MicroK8s: Creating Persistent Volume in a Single Node Kubernetes Cluster

Introduction

Microk8s, the open-source Kubernetes distribution created by Canonical, has been a game changer for many organizations, including ours. Our team has utilized Microk8s in a wide range of scenarios, from developing simple scripts to deploying complex applications that serve tens of thousands of regular users. In each case, we were amazed by the simplicity and efficiency of Microk8s. The "zero-ops" promise means that it requires minimal effort to manage and maintain, freeing up time for our team to focus on more important tasks.

From setting up development environments to running production-grade applications, Microk8s simplifies the process and enables efficient operations. Its "zero-ops" claim is not just a catchy slogan, but a reality we have experienced firsthand. In this article, we will discuss our experience with Microk8s and highlight one common use case: creating persistent volumes.

We have an article about how to install MicroK8s in your single VM. Check this out!

How to setup low-cost, zero-ops, full-featured Kubernetes Cluster in a single VM using MicroK8s

Microk8s is a lightweight, easy-to-install Kubernetes distribution that provides a fully-featured cluster on a single VM. It has gained popularity in recent years for its simplicity and ease of use, especially when compared to other similar Kubernetes options such as k3s and minikube.

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Creating Persistent Volumes with Ease

One of the most common use cases we have encountered is the need to create persistent volumes. In traditional Kubernetes environments, this can be a complex and time-consuming process. However, with Microk8s, the implementation is surprisingly simple.

To create a persistent volume in Microk8s, all you need to do is define a PersistentVolumeClaim (PVC) in your deployment configuration. Microk8s takes care of the rest, automatically provisioning the storage and binding it to the desired container. This streamlined process reduces the potential for human error and accelerates deployment times, ultimately benefiting the entire organization. Here are the detailed steps:

Activate Hostpath Storage AddOn

The Hostpath storage add-on in MicroK8s provides a straightforward method for provisioning PersistentVolumes supported by a host directory. This is perfect for local development purposes, but users should keep in mind the following considerations for all use cases:

1. PersistentVolumeClaims generated by the hostpath storage provisioner are tied to the local node, making it impossible to transfer them to a different node.
2. A hostpath volume has the potential to expand beyond the capacity specified in the volume claim manifest.

~$ microk8s enable hostpath-storage

Creating PVC Configuration

We will create 5GB Persistent Volume with ReadWriteMany access mode

Install it

~$ kubectl apply -f pvc.yml

Verify Installation

~$ kubectl get pvc

NAME     STATUS   VOLUME    CAPACITY   ACCESS         MODES
app-pvc  Bound    pvc-xxx   5Gi        RWX            microk8s-hostpath

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