How to Test the Latest Kubernetes Changes in Version 1.31 "Elli"

Testing Kubernetes 1.31 "Elli" involves setting up a dedicated environment, verifying new features, validating API changes, running automated tests, and closely monitoring your cluster. Here’s a detailed guide with examples for each step.

1. Set Up a Testing Environment

• Create a Kubernetes Cluster:

  • Example: Use Minikube to create a local cluster. Run:

  minikube start --kubernetes-version=v1.31.0
  

  This command sets up a Kubernetes 1.31 cluster locally, allowing you to test the new features and changes in a controlled environment.

  • Cloud-Based Testing: For cloud environments, use a tool like eksctl for Amazon EKS:

  eksctl create cluster --version 1.31 --name test-cluster
  

  This command creates an Amazon EKS cluster with Kubernetes 1.31, suitable for more extensive testing scenarios.

• Isolate the Environment:

  • Example: Create a separate namespace for testing within your cluster:

  kubectl create namespace test-namespace
  

  Use this namespace to deploy applications and run tests without affecting other parts of your cluster.

2. Test New Features

• Security Enhancements:

  • Example: Test service account token rotation by creating a pod that uses a service account:

  apiVersion: v1
  kind: Pod
  metadata:
    name: test-pod
    namespace: test-namespace
  spec:
    serviceAccountName: test-service-account
    containers:
    - name: nginx
      image: nginx
  

  Then, monitor the token usage and verify automatic rotation by inspecting the token:
  

  kubectl describe secret $(kubectl get secret | grep test-service-account | awk '{print $1}')
  

• Ingress Connectivity:

  • Example: Deploy an application that uses ingress and simulate a node termination:

  kubectl taint nodes <node-name> ToBeDeletedByClusterAutoscaler=true:NoSchedule
  

  Observe how ingress traffic is handled and ensure connections are gracefully drained.

• WebSocket Transition in kubectl:

  • Example: Test streaming logs with WebSockets by running:

  kubectl logs -f <pod-name> --since=10m
  

  Verify that logs are streamed without issues and compare the performance with previous versions.

3. Validate Deprecations and API Changes

• cgroup v1 Maintenance Mode:

  • Example: If your workloads use cgroup v1, run a stress test on the cluster:

  stress-ng --cpu 4 --timeout 60s
  

  Monitor the resource allocation and management with kubectl top and ensure compatibility with cgroup v2.

• API Deprecations:

  • Example: Identify deprecated APIs in your manifests:

  kubectl apply --dry-run=client -f <manifest-file>
  

  Update any deprecated APIs to their latest versions, such as replacing extensions/v1beta1 with networking.k8s.io/v1 for Ingress resources.

4. Run Automated Tests

• CI/CD Integration:

  • Example: Integrate your tests into a CI pipeline with Jenkins:

  pipeline {
    agent any
    stages {
      stage('Test Kubernetes') {
        steps {
          sh 'kubectl apply -f deployment.yaml'
          sh 'kubectl rollout status deployment/my-app'
        }
      }
    }
  }
  

  This Jenkins pipeline deploys your application and ensures that the deployment is successful in the Kubernetes 1.31 environment.

• Use Kubernetes Testing Tools:

  • Example: Run a security benchmark using kube-bench:

  kube-bench run --benchmark cis-1.6
  

  This tool checks your cluster against the CIS benchmarks and reports any issues that may have arisen with the new version.

5. Monitor and Log Everything

• Enhanced Logging:

  • Example: Set up Prometheus and Grafana for monitoring:

  kubectl apply -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/prometheus-operator/kube-prometheus/main/manifests/setup/
  

  This will set up monitoring for your Kubernetes cluster, allowing you to track performance metrics and logs during your tests.

• Stress Testing:

  • Example: Use Locust for load testing:

  locust -f locustfile.py --host=http://<your-service>
  

  This command simulates user traffic to your service and helps identify any performance bottlenecks under the new Kubernetes version.

6. Document Findings and Feedback

• Create Detailed Reports:

  • Example: Use Markdown or a tool like Confluence to document the results of your tests. Include sections on each feature tested, issues found, and recommended actions.

• Collaborate with the Community:

  • Example: Share your findings in a GitHub issue or Kubernetes Slack channel. Example message:

  We've tested Kubernetes 1.31 "Elli" in our staging environment and noticed [specific issue]. Here's our detailed report: [link]. Any insights from the community would be appreciated!
  

7. Plan for Production Deployment

• Gradual Rollout:

  • Example: Use a canary deployment strategy to gradually roll out the update:

  apiVersion: apps/v1
  kind: Deployment
  metadata:
    name: my-app
  spec:
    replicas: 10
    selector:
      matchLabels:
        app: my-app
    template:
      metadata:
        labels:
          app: my-app
      spec:
        containers:
        - name: my-app
          image: my-app:latest
          readinessProbe:
            httpGet:
              path: /health
              port: 8080
          livenessProbe:
            httpGet:
              path: /health
              port: 8080
  

  Gradually increase the replicas while monitoring the application's performance.

• Backup and Recovery Plans:

  • Example: Ensure you have etcd backups before upgrading:

  ETCDCTL_API=3 etcdctl snapshot save snapshot.db
  

  Store the snapshot securely, ensuring you can restore it if needed.

Conclusion

Testing Kubernetes 1.31 "Elli" involves a comprehensive approach, from setting up an isolated testing environment to detailed monitoring and documentation. By following these steps and using the provided examples, you can confidently test and deploy the latest Kubernetes updates while ensuring the stability and security of your production environment.

For more detailed instructions, refer to the official Kubernetes 1.31 release notes.