Kubernetes Cheat Sheet

Installation Apply configuration manifests

Command Description
Install the kubectl command line tool to interact with the Kubernetes API:
[Link] kubectl apply -f <file> Apply a manifest from a file
kubectl apply -f <dir> Apply all manifests in a directory
Enable autocompletion in bash:
kubectl apply -k <dir> Apply resources from a kustomize directory
composer completion bash | sudo tee /etc/bash_completion.d/kubectl

Create resources manually

Global flags
Command Description
Flag Description
kubectl run <name> --image=<image> Start a pod
--namespace <namespace> The name of the namespace to use
kubectl create deployment <name>
--context <context> The name of the context to use Create a deployment
--image=<image>
--help Show information about a given command kubectl expose pod <pod> --port=<port> Create a service for an existing pod
kubectl expose deployment <name>
Create a service for an existing deployment
Context and configuration --port=<port>
Command Description kubectl create ingress <name>
Create an ingress that routes traffic to a service
--rule=<host/path=svc:port>
kubectl config get-contexts List all contexts
kubectl create job <name>
kubectl config current-context Display the current context Create a job
--image=<image>
kubectl config use-context <context> Switch to another context kubectl create job <name>
Create a job from a cronjob
kubectl config delete-context <context> Delete the specified context from the kubeconfig --from=cronjob/<name>
kubectl create cronjob <name>
Create a cronjob, using a schedule in Cron format
--image=<image> --schedule=<schedule>
Display resources
kubectl create secret generic <name>
Command Description Create a secret containing <key> and <value>
--from-literal=<key>=<value>
List all resources of this type in the current kubectl create secret docker-registry
kubectl get <resource>
namespace <name> --docker-server=<server>
Create a secret for a Docker registry
kubectl get <resource> -o wide List all resources with more details --docker-username=<username>
--docker-password=<password>
kubectl get <resource> -A List all resources of this type in all namespaces
kubectl get <resource> <name> List a particular resource
Generate YAML configuration manifests
kubectl get <resource> <name> -o yaml Print a particular resource in YAML format
Command Description
kubectl get <resource> <name> -l List resources where label <key1> contains
kubectl create deployment <name>
<key1>=<value1> <value1>
--image=<image> --dry-run=client -o Generate a deployment manifest
kubectl describe <resource> Show detailed information about a resource yaml
kubectl expose deployment <name>
Generate a service manifest for a deployment
--port=<port> --dry-run=client -o yaml

© Nic Wortel, Software Consultant & Trainer - Last updated on December 20, 2023 - Find more cheat sheets at [Link]
 Edit resources Execute commands
Command Description Command Description
kubectl edit <resource> <name> Edit a resource in a text editor kubectl exec <pod> -- <command> Execute a command in a running pod
kubectl set image <resource> <name> kubectl exec -it <pod> -- sh Open a shell in a running pod
Update the image of a container in a pod
<container>=<image>

View logs
Set labels and annotations Command Description
Command Description
kubectl logs <pod> Print the logs for a pod
kubectl label <resource> <name>
Add a label to a resource kubectl logs -f <pod> Print the logs for a pod and keep streaming
<key>=<value>
kubectl annotate <resource> <name>
Add an annotation to a resource
<key>=<value> Resource usage
Command Description
Delete resources kubectl top node Show resource (CPU/memory) usage of nodes
Command Description kubectl top pod Show resource (CPU/memory) usage of pods
kubectl delete <resource> <name> Delete a particular resource

kubectl delete <resource> --all

Delete all resources of a particular type in the Other commands
current namespace
Command Description
kubectl delete -f <file> Delete a resource from a file
kubectl version Show the version of the client and server
kubectl api-resources Print the supported API resources on the server
Manage deployments
Command Description
kubectl rollout status deployment
Show the status of a deployment rollout
<name>
kubectl rollout history deployment
View the rollout history of a deployment
<name>
kubectl rollout undo deployment <name> Undo a previous rollout deployment
kubectl rollout restart deployment
Restart a deployment
<name>
kubectl scale deployment <name>
Scale a deployment to <n> replicas
--replicas=<n>
kubectl autoscale deployment <name> Autoscale a deployment between <n> and <n>
--min=<min> --max=<max> replicas

© Nic Wortel, Software Consultant & Trainer - Last updated on December 20, 2023 - Find more cheat sheets at [Link]