Managing Kubernetes clusters can be complex and time-consuming. HKE (HostSpace Kubernetes Engine) aims to simplify this process with automated cluster management, built-in monitoring, and intelligent optimization recommendations. Let’s explore how HKE streamlines the Kubernetes experience while providing robust management features.

Prerequisites

Before creating your first cluster, ensure you have:

• A server/instance ready for use
• SSH key for secure access
• Instance username
• Basic understanding of Kubernetes concepts

Pro tip: Start by visiting the HKE Settings page to add your instances and SSH keys. This is particularly useful if you manage multiple infrastructure components.

Creating Your First Cluster

HKE’s approach to cluster creation is refreshingly straightforward. Unlike traditional Kubernetes setups that often require extensive configuration, HKE streamlines the process to a few essential steps:

1. Choose your Kubernetes version
2. Select or add your instance IP
3. Provide SSH credentials
4. Name your cluster
5. Select your Kubernetes version (1.31 in my case)

Cluster Home Page

Creating a Cluster using Saved Credentials (Instance IP & SSH Keys)

Cluster Creation Completed

What stands out is the minimal input required — HKE handles the complex underlying configuration automatically.

Connecting to Your Cluster

Once your cluster is up, HKE provides straightforward connection instructions:

1. Download the kubeconfig file
2. Configure kubectl using the provided commands
3. Verify connection with kubectl get nodes

A useful tip: Make sure to use the complete context name when switching contexts, as it includes a unique identifier.

Connection instructions from HKE UI

Cluster Creation Completed

Deploying Applications from the Marketplace

HKE comes with a built-in marketplace offering various applications. For this demonstration.

Before deploying ArgoCD, we first needed to set up the Nginx Ingress Controller from HKE’s Marketplace. This is a crucial component because:

• It acts as the traffic manager for your cluster
• Enables domain-based routing using .nip.io
• Allows external access to applications running in the cluster

1. Navigate to the Marketplace tab
2. Locate Nginx Ingress Controller & ArgoCD in the available applications
3. Click Install — HKE handles all the underlying complexity

HKE Marketplace

Quick Verification with Port Forwarding

Before setting up external access, it’s good practice to verify your deployment using port forwarding:

kubectl port-forward svc/argocd-server -n argocd 8080:443

This allows you to quickly access the UI at https://localhost:8080

Generating password for ArgoCD & Port Forwarding

Local Host ArgoCD UI accessed with Port-forwarding

Setting Up External Access

In our case:

1. HKE Marketplace automatically deployed the Nginx Ingress Controller
2. Created ingress rules for ArgoCD
3. Configured domain access using .nip.io for convenient URL access

Since we’re running in an environment without a LoadBalancer and we didn’t set up MetalLb, we needed to switch to NodePort:

kubectl patch svc nginx-ingress-ingress-nginx-controller -n default -p '{"spec": {"type": "NodePort"}}'

This change allows external traffic to reach our ingress controller through a specific port on the node.

After configuring NodePort, access ArgoCD through.

http://argocd.YOUR-NODE-IP.nip.io:NODEPORT

Where NODEPORT is the port assigned by Kubernetes (in our case, 31043)

Successfully deployed ArgoCD interface

Security Considerations

For production environments, consider these additional security enhancements:

• Enable SSL redirect
• Configure backend protocol as HTTPS
• Implement proper certificate management

What Makes HKE Stand Out

1. Simplified Management: The one-click deployment of complex applications like ArgoCD shows how HKE abstracts away Kubernetes complexity
2. Intelligent Monitoring: Built-in resource tracking, security monitoring, and advisory systems provide comprehensive cluster insights

Security Events

HKE Advisory

3. Automated Best Practices: From ingress configuration to resource optimization recommendations, HKE guides you toward Kubernetes best practices

4. Clear Visibility: The dashboard provides immediate insights into cluster health, resource usage, and potential optimizations

General Cluster Dashboard

HKE simplifies Kubernetes deployment and management while maintaining flexibility for customization. The marketplace feature particularly stands out, making application deployment a streamlined process.

Key takeaways:

• Easy cluster creation and management
• Rich marketplace of applications
• Automated ingress configuration
• Flexibility to adapt to different infrastructure requirements

The platform’s ability to automatically handle complex tasks while providing comprehensive monitoring and optimization recommendations makes it a compelling choice for teams looking to streamline their Kubernetes operations.

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