Create a cluster and deploy a workload in the Google Cloud console

Create a cluster in GKE Autopilot mode

In Autopilot mode, Google manages your cluster configuration, including scaling, security, and other preconfigured settings. Clusters in Autopilot mode are optimized to run most production workloads and provision compute resources based on your Kubernetes manifests.

1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the GKE Create an Autopilot clusterpage.

   Go to Create an Autopilot cluster

2. Under Cluster basics, do the following:

   1. In the Namefield, enter the following name:

       hello-world-cluster 
      

   2. Keep the default values for the rest of the settings and click Create to start creating the cluster.

3. When you're redirected to the Kubernetes clusterspage, click hello-world-clusterin the Namecolumn.

   You can watch the progress of your cluster as it is being configured, deployed, and verified.

4. Wait until you see a check mark next to the hello-world-clusterpage title.

Deploy a sample app to your cluster

Deploy a sample "hello world" web app provided by Google and stored as a container in Artifact Registry.

1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the GKE Workloadspage.

   Go to Workloads

2. Click Deploy .

3. In Deployment name, enter the following name:

    hello-world-app 
   

4. In Kubernetes Cluster , select hello-world-cluster.

5. Click Next: Container details

6. Leave Existing container imageselected, and in Image pathenter the following path:

    us-docker.pkg.dev/google-samples/containers/gke/hello-app:1.0 
   

   This simple "hello world" app is packaged into a single container, but larger apps typically consist of several related containers that can be deployed together and run as a single workload.

7. Click Next: Expose (optional)

8. In the Exposesection, create a load balancing Kubernetes Service to direct external requests to your app:

   1. Select Expose deployment as a new service.

   2. Leave Port 1set to 80.

   3. In Target port 1, enter 8080.

   4. Click Deploy.

   GKE automatically assigns an available external IP address to the Service.

   This Service is considered to be part of the hello-world-app workload.

9. For Autopilot clusters, you might see an error message, such as Does not have minimum availability . This occurs because Autopilot deletes and then re-creates the nodes. Wait a few minutes, then click refresh Refresh to update the page.

10. Wait until the deployment completes and you see the Deployment detailspage.

View a live demo in your browser

1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the Deployment detailspage for hello-world-app:

   1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the GKE Workloadspage.

      Go to Workloads

   2. In the Namecolumn, click the name of the workload you deployed, hello-world-app.

2. In the Endpoints column, click the IP address, which is publicly available.

   GKE opens a new browser tab and sends a request to your app. Dismiss any secure-site warnings, and you should see Hello, world!in the new browser tab.

   If Endpointsis empty, your organization might have a policy that prevents external access.

You have successfully created a GKE cluster in Autopilot mode and deployed a sample workload.

Clean up to avoid billing charges

If you plan to take additional tutorials or to explore your sample further , wait until you're finished to perform this cleanup step. You can continue to use the sample Kubernetes cluster in most GKE tutorials.

If you created a new project to learn about GKE and you no longer need the project, delete the project .

If you used an existing GKE project, delete the resources you created to avoid incurring charges to your account:

1. Go to the GKE Clusterspage.

   Go to Clusters

2. Select the row containing hello-world-cluster, and click Delete .

3. In the Delete hello-world-clusterwindow, do the following:

   1. In the hello-world-clusterfield, enter hello-world-cluster .

   2. Click Delete.

   If you receive an error message about the cluster being repaired, you can wait for the process to complete, and then delete the cluster. This operation might take some time to complete.

4. If you created a logs sink and bucket when following instructions in other tutorials:

   1. Go to the Cloud Logging Logs storagepage.

      Go to Logs storage

   2. Select hello-world-cluster-bucketand click Delete.

   3. Go to the Logging Log routerpage.

      Go to Log router

   4. Select hello-world-cluster-sinkand click Delete.