Create a cluster using Fleet

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

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 Enable ClusterClass

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
Manually using kubectl

Go to Rancher Manager
Select Continuos Delivery from the menu:
Select fleet-local as the namespace from the top right
Select Git Repos from the sidebar
Click Add Repository
Enter classes as the name
Get the HTTPS clone URL from your git repo
Add the URL into the Repository URL field
Change the branch name to clusterclass
Click Add Path
Enter /classes
Click Next
Click Create
Click on the clusters name
Watch the resources become ready

Get the HTTPS clone URL from your git repo
Create a new file called repo.yaml

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: []

Apply the file to the Rancher Manager cluster using kubectl:
```
kubectl apply -f repo.yaml
```
Go to Rancher Manager
Select Continuos Delivery from the side bar
Select fleet-local as the namespace from the top right
Select Git Repos from the sidebar
Click on the clusters name
Watch the resources become ready
Select Cluster Management from the menu
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
Manually using kubectl

Go to Rancher Manager
Select Continuos Delivery from the menu:
Select fleet-local as the namespace from the top right
Select Git Repos from the sidebar
Click Add Repository
Enter clusters as the name
Get the HTTPS clone URL from your git repo
Add the URL into the Repository URL field
Change the branch name to clusterclass
Click Add Path
Enter /clusters
Click Next
Click Create
Click on the clusters name
Watch the resources become ready
Select Cluster Management from the menu
Check your cluster has been imported

Get the HTTPS clone URL from your git repo
Create a new file called repo.yaml

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: []

Apply the file to the Rancher Manager cluster using kubectl:
```
kubectl apply -f repo.yaml
```
Go to Rancher Manager
Select Continuos Delivery from the side bar
Select fleet-local as the namespace from the top right
Select Git Repos from the sidebar
Click on the classes name
Watch the resources become ready
Select Cluster Management from the menu
Check your cluster has been imported