Managing Kubernetes Clusters - BYOC Guide | Nife Deploy

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#

  1. Log into your Nife dashboard
  2. Click Clusters in the main navigation menu
  3. 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#

StatusMeaningAction
ConnectedCluster is active and runningReady for deployments
PendingCluster is being configuredWait for setup to complete
DisconnectedCluster connection lostReconnect or investigate
ErrorCluster has issuesCheck 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#

  1. Connect Your First Cluster - Step-by-step connection guide
  2. Deploy Agents - Enable cluster monitoring
  3. 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]