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In this guide, you’ll learn how to spin up a Kubernetes cluster using the Linode Cloud Manager UI and how to tear it down when you’re done. Later, you can automate provisioning with Terraform or another infrastructure-as-code tool.
For repeatable workflows, consider using Terraform and the Linode Terraform provider.

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Prerequisites

  • A Linode account with Kubernetes Engine enabled
  • Familiarity with basic Kubernetes concepts
  • Access to the Linode Cloud Manager (cloud.linode.com)
  1. Log in to the Linode Cloud Manager.
  2. In the left sidebar, click Kubernetes.
  3. You’ll see options to Create Cluster or browse documentation for deployments, ingress, CI/CD, monitoring, and observability.

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1. Create a New Cluster

Click Create Cluster and configure these options:
  1. Cluster Name
    Enter a unique identifier, for example:
    kodekloud01
  2. Region
    Select the data center nearest your users (e.g., Newark, NJ).
  3. Kubernetes Version
    Choose the latest supported release (e.g., v1.23).
  4. High-Availability Control Plane
    Enable to provision three control-plane nodes instead of one. This setup eliminates a single point of failure for etcd and the Kubernetes API.
Enabling High Availability adds approximately $60/month to your bill. Ensure this aligns with your budget.

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1.1 Define Your Worker Node Pools

Choose a node pool based on your workload:
Node Pool TypeUse CaseExample Plan
Dedicated CPUCPU-bound builds and CI workloadsLinode 4 GB
Shared CPUGeneral development or testingLinode 2 GB
High MemoryMemory-intensive applicationsLinode 16 GB
The image shows a web interface for adding node pools to a cluster, displaying various dedicated CPU plans with details on pricing, RAM, CPUs, and storage. There is also a cluster summary on the right with an option to enable a high availability control plane.
For a dev environment, select Shared CPU → Linode 2 GB, then set node count:
  • Development: 1–2 nodes
  • Production: 3–4 nodes for redundancy and scaling
Add two nodes:
The image shows a web interface for configuring a Kubernetes cluster, including options for selecting a region, Kubernetes version, and adding high memory node pools with various plans and pricing.
  1. Review & Create
    Confirm your settings and review the estimated monthly cost (~$80).
The image shows a cloud service interface for configuring Kubernetes clusters, including options for selecting node pools with different plans based on RAM, CPUs, and storage. It also includes a cluster summary with pricing details and a recommendation for a minimum number of nodes.
Click Create Cluster. Provisioning takes 3–5 minutes as Linode sets up control-plane nodes, worker nodes, networking, and storage. When ready, your cluster appears in the dashboard:
The image shows a Kubernetes management dashboard for a cluster named "kodekloud01," displaying details like version, CPU cores, RAM, and node pool status with IP addresses.

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2. Delete a Cluster

When you no longer need the cluster, delete it to stop billing:
  1. In the Kubernetes dashboard, locate your cluster.
  2. Click Delete Cluster, then confirm.
Deleting the cluster will remove all associated resources.

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