Cluster API Lifecycle Management

Manage Kubernetes clusters using kubectl-mcp-server's Cluster API tools (11 tools).

When to Apply

Use this skill when:

• User mentions: "Cluster API", "CAPI", "cluster lifecycle", "machine", "workload cluster"

• Operations: provisioning clusters, scaling nodes, upgrading Kubernetes versions

• Keywords: "provision cluster", "scale workers", "machine deployment", "cluster class"

Priority Rules

Priority Rule Impact Tools

1 Detect CAPI installation first CRITICAL capi_detect_tool

2 Check cluster phase before operations HIGH capi_cluster_get_tool

3 Monitor machines during scaling HIGH capi_machines_list_tool

4 Get kubeconfig after provisioning MEDIUM capi_cluster_kubeconfig_tool

Quick Reference

Task Tool Example

Detect CAPI capi_detect_tool

capi_detect_tool()

List clusters capi_clusters_list_tool

capi_clusters_list_tool(namespace)

Get cluster kubeconfig capi_cluster_kubeconfig_tool

capi_cluster_kubeconfig_tool(name, namespace)

Scale workers capi_machinedeployment_scale_tool

capi_machinedeployment_scale_tool(name, namespace, replicas)

Check Installation

capi_detect_tool()

List Clusters

List all CAPI clusters

capi_clusters_list_tool(namespace="default")

Shows:

- Cluster name

- Phase (Provisioning, Provisioned, Deleting)

- Infrastructure ready

- Control plane ready

Get Cluster Details

capi_cluster_get_tool(name="my-cluster", namespace="default")

Shows:

- Spec (control plane, infrastructure)

- Status (phase, conditions)

- Network configuration

Get Cluster Kubeconfig

Get kubeconfig for workload cluster

capi_cluster_kubeconfig_tool(name="my-cluster", namespace="default")

Returns kubeconfig to access the cluster

Machines

List Machines

capi_machines_list_tool(namespace="default")

Shows:

- Machine name

- Cluster

- Phase (Running, Provisioning, Failed)

- Provider ID

- Version

Get Machine Details

capi_machine_get_tool(name="my-cluster-md-0-xxx", namespace="default")

Machine Deployments

List Machine Deployments

capi_machinedeployments_list_tool(namespace="default")

Shows:

- Deployment name

- Cluster

- Replicas (ready/total)

- Version

Scale Machine Deployment

Scale worker nodes

capi_machinedeployment_scale_tool( name="my-cluster-md-0", namespace="default", replicas=5 )

Machine Sets

capi_machinesets_list_tool(namespace="default")

Machine Health Checks

capi_machinehealthchecks_list_tool(namespace="default")

Health checks automatically remediate unhealthy machines

Cluster Classes

List cluster templates

capi_clusterclasses_list_tool(namespace="default")

ClusterClasses define reusable cluster configurations

Create Cluster

kubectl_apply(manifest=""" apiVersion: cluster.x-k8s.io/v1beta1 kind: Cluster metadata: name: my-cluster namespace: default spec: clusterNetwork: pods: cidrBlocks: - 192.168.0.0/16 services: cidrBlocks: - 10.96.0.0/12 controlPlaneRef: apiVersion: controlplane.cluster.x-k8s.io/v1beta1 kind: KubeadmControlPlane name: my-cluster-control-plane infrastructureRef: apiVersion: infrastructure.cluster.x-k8s.io/v1beta1 kind: AWSCluster name: my-cluster """)

Create Machine Deployment

kubectl_apply(manifest=""" apiVersion: cluster.x-k8s.io/v1beta1 kind: MachineDeployment metadata: name: my-cluster-md-0 namespace: default spec: clusterName: my-cluster replicas: 3 selector: matchLabels: cluster.x-k8s.io/cluster-name: my-cluster template: spec: clusterName: my-cluster version: v1.28.0 bootstrap: configRef: apiVersion: bootstrap.cluster.x-k8s.io/v1beta1 kind: KubeadmConfigTemplate name: my-cluster-md-0 infrastructureRef: apiVersion: infrastructure.cluster.x-k8s.io/v1beta1 kind: AWSMachineTemplate name: my-cluster-md-0 """)

Cluster Lifecycle Workflows

Provision New Cluster

1. kubectl_apply(cluster_manifest)
2. capi_clusters_list_tool(namespace) # Wait for Provisioned
3. capi_cluster_kubeconfig_tool(name, namespace) # Get access

Scale Workers

1. capi_machinedeployments_list_tool(namespace)
2. capi_machinedeployment_scale_tool(name, namespace, replicas)
3. capi_machines_list_tool(namespace) # Monitor

Upgrade Cluster

1. Update control plane version

2. Update machine deployment version

3. capi_machines_list_tool(namespace) # Monitor rollout

Troubleshooting

Cluster Stuck Provisioning

1. capi_cluster_get_tool(name, namespace) # Check conditions
2. capi_machines_list_tool(namespace) # Check machine status
3. get_events(namespace) # Check events

4. Check infrastructure provider logs

Machine Failed

1. capi_machine_get_tool(name, namespace)
2. get_events(namespace)

3. Common issues:

   - Cloud provider quota

   - Invalid machine template

   - Network issues

Related Skills

• k8s-multicluster - Multi-cluster operations

• k8s-operations - kubectl operations