Deploying WordPress and MySQL on Kubernetes with Kind: A Step-by-Step Guide

· 5 minute read

This blog is inspired by an article from the Kubernetes website teaching how to deploy WordPress and MySQL on Minikube, but since I found it very confusing and wanted to use Kind, I’m writing this step-by-step guide.

Deploying WordPress and MySQL on Kubernetes using Kind (Kubernetes IN Docker) is an excellent way to create a robust local development environment. This guide walks you through the entire process, from installing the necessary tools to cleaning up your deployment.

Installation 🔗

To use Kind, the first thing you need is a host with Docker. Follow the instructions on the Docker website to install Docker on your machine. Next, you need to install the Kind tool. The installation process varies depending on your operating system. For MacOS, you can use Homebrew:

brew install kind

With Docker and Kind installed, you’re ready to create your Kubernetes cluster.

Create a Cluster with More Than One Node 🔗

By default, Kind creates a single-node cluster. To simulate a more complex environment, you can create a multi-node cluster.

Run this command to create a file named kind-node.yaml with the following content:

cat <<EOF >kind-node.yaml
# three node (two workers) cluster config
kind: Cluster
apiVersion: kind.x-k8s.io/v1alpha4
nodes:
- role: control-plane
- role: worker
- role: worker
EOF

You can verify that the file was created by running ls on your terminal.

Now, in order to apply this configuration and create the cluster, it is necessary to add the –config parameter and the name of the file where you have saved it.

So run the following command: kind create cluster --config=kind-node.yaml

Once your cluster has been created, you can verify the nodes in your cluster with the command: kubectl get nodes

Alternatively, you can use Docker to see the nodes: docker ps

This setup ensures that all three nodes (control-plane and two worker nodes) are running as Docker containers on your host.

Installing WordPress and MySQL 🔗

Now, let’s deploy WordPress and MySQL to your cluster. To do so, you’ll need two configuration files called manifests that define the settings for the MySQL and WordPress pods.

Download MySQL Manifest 🔗

Begin by downloading the MySQL deployment configuration file:

curl -LO https://k8s.io/examples/application/wordpress/mysql-deployment.yaml

This manifest defines a single-instance MySQL deployment. Within this configuration:

  • The MySQL container is set up to use a PersistentVolume located at /var/lib/mysql to store its data.
  • The MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD environment variable is crucial as it secures the MySQL database by setting the root password retrieved from a Kubernetes Secret.

Download WordPress Manifest 🔗

Next, retrieve the WordPress deployment configuration file:

curl -LO https://k8s.io/examples/application/wordpress/wordpress-deployment.yaml

This manifest details a single-instance WordPress deployment. Key points include:

  • The WordPress container utilizes a PersistentVolume mounted at /var/www/html to store its website data files.
  • The WORDPRESS_DB_HOST environment variable specifies the MySQL service name, enabling WordPress to communicate with the MySQL database via Kubernetes service discovery.
  • The WORDPRESS_DB_PASSWORD environment variable retrieves the database password securely from a Secret managed by Kubernetes.

PersistentVolumes and Deployment 🔗

Both MySQL and WordPress rely on PersistentVolumes to preserve data across pod restarts or rescheduling. Kubernetes manages the creation of PersistentVolumeClaims (PVCs) based on the definitions provided in their respective manifest files during deployment.

By following these steps and deploying these manifests, you establish a robust environment for WordPress and MySQL on Kubernetes. This setup ensures data integrity and availability while leveraging Kubernetes' orchestration capabilities effectively.

Create a kustomization.yaml 🔗

A kustomization file is used to define a set of Kubernetes resources and configuration parameters for deployments. It allows you to customize, manage, and deploy Kubernetes applications in a structured way.

So, create a kustomization.yaml file to specify the order of execution and to generate a Secret for the MySQL password. This ensures secure management of sensitive data such as passwords using Kubernetes Secrets.

Replace YOUR_PASSWORD with your desired password:

cat <<EOF >kustomization.yaml
apiVersion: kustomize.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
kind: Kustomization 
secretGenerator:
- name: mysql-pass
  literals:
  - password=YOUR_PASSWORD
resources:
  - mysql-deployment.yaml
  - wordpress-deployment.yaml
EOF

Apply and Verify 🔗

Again, you can verify that the file were created by running ls on your terminal. You should see 4 files.

With all configuration files in place, deploy the resources using the following command:

kubectl apply -k ./

Verify that all objects have been created:

kubectl get pods
kubectl get secrets
kubectl get pvc
kubectl get services

Expose the WordPress Service 🔗

When running Kubernetes on a local development environment such as kind (Kubernetes IN Docker), the LoadBalancer service type won’t function as expected because there is no external load balancer available. However, you can still access services running in a Kind cluster without needing built-in LoadBalancer support by using Port Forwarding.

This is a straightforward way to access your service from your local machine.

kubectl port-forward svc/wordpress 8080:80

VOILÁ! After running this command, you can access your WordPress site at http://localhost:8080.

To stop port forwarding, press Ctrl+C on your terminal.

Cleaning Up 🔗

Once you’re done with your WordPress and MySQL deployment, clean up your resources.

Delete the deployed resources:

kubectl delete -k ./

Delete the Kind cluster:

kind delete cluster

By following these steps, you have successfully deployed WordPress and MySQL on a multi-node Kind cluster. This setup provides a scalable and easily manageable local development environment for your projects.

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