Saturday, May 25, 2024

How to Install Jenkins to EKS Cluster

 

Understanding the Prerequisites


  • An active EKS cluster: Jenkins can be installed on an existing EKS cluster or a new one can be created specifically for Jenkins.


  • IAM Permissions: Jenkins will need a service account with appropriate permissions to provision resources in the EKS cluster. This includes the ability to create, modify, and delete pods, services, and namespaces in the cluster.


  • Helm: Helm is a package manager for Kubernetes and is required to install Jenkins on the EKS cluster. Helm charts will be used to deploy Jenkins on the cluster.


  • Ingress Controller: An ingress controller is required to expose Jenkins to the outside world. This can be either an ALB (Application Load Balancer) or an Nginx ingress controller.


  • Storage: Jenkins requires persistent storage to store data such as build artifacts and logs. This can be achieved by using a Persistent Volume Claim (PVC) or an Amazon EBS volume.


  • Network Configuration: The EKS cluster must be configured with the appropriate security groups to allow communication between the different components of Jenkins, such as the ingress controller, Jenkins master, and agents.


  • Certificates: If using an ALB ingress controller, SSL certificates must be created and uploaded to the AWS Certificate Manager (ACM).


  • Kubernetes namespaces: It is recommended to create a dedicated namespace for Jenkins in the EKS cluster, to keep the resources used by Jenkins separate from other applications.


  • Docker Registry: If Jenkins will be used for building and deploying Docker images, a Docker registry must be set up. This can be either a private Docker registry or a cloud-based one like Docker Hub.


  • Amazon S3 bucket: If Jenkins will be used for deploying applications to AWS, an S3 bucket must be created to store the application artifacts.


  • Access to Jenkins plugins: Access to relevant plugins is required for Jenkins to perform various tasks. In the case of deploying applications to AWS, plugins like Amazon EC2 plugin, AWS Elastic Beanstalk plugin, and AWS CloudFormation plugin are required.


  • Access to Kubernetes resources: In order to provision and manage Kubernetes resources such as deployments, services, and pods, Jenkins will require the appropriate credentials and access to the EKS cluster.


Overall, the main prerequisite for installing Jenkins on an EKS cluster is having a basic understanding of Kubernetes and its associated tools, along with access to relevant resources and services within the cluster and AWS. Proper configuration and access permissions are crucial for the successful deployment of Jenkins on an EKS cluster.





Setting up an EKS Cluster


Creating an EKS cluster using AWS Management Console:

Step 1: Login to your AWS Management Console and navigate to the “Elastic Kubernetes Service” page.

Step 2: Click on the “Create cluster” button.

Step 3: Choose the “Standard” cluster type and click on “Next”.

Step 4: Configure the cluster details such as cluster name, cluster version, IAM role, VPC, and subnets. You can also customize additional settings such as cluster endpoint access, cluster logging, and tags.

Step 5: Click on “Next: Configure networking”.

Step 6: In the “Networking” section, select the cluster and service CIDR blocks for your cluster. You can also enable VPC flow logs for debugging purposes.

Step 7: Click on “Next: Configure tasks and security groups”.

Step 8: In the “Tasks and security groups” section, you can customize the security groups for your cluster and choose whether to enable node encryption.

Step 9: Click on “Next: Review”.

Step 10: Review all the details and click on “Create”.

Step 11: The cluster creation process will take a few minutes. You can check its status on the “Clusters” page. Once the cluster is created, you can access it by clicking on its name.

Step 12: On the cluster details page, you can see the configuration details, and you can also access the Kubernetes dashboard, which is automatically configured when creating an EKS cluster.

Congratulations, you have successfully created an EKS cluster using the AWS Management Console.

Creating an EKS cluster using AWS CLI:

Step 1: Install and configure the AWS CLI on your local machine, if not already done.

Step 2: Open your terminal and run the following command to create an EKS cluster:

```
aws eks create-cluster --name <cluster-name> --kubernetes-version <version> --role-arn <role-arn> --resources-vpc-config subnetIds=<subnet-ids>,securityGroupIds=<security-group-ids>
```

Note: Replace the placeholders with your desired values.

Step 3: Wait for the cluster to be created. You can check the status by running the following command:

```
aws eks describe-cluster --name <cluster-name>
```

Step 4: Once the cluster is created, you can run the following command to update your local Kubernetes configuration and enable connection to the cluster:

```
aws eks update-kubeconfig --name <cluster-name>
```

Step 5: To verify the cluster creation and connection, run the following command to get the nodes in the cluster:

```
kubectl get nodes
```

Step 6: You can also access the Kubernetes dashboard by running the following command:

```
kubectl proxy
```

This will create a local proxy and allow you to access the dashboard using the generated URL. Congratulations, you have successfully created an EKS cluster using the AWS CLI.


Configuring Jenkins on EKS


There are several options for running Jenkins on EKS, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a closer look at these options and how to configure Jenkins on an EKS cluster.



Option 1: Using Kubernetes Plugins



One way to run Jenkins on EKS is by using Kubernetes plugins. These plugins enable Jenkins to integrate with the Kubernetes cluster and run Jenkins jobs as Kubernetes pods. This option allows for more control over the Jenkins environment and can provide better resource management. However, it requires a more hands-on approach for managing and maintaining the Jenkins configuration.



To configure Jenkins on an EKS cluster using Kubernetes plugins, follow these steps:



  • Set up an EKS cluster: The first step is to create an EKS cluster by following the official documentation from Amazon. This will create a cluster with worker nodes that can run Kubernetes pods.


  • Install Jenkins on the EKS cluster: Use the Kubernetes plugin for Jenkins to deploy Jenkins as a Kubernetes pod on the EKS cluster. The plugin will handle the deployment and configuration of the Jenkins pod.


  • Configure the Kubernetes plugin: Once Jenkins is deployed, configure the Kubernetes plugin to connect Jenkins to the EKS cluster. This involves providing the necessary Kubernetes credentials and configuring the Jenkins job to run as a Kubernetes pod.


  • Create and run Jenkins jobs: With the Kubernetes plugin configured, you can now create Jenkins jobs that run as Kubernetes pods on the EKS cluster. These jobs can perform tasks such as building and deploying software, managing Kubernetes resources, and more.


Option 2: Using Helm Charts


Another option for running Jenkins on EKS is by using Helm charts. Helm is a popular package manager for Kubernetes that allows for the installation and configuration of various applications on Kubernetes clusters. There are several Helm charts available for Jenkins, which make it easy to deploy and configure Jenkins on an EKS cluster.



To configure Jenkins on an EKS cluster using Helm charts, follow these steps:

  • Set up an EKS cluster: Similar to the first option, the first step is to create an EKS cluster.


  • Install and configure Helm: Follow the official Helm installation guide to install Helm on your local machine.


  • Retrieve the Jenkins Helm chart: Use the Helm CLI to retrieve the Jenkins Helm chart from the official chart repository.


  • Configure the Helm chart: Edit the values for the Jenkins Helm chart to specify the EKS cluster details, such as credentials, namespaces, and other configurations.


  • Install Jenkins: Use the Helm CLI to install Jenkins on the EKS cluster using the configured Helm chart.


  • Access the Jenkins dashboard: After installation, you can access the Jenkins dashboard using the URL generated by the Helm chart.


  • Create and run Jenkins jobs: With Jenkins installed and configured, you can now create jobs and run them on the EKS cluster.


Whichever option you choose, it is essential to secure the Jenkins installation by using credentials, SSL certificates, and other security measures.


Securing the Jenkins Setup


1. Authentication: Authentication is the process of confirming the identity of a user or system trying to access a resource. Two common methods of authentication are username and password, and two-factor authentication.



To set up authentication, you will need to:



  • Create a user database: This database can be created manually or through a user management system. It should store user credentials such as usernames, passwords, and other relevant information.


  • Set up a login page: The login page is where users will enter their credentials to gain access. This page should be secure and use HTTPS to protect the entered information.


  • Implement username and password authentication: This is the most common form of authentication. Users will enter their username and password to log in, and the system will compare the entered credentials with the ones stored in the user database.


  • Implement two-factor authentication: This adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to enter a second form of authentication, such as a one-time code sent to their phone or a security question, in addition to their username and password.


2. Authorization: Authorization is the process of granting or denying access to specific resources based on a user’s identity and what they are allowed to do. It is essential to set up proper authorization to ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive data or functionalities.



To set up authorization, you will need to:



  • Define user roles and permissions: User roles are a way to group users based on their responsibilities and permissions. You can assign different permissions to each role, such as read-only access or full access.


  • Assign roles to users: Once you have defined the roles and permissions, you can assign them to specific users. This way, users will only have access to the resources and functionalities that are relevant to their roles.


  • Implement access control: Access control mechanisms, such as role-based access control or attribute-based access control, can help you restrict access to specific resources based on a user’s identity and permissions.


3. SSL/TLS: SSL (Secure Socket Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) are protocols used to secure internet communications and ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of data transmitted between a web server and a client.



To set up SSL/TLS, you will need to:



  • Obtain an SSL/TLS certificate: You can either purchase an SSL/TLS certificate from a trusted certificate authority or use a free one from a service like Let’s Encrypt.


  • Install the certificate on your web server: The process of installing the certificate may vary depending on the web server you are using. It is essential to follow the instructions provided by your certificate provider.


  • Configure your web server: You will need to configure your web server to use the certificate and enable HTTPS. This ensures that all communication between the web server and the client is encrypted.


  • Monitor and update your certificate: SSL/TLS certificates have an expiration date, so it is crucial to monitor and renew them when necessary to avoid security vulnerabilities.


Integrating Jenkins with EKS



Integrating Jenkins with the EKS cluster allows for seamless automation of build, test, and deployment processes. This integration can be achieved by following these steps:



Step 1: Configure Jenkins Agent on the EKS Cluster


  • Create a dedicated namespace for Jenkins on the EKS cluster (e.g. “jenkins-namespace”).


  • Create a Jenkins service account with the necessary permissions to interact with the EKS cluster. This can be done by creating a custom ClusterRole and ClusterRoleBinding and assigning it to the service account.


  • Install the Kubernetes plugin on Jenkins and configure it to connect to the EKS cluster using the Jenkins service account and the namespace created in the previous step. This will allow Jenkins to interact with the EKS cluster.


Step 2: Configure Build Jobs or Pipelines



  • Create a Jenkins job or pipeline that will build the code and package it into a Docker image.


  • The Docker image should be tagged with the ECR repository URL, version, and a unique identifier.


  • Set up a Jenkins job or pipeline to push the Docker image to the ECR repository.


  • Configure a Jenkins job or pipeline that will deploy the Docker image to the EKS cluster by creating a deployment manifest and updating the image tag. This can be done using kubectl commands or by using the Kubernetes plugin.


Step 3: Add Automated Testing



  • Create a Jenkins job or pipeline to run unit tests, integration tests, and any other required tests.


  • Based on the test results, configure the Jenkins job or pipeline to either continue with the deployment process or roll back the deployment if any errors occur in the testing phase.


Once the above steps are completed, the Jenkins job or pipeline will automatically build, test, and deploy the code to the EKS cluster.

An example of a Jenkins pipeline that interacts with the EKS cluster is shown below:

pipeline {
agent any

stages {
stage('Build') {
steps {
//Build the code and package it into a Docker image
sh 'docker build -t <ECR_REPO_URL>:<VERSION>-<UNIQUE_ID> .'
}
}
stage('Push to ECR') {
steps {
//Push the Docker image to the ECR repository
withCredentials([[$class : 'AmazonWebServicesCredentialsBinding', accessKeyVariable: 'AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID',
secretKeyVariable: 'AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY', credentialsId: '<CREDENTIALS_ID>']]) {
sh 'docker push <ECR_REPO_URL>:<VERSION>-<UNIQUE_ID>'
}
}
}
stage('Deploy to EKS') {
steps {
//Update the deployment manifest with the new image tag and deploy it to the EKS cluster
withKubeConfig([credentialsId: '<CREDENTIALS_ID>', serverUrl: '<EKS_CLUSTER_ENDPOINT>', caCertificate: '']) {
sh 'kubectl set image deployment/my-app my-app=<ECR_REPO_URL>:<VERSION>-<UNIQUE_ID> --record'
}
}
}
}
}



This pipeline will build the code, push the Docker image to the ECR repository, and deploy it to the EKS cluster. The ECR credentials are retrieved using the Jenkins credentials plugin and the Kubernetes plugin is used to connect and interact with the EKS cluster. Overall, integrating Jenkins with the EKS cluster enables seamless automation of build, test, and deployment processes, allowing for quick and efficient CI/CD workflows.


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