Managing Clusters
Connect and manage your Kubernetes clusters across AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, and other providers using Nife's Bring Your Own Cloud (BYOC) solution.
What are Clusters?
Clusters are Kubernetes environments that you connect to Nife. They allow you to:
- Deploy and manage applications globally
- Monitor cluster health and performance
- Deploy agents for enhanced capabilities
- Scale applications across regions
- Access real-time logs and AI-powered analytics
Getting Started
Accessing Clusters
- Log into your Nife dashboard
- Click Clusters in the main navigation menu
- You'll see your connected clusters and management options
Dashboard Overview
Key Information Displayed:
- Connected Clusters: Number of clusters you've connected
- Active Agents: Agents deployed across your clusters
- Requested Regions: Regions you've requested for expansion
- Available Clusters: Nife-managed clusters ready to connect
Two Ways to Connect
1. Standalone Cluster (Self-Managed)
Connect your own Kubernetes cluster using a kubeconfig file.
Perfect for:
- Existing Kubernetes clusters you already manage
- On-premise installations
- Custom cluster setups
What you need:
- Your kubeconfig file
- Cluster name
- Region code
2. BYOC (Bring Your Own Cloud)
Connect cloud infrastructure from major cloud providers.
Supported Providers:
- ☁️ Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- ☁️ Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
- ☁️ Microsoft Azure
Benefits:
- One-click connection to cloud resources
- Automatic credential management
- Built-in monitoring and scaling
- Cloud-native integration
Cluster Status Reference
| Status | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Connected | Cluster is active and running | Ready for deployments |
| Pending | Cluster is being configured | Wait for setup to complete |
| Disconnected | Cluster connection lost | Reconnect or investigate |
| Error | Cluster has issues | Check logs and troubleshoot |
What You Can Do
View Cluster Details
- See cluster configuration
- Monitor resource usage
- Check agent status
- View deployment history
Manage Agents
- Deploy monitoring agents
- Check agent health
- Rotate agent tokens
- Configure capabilities
Monitor Performance
- Real-time metrics (CPU, memory, disk)
- Pod logs and streaming
- Security findings
- AI-powered log analysis
Request Resources
- Request new regions
- Request additional capacity
- Check region status
Cluster Components
Agents
Small services deployed on your cluster that:
- Monitor cluster health
- Collect metrics
- Stream logs
- Run security scans
- Enable Nife platform features
Kubeconfig
Configuration file that contains:
- Cluster connection details
- Authentication credentials
- Context information
Region
Geographic location where your cluster runs:
- Used for global deployments
- Important for latency optimization
- Impacts data residency
Next Steps
- Connect Your First Cluster - Step-by-step connection guide
- Deploy Agents - Enable cluster monitoring
- Manage Cluster Resources - Monitor and optimize
Common Questions
Q: Can I connect multiple clusters? A: Yes, you can connect unlimited clusters to manage them all from one place.
Q: Is my data secure? A: Yes, all connections are encrypted and authenticated. You maintain control of your infrastructure.
Q: What permissions do I need? A: You need cluster admin access to connect a cluster and deploy agents.
Getting Help
Built-in Help: Click the ? icon on the Clusters page
Documentation:
Contact Support: [email protected]