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Kubernetes Cluster Overview

Welcome to the Kubernetes section of the Ressa Documentation! This area provides an in-depth look into my hybrid K3s Kubernetes cluster, which forms the backbone of my production HomeLab environment.

Introduction to the Cluster​

This documentation details the architecture, deployment, and management of a K3s Kubernetes cluster designed to leverage both on-premise and cloud resources. The primary goal of this setup is to provide a robust, highly available, and flexible platform for hosting a diverse range of self-hosted applications and services within my HomeLab.

Hybrid Architecture Explained​

My Kubernetes cluster operates in a hybrid model, combining local hardware with the scalability and advanced services offered by cloud providers.

  • On-Premise Foundation: The core of the cluster, including control plane nodes and worker nodes, runs on physical hardware within my HomeLab. This provides direct control over resources, low-latency access for internal services, and cost-efficiency for persistent workloads.
  • Cloud Integration: Specific services and functionalities are extended to the cloud to enhance resilience, provide external accessibility, and utilize specialized cloud offerings. This might include:
    • External DNS Management: Leveraging cloud DNS services for reliable domain resolution.
    • Object Storage: Utilizing cloud object storage for backups, media, or static assets.
    • External Load Balancing/Ingress: Potentially using cloud-based load balancers or CDN services for public-facing applications.
    • Monitoring & Logging: Integrating with cloud-native monitoring and logging solutions for comprehensive observability.

This hybrid approach allows for optimal resource utilization, disaster recovery capabilities, and a practical learning ground for managing complex distributed systems across different environments.

K3s: Lightweight and Powerful​

I chose to utilize K3s, a lightweight Kubernetes distribution, for its simplicity, reduced resource footprint, and ease of deployment. K3s is ideal for edge, IoT, and HomeLab environments, providing a fully compliant Kubernetes experience without the overhead of a full-blown Kubernetes installation.

What You'll Find Here​

This section will cover various aspects of the cluster, including:

  • Cluster Provisioning: How the K3s cluster is set up and configured.
  • Networking: Details on internal and external network configurations, CNI, and ingress.
  • Storage: Information on persistent storage solutions, both local and potentially cloud-backed.
  • Application Deployment: Best practices and examples for deploying applications using Helm charts and Kubernetes manifests.
  • Monitoring & Observability: Tools and configurations for keeping an eye on cluster health and application performance.
  • Maintenance & Upgrades: Procedures for keeping the cluster secure and up-to-date.

Our aim is to provide clear and comprehensive documentation to help understand, maintain, and further develop this critical piece of our HomeLab infrastructure.

This is the documentation for my Kubernetes Cluster which runs most of my Homelab