Creating an alpha cluster

This page shows you how to create an Google Kubernetes Engine alpha cluster, which is a cluster with Kubernetes alpha features enabled in Google Kubernetes Engine. You can also read more about the types of clusters and about cluster architecture.

Before you begin

Before you start, make sure you have performed the following tasks:

Ensure that you have enabled the Google Kubernetes Engine API.

Enable Google Kubernetes Engine API

Ensure that you have installed the Cloud SDK.

Set up default gcloud settings using one of the following methods:

Using gcloud init, if you want to be walked through setting defaults.
Using gcloud config, to individually set your project ID, zone, and region.

Using gcloud init

Run gcloud init and follow the directions:
```
gcloud init
```
If you are using SSH on a remote server, use the --console-only flag to prevent the command from launching a browser:
```
gcloud init --console-only
```
Follow the instructions to authorize gcloud to use your Google Cloud account.
Create a new configuration or select an existing one.
Choose a Google Cloud project.
Choose a default Compute Engine zone.

Note: You can override these default settings in gcloud commands using the --project, --zone, and --region flags.

Using gcloud config

Set your default project ID:
```
gcloud config set project project-id
```
If you are working with zonal clusters, set your default compute zone:
```
gcloud config set compute/zone compute-zone
```
If you are working with regional clusters, set your default compute region:
```
gcloud config set compute/region compute-region
```
Update gcloud to the latest version:
```
gcloud components update
```

Note: You can override these default settings in gcloud commands using the --project, --zone, and --region flags.

Be sure you understand the limitations of alpha clusters.

Creating an alpha cluster

You can create an alpha cluster by using the gcloud tool or the Google Cloud Console.

gcloud

Run the following command:

gcloud container clusters create [CLUSTER_NAME] \
    --enable-kubernetes-alpha \
    [--zone [COMPUTE_ZONE]] \
    [--cluster-version [VERSION]]

where:

[CLUSTER_NAME] is the name you choose for the cluster
[COMPUTE_ZONE] is the Compute Engine [compute zone] in which to create the cluster. The optional --zone flag overrides the default compute/zone property set by gcloud config set compute/zone. Note: Your default compute zone must be set using gcloud config set compute/zone [COMPUTE_ZONE] or specified using --zone.
[VERSION] is the GKE version to run in the cluster. If unset, the cluster runs the current default version documented in Versioning and Upgrades.

Note: It is not possible to create an alpha cluster enrolled in a release channel, because auto-upgrade cannot be disabled when using release channels, but alpha clusters cannot be upgraded.

You are prompted to acknowledge a warning that the alpha cluster is not upgraded and is deleted after 30 days:

This will create a cluster with all Kubernetes Alpha features enabled.
- This cluster will not be covered by the GKE SLA and should
  not be used for production workloads.
- You will not be able to upgrade the master or nodes.
- The cluster will be deleted after 30 days.

Console

Visit the Google Kubernetes Engine menu in Cloud Console.

Visit the Google Kubernetes Engine menu
Click the Create cluster button.
In the Cluster basics section, complete the following:
1. Enter the Name for your cluster.
2. For the Location type, select Zonal, and then select the desired zone for your cluster.
3. For the Master Version, select Static version, and then choose a GKE version.
  
  Note: It is not possible to create an alpha cluster enrolled in a release channel, because auto-upgrade cannot be disabled when using release channels, but alpha clusters cannot be upgraded.
From the navigation pane, under Node Pools, click default-pool.
In the Node pool details section, complete the following:
1. Enter a Name for the default Node pool.
2. Choose the Node version for your nodes.
3. Enter the Number of nodes to create in the cluster. You must have available resource quota for the nodes and their resources (such as firewall routes).
4. Disable the auto-upgrade and auto-repair options.
From the navigation pane, under Node Pools, click Nodes.
From the Image type drop-down list, select the desired node image.
Choose the default Machine configuration to use for the instances. Each machine type is billed differently. The default machine type is n1-standard-1. For machine type pricing information, refer to the machine type price sheet.
From the Boot disk type drop-down list, select the desired disk type.
Enter the Boot disk size.
From the navigation pane, under Cluster, click Features.
Click Enable Kubernetes alpha features in this cluster.
Read and acknowledge the warning by selecting I understand the consequences.
Click Create.

After you create a cluster, you need to configure kubectl before you can interact with the cluster from the command line.

Check when an alpha cluster expires

To check when alpha clusters expire, run the following command:

gcloud container clusters list

What's next

Learn more about the types of clusters you can create.
Learn about managing your clusters.
Learn how to delete clusters.