Featured resource
2025 Tech Upskilling Playbook
Tech Upskilling Playbook

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

Check it out
  • Lab
    • Libraries: If you want this lab, consider one of these libraries.
    • Core Tech
Google Cloud Platform icon
Labs

Scale a Deployment with Kubernetes

In this lab, you’ll practice deploying and scaling applications in Kubernetes. When you’re finished, you’ll have hands-on experience with Kubernetes Deployments, replica management, and scaling strategies.

Google Cloud Platform icon
Lab platform
Lab Info
Rating
(49)
Level
Beginner
Last updated
Aug 04, 2025
Duration
1h 30m

Contact sales

By filling out this form and clicking submit, you acknowledge our privacy policy.
Table of Contents
  1. Challenge

    Getting Started in the Lab Environment

    Here are the initial instructions and explanation of the lab environment. Read this while your environment is busy creating itself from nothing. Yes, this violates physics; we know. How fun!

  2. Challenge

    Verify Cluster Configuration

    To start the lab, you`ll verify the Kubernetes cluster configuration using kubectl commands.

  3. Challenge

    Run an Application on your Kubernetes Cluster

    In this challenge, you’ll create a YAML file for an Nginx deployment. The image is stored locally on the worker node, so we’ll set the image pull policy to ensure Kubernetes uses the local version.

  4. Challenge

    Scale Deployment Using Manifest

    In this challenge, you will practice scaling a Kubernetes Deployment by modifying its manifest file. You will begin by editing the Deployment’s YAML file to increase the number of replicas. After applying the updated manifest, you will verify the changes by inspecting the Deployment and Pods using the appropriate kubectl commands. This exercise will help you understand how to use manifest files to define and manage the desired state of your applications in Kubernetes.

  5. Challenge

    Scale Deployment Using Scale Command

    In this challenge, you will dynamically adjust the number of replicas for an existing Kubernetes Deployment using the kubectl scale command. You will first increase the replica count to simulate scaling up for increased demand. Then, you will scale the Deployment back down to its original size to optimize resource usage.

    To complete the challenge, you will verify the changes by using kubectl describe and other inspection commands to confirm that the Deployment reflects the desired replica count. This exercise will demonstrate how to efficiently scale applications on-the-fly in a Kubernetes environment.

  6. Challenge

    The Last Challenge

    Welcome to the final challenge! This is your last chance to experiment in the environment. Clicking Finish Lab will end this little world that flittered into existence just for you.

About the author

Senior Consultant and IT Instructor with focus on automating on-premise and public cloud environments, as well as Kubernetes clusters.

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.

Get started with Pluralsight