A Kubernetescluster provides compute, storage, networking,and other services for applications, similar to a virtual data center. Apps andtheir associated services that run in Kubernetes are calledworkloads.

This tutorial lets you quickly see a running Google Kubernetes Engine cluster and sample workload, all set up using the Google Cloud console. You can then explore the workload in the Google Cloud console before going on to ourmore in-depth learning path, or to start planning and creating your own production-ready cluster.

If you'd prefer to set up your sample cluster and workload by using Terraform, seeCreate a cluster with Terraform.

To follow step-by-step guidance for this task directly in the Google Cloud console, clickGuide me:

Guide me

Before you begin

1. Visit the Kubernetes Engine page in the Google Cloud console.
2. Create or select a project.
3. Wait for the API and related services to be enabled. This can take several minutes.

4. Verify that billing is enabled for your Google Cloud project.

Required roles

Make sure that you have the following role or roles on the project: Compute Admin, Kubernetes Engine Admin, Service Account User

Create a cluster in GKE Autopilot mode

In Autopilot mode, Google manages your cluster configuration, includingscaling, security, and other preconfigured settings. Clusters inAutopilot mode are optimized to run most production workloads andprovision compute resources based on your Kubernetes manifests.

1. In the Google Cloud console, go to theGKECreate an Autopilot cluster page.

   Go to Create an Autopilot cluster

2. UnderCluster basics, do the following:

   1. In theName field, enter the following name:

      hello-world-cluster

   2. Keep the default values for the rest of the settings and clickCreateto start creating the cluster.

3. When you're redirected to theKubernetes clusters page, clickhello-world-cluster in theName column.

   You can watch the progress of your cluster as it is being configured,deployed, and verified.

4. Wait until you see a check mark next to thehello-world-clusterpage title.

Deploy a sample app to your cluster

Deploy a sample "hello world" web app provided by Google and stored as acontainer in Artifact Registry.

1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the GKEWorkloadspage.

   Go to Workloads

2. ClickDeploy.

3. InDeployment name, enter the following name:

   hello-world-app

4. InKubernetes Cluster,selecthello-world-cluster.

5. ClickNext: Container details

6. LeaveExisting container image selected, and inImage pathenter the following path:

   us-docker.pkg.dev/google-samples/containers/gke/hello-app:1.0

   This simple "hello world" app is packaged into a single container, but largerapps typically consist of several related containers that can be deployedtogether and run as a single workload.

7. ClickNext: Expose (optional)

8. In theExpose section, create a load balancing Kubernetes Service to directexternal requests to your app:

   1. SelectExpose deployment as a new service.

   2. LeavePort 1 set to80.

   3. InTarget port 1, enter8080.

   4. ClickDeploy.

   GKE automatically assigns an available external IP addressto the Service.

   This Service is considered to be part of the hello-world-app workload.

9. For Autopilot clusters, you might see an error message, such asDoes not have minimum availability. This occurs because Autopilotdeletes and then re-creates the nodes. Wait a few minutes, then clickrefreshRefreshto update the page.

10. Wait until the deployment completes and you see theDeployment detailspage.

View a live demo in your browser

1. In the Google Cloud console, go totheDeployment details page forhello-world-app:

   1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the GKEWorkloads page.

      Go to Workloads

   2. In theName column, click the name of the workload you deployed,hello-world-app.

2. In theEndpointscolumn, click the IP address, which is publicly available.

   GKE opens a new browser tab and sends a request to yourapp. Dismiss any secure-site warnings, and you should seeHello, world! in the new browser tab.

   IfEndpoints is empty, your organization might have a policy thatprevents external access.

You have successfully created a GKE cluster inAutopilot mode and deployed a sample workload.

Clean up to avoid billing charges

If you plan to take additional tutorials or toexplore your sample further, wait until you're finished to perform this cleanup step. You can continue to use the sample Kubernetes clusterin most GKE tutorials.

If you created a new project to learn about GKE and you nolonger need the project,delete the project.

If you used an existing GKE project, delete the resources youcreated to avoid incurring charges to your account:

1. Go to the GKEClusters page.

   Go to Clusters

2. Select the row containinghello-world-cluster, and clickDelete.

3. In theDelete hello-world-cluster window, do the following:

   1. In thehello-world-cluster field, enterhello-world-cluster.

   2. ClickDelete.

   If you receive an error message about the cluster being repaired, you canwait for the process to complete, and then delete the cluster. This operationmight take some time to complete.

4. If you created a logs sink and bucket when following instructions in othertutorials:

   1. Go to the Cloud LoggingLogs storage page.

      Go to Logs storage

   2. Selecthello-world-cluster-bucket and clickDelete.

   3. Go to the LoggingLog router page.

      Go to Log router

   4. Selecthello-world-cluster-sink and clickDelete.

What's next

• Explore your cluster and workload to learn about the some of the key workload settings and resources thatyou deployed.

• Try our more in-depthLearning path: Scalable apps.

• Learn how to get started with real life cluster administration in ourCluster administration overview.