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Create a cluster using Fleet

This section will guide you through creating a cluster that utilizes ClusterClass using a GitOps workflow with Fleet.

note

This guide uses the examples repository.

Prerequisites​

  • Rancher Manager cluster with Rancher Turtles installed
  • Cluster API providers installed for your scenario - we'll be using the Docker infrastructure and Kubeadm bootstrap/control plane providers in these instructions - see Initialization for common providers
  • The ClusterClass feature enabled - see the introduction

Configure Rancher Manager​

The clusterclass and cluster definitions will be imported into the Rancher Manager cluster (which is also acting as a Cluster API management cluster) using the Continuous Delivery feature (which uses Fleet).

The guide will apply the manifests using a 2-step process. However, this isn't required and they could be combined into one step.

There are 2 options to provide the configuration. The first is using the Rancher Manager UI and the second is by applying some YAML to your cluster. Both are covered below.

Import ClusterClass Definitions​

Using the Rancher Manager UI​

  1. Go to Rancher Manager
  2. Select Continuos Delivery from the menu:
  3. Select fleet-local as the namespace from the top right
  4. Select Git Repos from the sidebar
  5. Click Add Repository
  6. Enter classes as the name
  7. Get the HTTPS clone URL from your git repo
  8. Add the URL into the Repository URL field
  9. Change the branch name to clusterclass
  10. Click Add Path
  11. Enter /classes
  12. Click Next
  13. Click Create
  14. Click on the clusters name
  15. Watch the resources become ready

Using kubectl​

  1. Get the HTTPS clone URL from your git repo
  2. Create a new file called repo.yaml
  3. Add the following contents to the new file:
apiVersion: fleet.cattle.io/v1alpha1
kind: GitRepo
metadata:
  name: classes
  namespace: fleet-local
spec:
  branch: clusterclass
  repo: https://github.com/rancher-sandbox/rancher-turtles-fleet-example.git
  paths:
    - /classes
  targets: []
  1. Apply the file to the Rancher Manager cluster using kubectl:
kubectl apply -f repo.yaml
  1. Go to Rancher Manager
  2. Select Continuos Delivery from the side bar
  3. Select fleet-local as the namespace from the top right
  4. Select Git Repos from the sidebar
  5. Click on the clusters name
  6. Watch the resources become ready
  7. Select Cluster Management from the menu
  8. Check your cluster has been imported

Import Cluster Definitions​

Now the classes have been imported its possible to use them with cluster definitions.

Using the Rancher Manager UI​

  1. Go to Rancher Manager
  2. Select Continuos Delivery from the menu:
  3. Select fleet-local as the namespace from the top right
  4. Select Git Repos from the sidebar
  5. Click Add Repository
  6. Enter clusters as the name
  7. Get the HTTPS clone URL from your git repo
  8. Add the URL into the Repository URL field
  9. Change the branch name to clusterclass
  10. Click Add Path
  11. Enter /clusters
  12. Click Next
  13. Click Create
  14. Click on the clusters name
  15. Watch the resources become ready
  16. Select Cluster Management from the menu
  17. Check your cluster has been imported

Using kubectl​

  1. Get the HTTPS clone URL from your git repo
  2. Create a new file called repo.yaml
  3. Add the following contents to the new file:
apiVersion: fleet.cattle.io/v1alpha1
kind: GitRepo
metadata:
  name: clusters
  namespace: fleet-local
spec:
  branch: clusterclass
  repo: https://github.com/rancher-sandbox/rancher-turtles-fleet-example.git
  paths:
    - /clusters
  targets: []
  1. Apply the file to the Rancher Manager cluster using kubectl:
kubectl apply -f repo.yaml
  1. Go to Rancher Manager
  2. Select Continuos Delivery from the side bar
  3. Select fleet-local as the namespace from the top right
  4. Select Git Repos from the sidebar
  5. Click on the classes name
  6. Watch the resources become ready
  7. Select Cluster Management from the menu
  8. Check your cluster has been imported