We'll declare a Kubernetes cluster using the Typhoon Terraform module. Then apply the changes to create a VPC, gateway, subnets, security groups, controller instances, worker auto-scaling group, network load balancer, and TLS assets.
Controller hosts are provisioned to run an `etcd-member` peer and a `kubelet` service. Worker hosts run a `kubelet` service. Controller nodes run `kube-apiserver`, `kube-scheduler`, `kube-controller-manager`, and `coredns`, while `kube-proxy` and `calico` (or `flannel`) run on every node. A generated `kubeconfig` provides `kubectl` access to the cluster.
Add the [terraform-provider-ct](https://github.com/poseidon/terraform-provider-ct) plugin binary for your system to `~/.terraform.d/plugins/`, noting the final name.
Read [concepts](/architecture/concepts/) to learn about Terraform, modules, and organizing resources. Change to your infrastructure repository (e.g. `infra`).
```
cd infra/clusters
```
## Provider
Login to your AWS IAM dashboard and find your IAM user. Select "Security Credentials" and create an access key. Save the id and secret to a file that can be referenced in configs.
```
[default]
aws_access_key_id = xxx
aws_secret_access_key = yyy
```
Configure the AWS provider to use your access key credentials in a `providers.tf` file.
Reference the [variables docs](#variables) or the [variables.tf](https://github.com/poseidon/typhoon/blob/master/aws/fedora-coreos/kubernetes/variables.tf) source.
Initial bootstrapping requires `bootstrap.service` be started on one controller node. Terraform uses `ssh-agent` to automate this step. Add your SSH private key to `ssh-agent`.
[Install kubectl](https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/tools/install-kubectl/) on your system. Obtain the generated cluster `kubeconfig` from module outputs (e.g. write to a local file).
Learn about [maintenance](/topics/maintenance/) and [addons](/addons/overview/).
## Variables
Check the [variables.tf](https://github.com/poseidon/typhoon/blob/master/aws/fedora-coreos/kubernetes/variables.tf) source.
### Required
| Name | Description | Example |
|:-----|:------------|:--------|
| cluster_name | Unique cluster name (prepended to dns_zone) | "tempest" |
| dns_zone | AWS Route53 DNS zone | "aws.example.com" |
| dns_zone_id | AWS Route53 DNS zone id | "Z3PAABBCFAKEC0" |
| ssh_authorized_key | SSH public key for user 'core' | "ssh-rsa AAAAB3NZ..." |
#### DNS Zone
Clusters create a DNS A record `${cluster_name}.${dns_zone}` to resolve a network load balancer backed by controller instances. This FQDN is used by workers and `kubectl` to access the apiserver(s). In this example, the cluster's apiserver would be accessible at `tempest.aws.example.com`.
You'll need a registered domain name or delegated subdomain on AWS Route53. You can set this up once and create many clusters with unique names.
If you have an existing domain name with a zone file elsewhere, just delegate a subdomain that can be managed on Route53 (e.g. aws.mydomain.com) and [update nameservers](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/Route53/latest/DeveloperGuide/SOA-NSrecords.html).
### Optional
| Name | Description | Default | Example |
|:-----|:------------|:--------|:--------|
| controller_count | Number of controllers (i.e. masters) | 1 | 1 |
| worker_count | Number of workers | 1 | 3 |
| controller_type | EC2 instance type for controllers | "t3.small" | See below |
| worker_type | EC2 instance type for workers | "t3.small" | See below |
Check the list of valid [instance types](https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/instance-types/).
!!! warning
Do not choose a `controller_type` smaller than `t2.small`. Smaller instances are not sufficient for running a controller.
!!! tip "MTU"
If your EC2 instance type supports [Jumbo frames](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/network_mtu.html#jumbo_frame_instances) (most do), we recommend you change the `network_mtu` to 8981! You will get better pod-to-pod bandwidth.
#### Spot
Add `worker_price = "0.10"` to use spot instance workers (instead of "on-demand") and set a maximum spot price in USD. Clusters can tolerate spot market interuptions fairly well (reschedules pods, but cannot drain) to save money, with the tradeoff that requests for workers may go unfulfilled.