All courses
Resource hub
Featured resource
Tech Upskilling Playbook 2025
Tech Upskilling Playbook

Build future-ready tech teams and hit key business milestones with seven proven plays from industry leaders.

Learn more
Hamburger Icon
  • Labs icon Lab
  • Cloud
Google Cloud Platform icon
Labs

Managing Kubernetes Clusters with Rancher

Rancher provides a centralized hub for managing Kubernetes clusters across cloud service providers, data centers, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This allows organizations to standardize their Kubernetes version, access control, deployment, and lifecycles to simplify operations work. In this lab, we will go through the process of setting up a Rancher instance on an EC2 instance. We will go through the process of configuring Rancher to create an EKS cluster for us in our lab environment. Finally, we will install K3s, a lightweight, single-node Kubernetes distribution, on another EC2 instance and go through the process of importing that cluster into Rancher for central management. This will help you become familiar with how to use Rancher to create new Kubernetes clusters, as well as importing existing clusters hands-on.

Get started Contact sales
Google Cloud Platform icon
Labs

Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 1h 0m
Last updated
Clock icon Aug 30, 2025

Contact sales

By filling out this form and clicking submit, you acknowledge our privacy policy.

Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Install and Configure Rancher

    1. Configure the rancher/rancher container to run on the rancher-server EC2 instance. This EC2 instance has Docker installed and running at the start of the lab.
    2. In the Rancher console, go through the initial configuration.

    Note: A real-world setup of Rancher should not be on only one node. Production instances of Rancher should be designed for high availability and fault tolerance.

  2. Challenge

    Create an Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) Cluster in Rancher

    1. Create an AWS access key and secret key in the IAM console for the rancher_service_user (the user will have some additional characters appended).
    2. Add the AWS access key and secret to the Rancher console.
    3. Go to Clusters in the Rancher console and create an EKS cluster.
    4. Compare the cluster in the Rancher console to the options and information available in the EKS console.

    Note: Creating the EKS cluster can take 7-10 min. You may want to move on to the next objective and check back in on the EKS cluster's status.

  3. Challenge

    Create a K3s Cluster and Import It into Rancher

    1. Configure K3s to run on the k3s-server EC2 instance.
    2. Set up the Rancher console to import the K3s cluster.
    3. Take the kubectl command generated by Rancher and run in the K3s cluster to complete the import.
Pluralsight Skills - Labs - Pluralsight
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.

What's a lab?

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.

Provided environment for hands-on practice

We will provide the credentials and environment necessary for you to practice right within your browser.

Guided walkthrough

Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

Did you know?

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you get time for practice.
Ready to get started?
View individual plans View team plans