How to install Kubernetes Cert-Manager

Kubernetes Cert-Manager, an open-source project, has emerged as a powerful tool to streamline certificate management within Kubernetes environments. In this article, we will delve into the world of Cert-Manager, exploring its features, benefits, and how it simplifies the management of certificates.

In the world of modern application development, the need for secure communication over the internet has become paramount. Encrypting data in transit ensures confidentiality and integrity, and it all starts with obtaining and managing SSL/TLS certificates.

Understanding Kubernetes Cert-Manager

Cert-Manager is a Kubernetes native certificate management controller that automates the lifecycle of SSL/TLS certificates. Built on top of Kubernetes, it leverages the power of custom resources and controllers to provide a declarative and extensible approach to certificate management. Cert-Manager integrates with popular certificate authorities (CAs) like Let’s Encrypt, Venafi, and HashiCorp Vault, enabling automatic certificate issuance, renewal, and revocation.

Benefits of Kubernetes Cert-Manager

1. Simplified Certificate Management: Cert-Manager abstracts the complexities of certificate management, providing a high-level interface that is easy to understand and use. By leveraging Kubernetes resources and declarative configuration, users can automate the entire certificate lifecycle, reducing manual effort and minimizing the risk of misconfigurations.
2. Enhanced Security: Automating certificate issuance, renewal, and revocation with Cert-Manager ensures that your applications are always protected with valid and up-to-date certificates. By enforcing best practices and reducing human error, Cert-Manager enhances security posture and mitigates potential vulnerabilities arising from expired or compromised certificates.
3. Scalability and Extensibility: Cert-Manager is designed to scale with your Kubernetes environment. It can handle a large number of certificates across multiple namespaces, making it suitable for both small-scale deployments and enterprise-grade clusters. Moreover, Cert-Manager’s extensibility allows integration with custom certificate authorities or other infrastructure components, providing flexibility to match specific organizational requirements.

To install Cert-Manager, you need to follow a series of steps. Here’s a general guide to help you get started:

Prerequisites

Kubernetes Cluster: Ensure you have a running Kubernetes cluster with administrative access. Here is how you can install a Kubernetes cluster with Microk8s.

Install Cert-Manager using Helm

Helm: Install Helm, a package manager for Kubernetes, if you haven’t already. You can find the installation instructions at https://helm.sh/docs/intro/install/.
Add the Cert-Manager Helm repository:

helm repo add jetstack https://charts.jetstack.io
helm repo update

Create a namespace for the Kubernetes Cert-Manager:

kubectl create namespace cert-manager

Install the Kubernetes Cert-Manager using Helm:

helm install cert-manager jetstack/cert-manager --namespace cert-manager --version

Note: Replace <version> with the version of Kubernetes Cert-Manager you want to install. For example, v1.5.3.

Verify the installation

Check the Cert-Manager components are running:

kubectl get pods --namespace cert-manager

Ensure all the pods are in the “Running” state.

Configure Issuers and Certificates

Create a ClusterIssuer or Issuer resource to define the settings for your certificate authority (CA). For example, to use Let’s Encrypt:

kubectl apply -f https://github.com/jetstack/cert-manager/releases/download/<desired_version>/cert-manager.yaml

Create a Certificate resource to request a certificate for your application. Specify the necessary details such as domain name, issuer reference, etc. An example YAML file can be found in the Cert-Manager documentation.

Apply the YAML file:

kubectl apply -f path_to_certificate_yaml_file

Verify the certificate issuance

Check the status of the Certificate resource to ensure the certificate has been successfully issued:

kubectl describe certificate <certificate_name>

Look for the “Status” section to confirm that the certificate has been obtained and is ready for use.

Final thoughts

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Kubernetes Cert-Manager and obtained a certificate using it. You can now use the certificate in your applications or Kubernetes ingress resources to enable secure communication.

Note: The installation process may vary depending on the specific Kubernetes distribution or deployment method you are using. The above steps provide a general overview, and it’s recommended to refer to the official Cert-Manager documentation for more detailed instructions based on your environment.