How to Create a Kubernetes Cluster

Welcome to the cluster creation guide! This tutorial will walk you through the process of creating your own Kubernetes cluster.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• An active account
• Sufficient cluster quota available
• A valid payment method

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Navigate to Cluster Creation

1. Click the "+ Get Started" button in the sidebar

Step 2: Select a Plan

Choose a plan from the available options. Each plan includes the following specifications:

• CPU - Number of cores
• Memory - RAM capacity
• Storage - Disk capacity
• Network - Network speed

Review the monthly pricing displayed on each plan card, then click "Get Started" to proceed.

Free plan: A free plan is also available for testing and evaluation.

Promotion Codes: If you have a promotion code, click the "Use Promotion Code" button at the top of the page to apply it.

Step 3: Review and Enter Cluster Name

1. Review the selected plan's specifications and pricing
2. Choose the Kubernetes distribution (K3s / RKE2)
3. Enter a cluster name:
   • Letters (upper and lowercase), numbers, underscores, and hyphens
   • Minimum 5 characters
   • Example: my_production_cluster, My-Cluster-01
4. Select a payment method

Step 4: Payment

• Credit Card: Use a saved card or add a new one
• Bank Transfer: An invoice will be issued; your cluster will be activated after payment confirmation

For details on payment methods, see Billing & Payments.

Step 5: Monitor Creation Progress

Watch the progress as your cluster is created:

1. Initialization - Cluster configuration is being set up
2. VM Provisioning - Virtual machines are being created
3. SSH Connectivity - Establishing secure connections
4. Kubernetes Installation - Installing Kubernetes on the primary node
5. Kubeconfig Fetch - Configuring cluster access
6. DNS Registration - Setting up DNS entries
7. Worker Nodes Join - Joining worker nodes to the cluster
8. Helm Installation - Installing standard components
9. Health Check - Verifying cluster health
10. Finalization - Final setup and cleanup

Note: Cluster creation typically takes 3-5 minutes.

Step 6: Access Your Cluster

Once creation is complete:

1. Navigate to your cluster details page
2. Download the kubeconfig file
3. Use kubectl to interact with your cluster:

# Set kubeconfig
export KUBECONFIG=/path/to/downloaded/kubeconfig.yaml

# Verify connection
kubectl get nodes

# Check pods
kubectl get pods --all-namespaces

Importing an Existing Cluster

You can import a Kubernetes cluster created outside of Kubo into your workspace using a kubeconfig file. K3s, RKE2, and other distributions are supported.

Starting an Import

The import dialog can be opened from:

• The "Import Cluster" button on the Home page
• The "Import Cluster" button on the Clusters list page

Input Fields

Steps

1. Open the Import Cluster dialog
2. Enter the cluster name, distribution, and kubeconfig
3. Click "Review and Import" to preview the details
4. Click "Import" to proceed
5. After import, the detected node list will be displayed

Notes

• The kubeconfig must include all required keys: apiVersion, clusters, users, and contexts
• Imported clusters appear in your workspace alongside clusters created through Kubo
• Connectivity to the Kubernetes API is verified during import (a timeout error will appear if unreachable)

Common Issues

Quota Exceeded

Problem: "You have reached the maximum limit of X cluster(s)"

Solution:

• Delete unused clusters
• Upgrade your plan for higher limits
• Contact support for quota increase

Payment Failed

Problem: Payment processing error

Solution:

• Verify your payment method is valid
• Check your card has sufficient funds
• Try a different payment method
• Contact support if the issue persists

Creation Timeout

Problem: Cluster creation takes longer than expected

Solution:

• Wait up to 10 minutes before taking action
• Check the logs for error messages
• Contact support if creation fails

Next Steps

After creating your cluster:

1. Services (Catalog) - Deploy pre-configured applications from the App Catalog
2. Configure Custom Domains - Set up custom domains for your services
3. Manage Resources - View and manage Kubernetes resources (pods, services, deployments)

Need Help?

If you encounter any issues:

• Check the FAQ section
• Contact our support team