← Back to Blog

How to Access Kubernetes Dashboard from Outside Network: A Guide

Kubernetes, the open-source platform for managing containerized workloads and services, has become a staple in the world of data science. Its dashboard, a web-based user interface, provides a visual overview of applications running on the cluster, as well as allows you to control and troubleshoot them. However, accessing the Kubernetes Dashboard from outside the network can be a bit tricky. This guide will walk you through the process, step by step.
By Saturn Cloud | | Miscellaneous

How to Access Kubernetes Dashboard from Outside Network: A Guide

Kubernetes, the open-source platform for managing containerized workloads and services, has become a staple in the world of data science. Its dashboard, a web-based user interface, provides a visual overview of applications running on the cluster, as well as allows you to control and troubleshoot them. However, accessing the Kubernetes Dashboard from outside the network can be a bit tricky. This guide will walk you through the process, step by step.

Step 1: Install Kubernetes Dashboard

First, you need to install the Kubernetes Dashboard if you haven’t done so already. You can do this by running the following command in your terminal:

kubectl apply -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kubernetes/dashboard/v2.0.0-beta8/aio/deploy/recommended.yaml

This command will download and apply the recommended configuration for the Kubernetes Dashboard.

Step 2: Create a Secure Channel to Your Cluster

To access the Kubernetes Dashboard from outside the network, you need to create a secure channel to your cluster. This is typically done using kubectl proxy, which creates a proxy server that provides API access to the dashboard. Run the following command:

kubectl proxy

This command will start the proxy server and keep it running until you stop the process.

Step 3: Access the Dashboard

Now that the proxy server is running, you can access the Kubernetes Dashboard by navigating to the following URL in your web browser:

http://localhost:8001/api/v1/namespaces/kubernetes-dashboard/services/https:kubernetes-dashboard:/proxy/

Step 4: Authenticate

Before you can use the dashboard, you need to authenticate. Kubernetes supports several methods of authentication, but for the purposes of this guide, we’ll use a service account token.

First, create a service account:

kubectl create serviceaccount dashboard-admin-sa

Next, bind the dashboard-admin-sa service account to the cluster-admin role. This gives it full administrative permissions:

kubectl create clusterrolebinding dashboard-admin-sa --clusterrole=cluster-admin --serviceaccount=default:dashboard-admin-sa

Finally, get the token for the dashboard-admin-sa service account:

kubectl get secrets

This command will list all secrets. Find the secret that starts with dashboard-admin-sa-token and copy it. Then, decode this token:

kubectl describe secret dashboard-admin-sa-token-xxxxx

Copy the token value from the output and use it to log in to the Kubernetes Dashboard.

Step 5: Secure Your Dashboard

It’s crucial to secure your Kubernetes Dashboard to prevent unauthorized access. Here are a few best practices:

  • Always use HTTPS for communication.
  • Limit access to trusted IP addresses.
  • Regularly rotate and revoke service account tokens.

Conclusion

Accessing the Kubernetes Dashboard from outside the network is a multi-step process, but it’s well worth the effort. With this guide, you should be able to set up and secure your dashboard, making it easier to manage your Kubernetes workloads from anywhere.

Remember, while the Kubernetes Dashboard is a powerful tool, it’s also a potential security risk if not properly secured. Always follow best practices for securing your dashboard and regularly review your security settings.

Kubernetes is a powerful tool for managing containerized applications, and its dashboard is an invaluable resource for monitoring and controlling those applications. By following this guide, you can access your Kubernetes Dashboard from outside the network, making it easier to manage your applications from anywhere.

Keywords: Kubernetes, Kubernetes Dashboard, outside network, secure channel, cluster, authenticate, service account token, secure your dashboard, containerized applications, manage applications.

Tags: #Kubernetes, #Dashboard, #Access, #Network, #Security, #DataScience, #Containerization, #Management.

About Saturn Cloud

Saturn Cloud is your all-in-one solution for data science & ML development, deployment, and data pipelines in the cloud. Spin up a notebook with 4TB of RAM, add a GPU, connect to a distributed cluster of workers, and more. Join today and get 150 hours of free compute per month.

Try Saturn Cloud Now