How To Install K9s on AlmaLinux 10

Managing Kubernetes clusters efficiently requires the right tools, and K9s stands out as one of the most powerful terminal-based user interfaces available for Kubernetes administration. This comprehensive guide walks you through installing K9s on AlmaLinux 10, covering multiple installation methods, configuration options, and troubleshooting techniques to ensure optimal performance.

K9s transforms the complex task of Kubernetes cluster management into an intuitive, real-time experience. Whether you’re a system administrator, DevOps engineer, or Kubernetes enthusiast, this article provides everything needed to successfully deploy K9s on your AlmaLinux 10 system.

What is K9s and Why Use It?

Understanding K9s Fundamentals

K9s is a terminal-based UI designed to interact with Kubernetes clusters, making navigation, observation, and management of deployed applications significantly more efficient. Unlike traditional command-line tools, K9s provides a dynamic, interactive interface that continuously watches Kubernetes for changes and offers subsequent commands to interact with observed resources.

The tool serves as a powerful alternative to kubectl, offering real-time monitoring capabilities that track activities of resources running in your Kubernetes cluster. K9s handles both standard Kubernetes resources and custom resource definitions (CRDs), making it versatile for complex environments. Its terminal-based approach eliminates the need for heavy graphical interfaces while maintaining full functionality.

K9s Key Features and Capabilities

K9s excels in real-time resource tracking, providing instant updates on cluster activities and resource states. The tool offers comprehensive cluster metrics, tracking performance data associated with pods, containers, and nodes. Advanced filtering modes allow users to drill down and view workload-related resources efficiently.

Built-in benchmarking capabilities enable direct testing of HTTP services and pods from within K9s. The platform supports RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) viewing, including cluster roles and their associated bindings. Custom command shortcuts and hotkeys enhance navigation speed for power users.

Prerequisites and System Requirements

AlmaLinux 10 System Requirements

Before installing K9s on AlmaLinux 10, ensure your system meets the minimum hardware specifications. A modern 64-bit processor with at least 2GB of RAM provides adequate performance for most K9s operations. The installation requires root or sudo access for system-wide deployment and package management.

AlmaLinux 10 compatibility ensures seamless integration with the latest enterprise Linux features. Verify your system version using cat /etc/almalinux-release to confirm AlmaLinux 10 installation.

Kubernetes Prerequisites

K9s requires existing access to a Kubernetes cluster for meaningful operation. Proper kubectl configuration must be in place, with valid KUBECONFIG environment setup pointing to your cluster credentials. Ensure network connectivity between your AlmaLinux 10 system and the target Kubernetes cluster.

Valid authentication tokens or certificates must be configured for cluster access. Test basic connectivity using kubectl cluster-info before proceeding with K9s installation.

Environment Setup

K9s utilizes 256-color terminal mode for optimal display. Set the TERM environment variable appropriately using export TERM=xterm-256color to ensure proper color rendering. Configure EDITOR and KUBE_EDITOR environment variables for resource editing functionality.

Network connectivity requirements include standard Kubernetes API access ports. Ensure firewall configurations allow communication with your cluster’s API server endpoints.

Preparing AlmaLinux 10 for K9s Installation

System Update and Package Management

Begin by updating your AlmaLinux 10 system to ensure all packages are current and security patches are applied. Execute the following commands to refresh package repositories and upgrade existing software:

sudo dnf clean all
sudo dnf update -y

This process fetches the latest package information from configured repositories and upgrades outdated packages to their newest versions. The update ensures compatibility with K9s and its dependencies while maintaining system security.

Install essential development tools that may be required for certain installation methods:

sudo dnf groupinstall -y "Development Tools"
sudo dnf install -y curl wget tar git

Installing Required Dependencies

For enhanced package availability, consider adding the EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) repository:

sudo dnf install -y epel-release

EPEL provides additional packages that may be useful for K9s installation and operation. Install essential utilities required for various installation methods:

sudo dnf install -y curl wget tar unzip

Security and Firewall Considerations

Configure firewall settings to allow Kubernetes API communication. If using firewalld, ensure appropriate ports are accessible:

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=6443/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

SELinux considerations may require policy adjustments depending on your security requirements. Verify SELinux status and configure accordingly for your environment.

Installation Methods Overview

K9s offers multiple installation approaches, each suited for different use cases and user preferences. Package manager installations provide automated dependency resolution and easy updates. Manual binary installation offers version control and customization options. Source compilation allows for custom builds and optimization.

Choose the installation method based on your specific requirements: package managers for simplicity, manual installation for control, or source compilation for customization. Each method has distinct advantages and maintenance characteristics.

Method 1: Installing K9s via Package Managers

Using DNF Package Manager

While K9s isn’t available in standard AlmaLinux repositories, you can install it through alternative package managers. For LinuxBrew compatibility on AlmaLinux 10, first install the necessary dependencies:

sudo dnf install -y curl file git

Install Homebrew for Linux (LinuxBrew) to access the K9s package:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Add Homebrew to your PATH:

echo 'eval "$(/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Install K9s using Homebrew:

brew install derailed/k9s/k9s

Installing via Snap

Snap packages provide universal Linux application distribution. Install snapd on AlmaLinux 10:

sudo dnf install -y snapd
sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket
sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap

Restart your session or reboot to ensure snap paths are properly configured. Install K9s via snap:

sudo snap install k9s

Snap installation provides automatic updates and sandboxed execution. Verify installation with snap list | grep k9s.

Using Homebrew on Linux

LinuxBrew installation provides access to macOS packages on Linux systems. After installing Homebrew as described above, install K9s directly:

brew install derailed/k9s/k9s

Homebrew manages dependencies automatically and provides easy update mechanisms using brew upgrade k9s. This method ensures access to the latest K9s versions with minimal configuration.

Method 2: Manual Binary Installation

Downloading K9s Binary

Manual installation provides the most control over K9s versions and deployment locations. Navigate to the K9s GitHub releases page to identify the latest version. Create a temporary directory for the installation process:

mkdir ~/k9s-installation
cd ~/k9s-installation

Download the latest K9s release for Linux AMD64 architecture:

curl -LO https://github.com/derailed/k9s/releases/download/v0.50.6/k9s_Linux_amd64.tar.gz

Replace the version number with the latest available release. Verify the download integrity by checking file size and comparing with the release page information.

Installation and Setup

Extract the downloaded tarball to access the K9s binary:

tar xf k9s_Linux_amd64.tar.gz

The extraction creates the k9s executable along with documentation files. Move the binary to a system PATH location for global access:

sudo mv k9s /usr/local/bin/

Set appropriate executable permissions:

sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/k9s

System Integration

Ensure the installation directory is in your system PATH. Verify PATH configuration:

echo $PATH | grep -o '/usr/local/bin'

If /usr/local/bin isn’t in your PATH, add it to your shell configuration:

echo 'export PATH="/usr/local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Create symbolic links if needed for alternative access patterns. Consider creating desktop entries for GUI environments if applicable.

Method 3: Building from Source

Prerequisites for Source Build

Source compilation requires Go programming language version 1.14 or above. Install Go on AlmaLinux 10:

sudo dnf install -y golang

Verify Go installation:

go version

Install Git for repository access if not already available:

sudo dnf install -y git

Compilation Process

Clone the K9s repository from GitHub:

git clone https://github.com/derailed/k9s.git
cd k9s

Build the application using the provided Makefile:

make build

The compilation process creates the executable in the execs directory. Monitor the build process for any dependency issues or compilation errors.

Installation and Testing

Copy the compiled binary to your system PATH:

sudo cp execs/k9s /usr/local/bin/
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/k9s

Test the installation by running the version command. Source compilation allows for custom optimization flags and feature modifications as needed.

Post-Installation Configuration

Basic K9s Configuration

K9s stores configuration in the $HOME/.k9s/config.yml file. Create the configuration directory if it doesn’t exist:

mkdir -p ~/.k9s

Generate a basic configuration file with essential settings:

k9s:
  refreshRate: 2
  maxConnRetry: 5
  enableMouse: true
  headless: false
  logoless: false
  crumbsless: false
  readOnly: false
  noIcons: false
  logger:
    tail: 100
    buffer: 5000
    sinceSeconds: 60
    fullScreenLogs: false
    textWrap: false
    showTime: false

Advanced Configuration Options

Customize the refresh rate based on your cluster size and network conditions. Larger clusters may benefit from longer refresh intervals to reduce resource consumption. Enable mouse support for enhanced navigation capabilities.

Configure logging preferences to match your troubleshooting requirements. Adjust buffer sizes based on your system’s memory capacity and log volume expectations. Customize the interface appearance through skin and theme modifications.

Verifying K9s Installation

Installation Verification Commands

Confirm successful K9s installation by checking the version:

k9s version

This command displays version information and confirms proper binary execution. Test basic functionality by launching K9s:

k9s

Verify Kubernetes connectivity within the K9s interface. The tool should display your cluster resources if properly configured.

Troubleshooting Installation Issues

Common installation problems include PATH configuration errors and permission issues. Verify binary location and executable permissions:

which k9s
ls -la $(which k9s)

Check KUBECONFIG environment variable if connectivity issues occur:

echo $KUBECONFIG
kubectl cluster-info

Resolve dependency conflicts by reviewing installation logs and error messages. Ensure all prerequisites are properly installed and configured.

Getting Started with K9s

Basic K9s Usage

Launch K9s from any terminal using the k9s command. The interface displays cluster resources in an organized, navigable format. Use keyboard shortcuts for efficient navigation and resource management.

Press ? to access the help system and view available commands. Navigate between resources using the : command followed by resource types like :pods or :services. Use the / key to filter resources based on names or labels.

Essential Commands and Operations

View pods in a specific namespace using :pods namespace-name. Scale deployments directly from the interface using keyboard shortcuts. Access resource logs with the l key when a resource is selected.

Switch between Kubernetes contexts using :ctx command. Navigate to different namespaces with :ns. Exit K9s using :q or Ctrl+C.

Advanced K9s Features and Usage

Resource Management

K9s provides comprehensive resource management capabilities including creation, deletion, and modification of Kubernetes objects. Access resource details using the d key for descriptions and v for YAML viewing. Edit resources in-place using the e key, which opens your configured editor.

Monitor resource logs in real-time using the logs view. Scale resources up or down using built-in scaling commands. Port-forward to services and pods directly from the interface for testing and debugging.

Advanced Navigation and Views

Utilize XRay view for comprehensive resource relationship visualization. Access the Pulses view for cluster overview and performance monitoring. Navigate resource hierarchies using graph traversal features.

Filter resources using label selectors with /-l syntax. Employ fuzzy finding capabilities using /-f for efficient resource location. Use inverse filtering with /! to exclude specific resources.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Connection and Authentication Problems

Authentication failures often stem from expired certificates or misconfigured KUBECONFIG files. Verify cluster connectivity using kubectl before launching K9s. Check certificate validity and renewal requirements.

Update kubeconfig files if cluster endpoints have changed. Ensure proper RBAC permissions for your user account. Test authentication using kubectl auth can-i commands to verify permissions.

Performance and Display Issues

Terminal color problems may require TERM environment variable adjustment. Set color support using:

export TERM=xterm-256color

Performance issues in large clusters can be addressed by adjusting refresh rates in the configuration file. Reduce buffer sizes if memory consumption becomes problematic. Optimize network connectivity to improve responsiveness.

Maintenance and Updates

Keeping K9s Updated

Update procedures vary by installation method. For Homebrew installations, use:

brew upgrade k9s

Snap packages update automatically, but manual updates are available:

sudo snap refresh k9s

Manual installations require downloading new binaries and replacing existing files. Monitor the K9s GitHub repository for release announcements and security updates.

Best Practices

Establish regular update schedules to maintain security and feature currency. Backup configuration files before major updates. Test new versions in non-production environments before deployment.

Document custom configurations and shortcuts for team consistency. Maintain separate configurations for different cluster environments when managing multiple deployments.

Security Considerations

K9s inherits Kubernetes RBAC permissions from your user context, ensuring secure cluster access. The tool respects existing authentication mechanisms and doesn’t bypass security controls. Configure read-only mode using the --readonly flag for enhanced security in production environments.

Review and audit RBAC permissions regularly to maintain security standards. Use separate user accounts for different access levels. Monitor K9s access logs when available for security compliance requirements.

Network security considerations include ensuring encrypted communication with cluster APIs. Verify TLS certificate validation and avoid insecure connection modes. Implement proper firewall rules for cluster access.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed K9s. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the K9s on your AlmaLinux OS 10 system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official K9s website.