Project Description

The project involves deploying a Netflix clone web application on a Kubernetes cluster, a popular container orchestration platform that simplifies the deployment and management of containerized applications.

The project will require creating Docker images of the web application and its dependencies and deploying them onto the Kubernetes cluster using Kubernetes manifests. The Kubernetes cluster will provide benefits such as high availability, scalability, and automatic failover of the application. Additionally, the project will utilize Kubernetes tools such as Kubernetes Dashboard and kubectl to monitor and manage the deployed application.

Overall, the project aims to demonstrate the power and benefits of Kubernetes for deploying and managing containerized applications at scale.

Hands-on Project: Deploying a Netflix Clone Web Application on a Kubernetes Cluster

Pre-requisites

1. Install Docker: Follow the instructions from the Official Docker Documentation to install Docker on your OS.

   

2. Install Kubernetes and Kubectl: To install Kubernetes and kubectl in your OS, follow the steps from my previous Kubernetes blog or use the official minikube documentation.

   

Project Steps

1. API Key Configuration: If the Netflix Clone web application requires an API key to fetch data, make sure to follow the instructions provided in the README.md file of the GitHub repository to configure the API key while creating the Docker container.

2. Clone the Netflix Clone Repository: Navigate to the directory where you want to clone the Netflix Clone repository from GitHub. Use the following command to clone the repository:

    git clone https://github.com/crazy-man22/netflix-clone-react-typescript.git
   

3. Build Docker Image: Once you have cloned the repository, navigate to the project directory and locate the Dockerfile. Ensure that the Dockerfile specifies the necessary dependencies and configurations for your Netflix Clone web application. Build the Docker image using the following command:

    docker build --build-arg TMDB_V3_API_KEY=your_api_key_here -t netflix-clone .
   

   

4. Push Docker Image to DockerHub: To push the Docker image to DockerHub, you need to have a DockerHub account and repository set up. Tag the image with your DockerHub username and repository name, and then push it using the following commands:

    docker tag netflix-clone-app:latest estebanmorenoit/netflix-clone-app:latest
    docker push estebanmorenoit/netflix-clone-app:latest
   

   

5. Create Kubernetes Deployment: Now, create a Kubernetes Deployment manifest file (e.g., deployment.yaml) that describes the desired state of the Netflix Clone application. In the manifest, specify the Docker image, replica count, and any required environment variables. An example deployment.yaml file might look like this:

    apiVersion: apps/v1
    kind: Deployment
    metadata:
      name: netflix-clone-deployment
    spec:
      replicas: 3
      selector:
        matchLabels:
          app: netflix-clone-app
      template:
        metadata:
          labels:
            app: netflix-clone-app
        spec:
          containers:
            - name: netflix-clone-container
              image: estebanmorenoit/netflix-clone-app:latest
              ports:
                - containerPort: 80
   

   Apply the deployment using the following command:

    kubectl apply -f deployment.yaml
   

   

   Verify the deployment and pods are successfully created.

    kubectl get deployments
    kubectl get pods
   

   

6. Create Kubernetes Service: Next, create a Kubernetes Service manifest file (e.g., service.yaml) that exposes the Netflix Clone application to the outside world. The service will use a LoadBalancer type, and Minikube will assign an external load balancer that enables access to the application on a specific port. An example service.yaml file might look like this:

    apiVersion: v1
    kind: Service
    metadata:
      name: netflix-clone-service
    spec:
      type: LoadBalancer
      selector:
        app: netflix-clone-app
      ports:
        - protocol: TCP
          port: 80
          targetPort: 80
          nodePort: 30080
   

   Apply the service using the following command:

    kubectl apply -f service.yaml
   

   

   Verify the service has been successfully created.

    kubectl get svc
   

   

7. Testing Website Accessibility: Use the curl command to check if the application is accessible. Open a terminal and run the following command:

    minikube service netflix-clone-service --url
   

   

   Copy the above URL and use the curl command to query the app. You should receive the HTML content of the Netflix Clone homepage as a response to the below command.

    curl -L http://<your-minikube-service-ip-address>:30080
   

   

8. Access the Netflix Clone Web Application: As we can see, the Load Balancer service called netflix-clone-service and its external IP assignment are pending. To access and assign the external IP, we need to create a bridge between Minikube and our machine by using a tunnel command.

    kubectl get svc
   

   

     minikube tunnel
   

   

   We have to keep the tunnel running, so we are going to open a second terminal and check the status of the service again

   

   We can use the External IP address and the port to access our app. You should now see the Netflix Clone web application running on the Kubernetes cluster.

   

Conclusion

Through this hands-on project, the power of Kubernetes in orchestrating containerized applications is prominently highlighted. The integration of Docker's containerization with Kubernetes' scalability and high availability demonstrates modern DevOps practices. From creating Kubernetes services to deployment, each step underscores the efficacy of these tools in managing applications. As businesses increasingly adopt microservices and cloud-native solutions, proficiency in Kubernetes stands as a vital skill for ensuring operational excellence in today's dynamic digital landscape.