How to Manage Kubernetes Contexts

This post will cover topic related to ‘How to Manage Kubernetes Contexts’ with multiple docker command examples and different scenerios. So this will help you to understand the command docker and options available in it. Also this post will explain you how to use docker command.

When working with Docker in the context of Kubernetes, managing contexts becomes crucial for handling different clusters seamlessly. The docker context command allows users to manage Kubernetes contexts effectively, enabling them to switch between clusters, view details, and configure connections as needed.

Here are several examples demonstrating the usage of docker context:

1. List all available contexts:

docker context ls

This command lists all the Kubernetes contexts configured on your machine. Example output:

NAME                 DESCRIPTION                               DOCKER ENDPOINT               KUBERNETES ENDPOINT   ORCHESTRATOR
minikube             Minikube cluster                          unix:///var/run/docker.sock   https://192.168.49.2   kubernetes
docker-desktop       Docker Desktop Kubernetes                 unix:///var/run/docker.sock                       kubernetes

To verify, check the list of contexts displayed matches the expected Kubernetes clusters you have set up.

2. Show detailed information about a context:

docker context inspect minikube

This command provides detailed information about the specified context (minikube in this case), including endpoints and authentication details.

Verify by examining the JSON output to ensure the correct configuration is displayed.

3. Use a specific context:

docker context use docker-desktop

Switches the current context to docker-desktop, enabling subsequent Docker commands to interact with the Kubernetes cluster associated with it.

Verify by running a simple Docker command and checking that it affects the expected Kubernetes cluster.

4. Rename a context:

docker context rename minikube myminikube

Changes the name of the context from minikube to myminikube. Use docker context ls to confirm the context has been renamed.

Verify by ensuring that the renamed context appears correctly in the list of contexts.

5. Create a new context:

docker context create myk8s --kubernetes --description "My Kubernetes Cluster" --docker "host=ssh://user@hostname"

Creates a new context named myk8s that connects to a remote Kubernetes cluster using SSH for Docker connections.

Verify by listing contexts and checking that myk8s appears with the specified description and configuration.

6. Remove a context:

docker context rm myk8s

Deletes the context named myk8s from the Docker configuration.

Verify by listing contexts to ensure that myk8s is no longer listed.

7. Export a context configuration:

docker context export myminikube > myminikube-config.json

Exports the configuration of the myminikube context to a JSON file named myminikube-config.json.

Verify by examining the exported JSON file to ensure it contains the expected configuration details.

8. Import a context configuration:

docker context import mynewcontext < mynewcontext-config.json

Imports a context configuration from the file mynewcontext-config.json and adds it to Docker’s context configurations.

Verify by listing contexts to confirm that mynewcontext is now available.

9. Switch back to default Docker context:

docker context use default

Switches Docker’s context back to the default local Docker engine.

Verify by running Docker commands to ensure they are executed on the local Docker instance.

10. Set a context as default:

docker context update --default myminikube

Sets myminikube as the default context, so Docker commands without specifying a context will use this one.

Verify by running Docker commands without specifying a context to ensure they default to myminikube.

Also check similar articles.

How to Manage Kubernetes Containers
How to Manage Kubernetes Container Checkpoints
How to Manage Kubernetes Build Processes
Search Kubernetes for Docker Images
Log out from Kubernetes Registry