How to Install MicroK8s on Ubuntu

MicroK8s is a lightweight Kubernetes distribution designed for developers and small-scale deployments. This guide will walk you through the steps to install MicroK8s on Ubuntu.

Step 1: Update System Packages

Before installing MicroK8s, update your system to ensure all packages are up to date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install MicroK8s

Install MicroK8s using Snap:

sudo snap install microk8s --classic

Step 3: Add User to MicroK8s Group

To avoid using sudo for MicroK8s commands, add your user to the microk8s group:

sudo usermod -aG microk8s $USER
newgrp microk8s

Step 4: Verify Installation

Check the status of MicroK8s:

microk8s status --wait-ready

Step 5: Enable Essential Add-ons

MicroK8s provides various add-ons that enhance its functionality. Enable some essential ones:

microk8s enable dns storage dashboard

Step 6: Access Kubernetes with MicroK8s

By default, MicroK8s uses its own version of kubectl. You can run:

microk8s kubectl get nodes

If you prefer using kubectl directly, create an alias:

alias kubectl='microk8s kubectl'

To make this alias persistent, add it to your shell configuration file:

echo "alias kubectl='microk8s kubectl'" >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Step 7: Check Cluster Information

To verify cluster details, run:

microk8s kubectl cluster-info

Optional: Enable MicroK8s on System Startup

If you want MicroK8s to start automatically after a reboot, enable it:

sudo snap enable microk8s

Uninstalling MicroK8s

If you need to remove MicroK8s from your system, use:

sudo snap remove microk8s