Complete Install Kubernetes with Kind (Kubernetes IN Docker) on RHEL 9 / CentOS Stream 9

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Complete Install Kubernetes with Kind (Kubernetes IN Docker) on RHEL 9 / CentOS Stream 9

Step-by-Step: Install Kubernetes with Kind (Kubernetes IN Docker) on RHEL 9 / CentOS Stream 9

Introduction:

Kind (Kubernetes IN Docker) runs full Kubernetes clusters as Docker containers. It’s lightweight, easy to create/destroy, and ideal for local development, CI, and CKA/CKAD practice. This guide walks you through installing Docker, Kind, and kubectl on a RHEL 9 / CentOS Stream 9 host and creating both single-node and multi-node clusters (control plane + worker nodes).

Prerequisites:

1) Hardware/Host

  • A machine with at least 4 CPU cores and 8+ GB RAM recommended for multi-node clusters (1 control-plane + 2 workers).
  • 20+ GB free disk recommended.
  • Docker runs on the host.

2) OS & Access

  • A RHEL 9 / CentOS Stream 9 system (or compatible).
  • A user with sudo privileges (commands use sudo where needed).
  • Internet access to download binaries and Docker images.

3) Software/Tools

  • curl, yum / dnf, sha256sum available (standard on RHEL/CentOS).
  • Optional: git if you want to pull repo manifests.

4) Network & Security

  • Outbound HTTPS allowed to dl.k8s.io, Docker repos.
  • If you have strict firewall rules, allow Docker and host ports you map (we use hostPort in example).

Overview of the Setup Process

  • Update the system.
  • Install Docker.
  • Install kind.
  • Install kubectl.
  • Create a single-node cluster (control plane).
  • Create a multi-node cluster (control plane + 2 workers) with extra port mapping.
  • Verify the cluster and run basic checks.
  • (Optional) Delete the cluster.

ALSO READ:

Step-by-step installation

Update the system

sudo yum update -y

Install Docker

# install required plugin
sudo dnf -y install dnf-plugins-core

# add Docker repo
sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo https://download.docker.com/linux/rhel/docker-ce.repo

# install Docker and CLI
sudo dnf install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin

# enable & start
sudo systemctl enable --now docker

# verify
docker --version

Install kind (Kubernetes in Docker)

# For AMD64 / x86_64
[ $(uname -m) = x86_64 ] && curl -Lo ./kind https://kind.sigs.k8s.io/dl/v0.30.0/kind-linux-amd64

# For ARM64
[ $(uname -m) = aarch64 ] && curl -Lo ./kind https://kind.sigs.k8s.io/dl/v0.30.0/kind-linux-arm64

chmod +x ./kind
sudo mv ./kind /usr/local/bin/kind

# verify
kind --version

Note: Replace the v0.30.0 version string if you want a newer kind release. Use thereleases page to check the latest.

Install kubectl CLI

# Download latest stable kubectl for linux/amd64
curl -LO "https://dl.k8s.io/release/$(curl -L -s https://dl.k8s.io/release/stable.txt)/bin/linux/amd64/kubectl"

# Download checksum and verify
curl -LO "https://dl.k8s.io/release/$(curl -L -s https://dl.k8s.io/release/stable.txt)/bin/linux/amd64/kubectl.sha256"
echo "$(cat kubectl.sha256)  kubectl" | sha256sum --check

# install
sudo install -o root -g root -m 0755 kubectl /usr/local/bin/kubectl

# or place in local bin
chmod +x kubectl
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
mv ./kubectl ~/.local/bin/kubectl

# verify
kubectl version --client --output=yaml

Create a single-node cluster (simple):

kind create cluster --image=kindest/node:v1.34.0@sha256:7416a61b42b1662ca6ca89f02028ac133a309a2a30ba309614e8ec94d976dc5a --name cka-cluster1
kubectl cluster-info --context kind-cka-cluster1
kubectl get nodes

Note:
1) --image=kindest/node:v1.34.0 pins the node image (Kubernetes version 1.34.0). Change to the version you prefer.

2) Kind will use Docker to create container nodes.

Create a multi-node cluster (control-plane + 2 workers) with host port mapping

Create a config file kind-extraPortMappings-multi-nodeclusters.yml

kind: Cluster
apiVersion: kind.x-k8s.io/v1alpha4
nodes:
  - role: control-plane
    extraPortMappings:
      - containerPort: 30001
        hostPort: 30001
  - role: worker
  - role: worker

Run the command

kind create cluster --image=kindest/node:v1.34.0@sha256:7416a61b42b1662ca6ca89f02028ac133a309a2a30ba309614e8ec94d976dc5a --config kind-extraPortMappings-multi-nodeclusters.yml --name cka-cluster1

Verify:

docker ps -a                # should show kind containers cka-cluster1-control-plane, -worker, -worker2
kubectl get nodes
kubectl get pods -A

Verify cluster & inspect nodes

kubectl cluster-info --context kind-cka-cluster1
kubectl get nodes -o wide
kubectl describe node cka-cluster1-control-plane
kubectl get pods -A

Delete the cluster

kind delete cluster --name cka-cluster1
# confirm
kind get clusters
docker ps -a

EX – Screenshot:

Create a single-node Kind cluster (simple):
Create a Multi-Node Cluster (Control-plane + 2 Workers) with Host Port Mapping.
Reference Link

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