running in the nginx-deployment with version 1.9.1.
3. Interrogate the status of the deployment.
4. Check the Pods.
Challenge

Drain a Worker Node for Maintenance
1. See which pods are running on which nodes.
2. Select a node to drain and drain it.
3. Examine the status of the deployment replicas.
4. Reattach the node.

About the author

Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

Real skill practice before real-world application

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Learn by doing

Engage hands-on with the tools and technologies you’re learning. You pick the skill, we provide the credentials and environment.

Follow your guide

All labs have detailed instructions and objectives, guiding you through the learning process and ensuring you understand every step.

Turn time into mastery

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you take time to practice. Hands-on labs set you up for success to make those skills stick.