Dec 30, 20232 min read

Lab 18 - Simplifying Kubernetes Deployment with Helm - Day 91

Welcome back to the #90DaysOfDevOps series! On Day 91, we'll be exploring the world of Helm, a powerful tool that makes deploying applications on Kubernetes a breeze. Helm simplifies the often complex task of managing and deploying applications on Kubernetes clusters, allowing you to focus on your application logic rather than getting lost in Kubernetes YAML files.

What is Helm?

Helm is a package manager for Kubernetes applications. It streamlines the process of defining, installing, and upgrading even the most complex Kubernetes applications. At its core, Helm uses charts - packages of pre-configured Kubernetes resources - making it easy to share and reproduce Kubernetes workloads.

Setting Up Helm

Before we start using Helm, let's ensure it's installed on your machine and connected to your Kubernetes cluster.

1. Install Helm: Depending on your platform, you can download Helm from the official page. Follow the installation instructions for your operating system.

2. Initialize Helm in your Kubernetes cluster:

helm init

Creating Your First Helm Chart

Now that Helm is set up, let's create a basic Helm chart for a sample application.

1. Create a new Helm chart:

helm create my-first-chart

2. Navigate into the chart directory:

cd my-first-chart

3. Understand the Helm Chart structure:

charts/: Subcharts (dependencies) go here.
templates/: Kubernetes YAML templates for deploying resources.
values.yaml: Default configuration values.

Modifying the Helm Chart

Let's customize the Helm chart for a simple NGINX deployment.

1. Edit values.yaml:

image:
  repository: nginx
  tag: stable

2. Remove unnecessary resources from templates/:

Delete files like service.yaml and ingress.yaml for simplicity.

Deploying with Helm

Now comes the exciting part - deploying your application using Helm!

1. Navigate back to the parent directory:

cd ..

2. Install the Helm chart:

helm install my-nginx ./my-first-chart

3. Verify the deployment:

kubectl get pods

Upgrading with Helm

As your application evolves, so does your Helm chart.

Edit the Helm chart or values:

Modify values.yaml or add new resources in templates/.

Upgrade the Helm release:

helm upgrade my-nginx ./my-first-chart

Congratulations! You've successfully used Helm to simplify the deployment of a Kubernetes application. Helm's ability to package, version, and manage Kubernetes applications empowers you to efficiently manage your workloads. Experiment further by exploring Helm charts for popular applications or creating your own customized charts for specific use cases.

Stay tuned for more exciting DevOps adventures on Day 92! Remember, simplicity is key, and with Helm, Kubernetes deployments just got a whole lot simpler.

Thank you for reading!

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vPundit