Training on Support Tools

RKE2 Deep Dive

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0500

RKE2 brings enhanced security and performance improvements to Kubernetes clusters. This section covers setup, configuration, and troubleshooting of RKE2 clusters.

Cloud Providers for RKE2

Training

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Explore our in-depth training resources on Kubernetes, Rancher, networking, and more.

Training Categories

Deep Dive into Kubernetes Components

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our comprehensive Kubernetes Deep Dive series. These guides provide detailed technical insights into Kubernetes components, their architecture, and internal workings.

Control Plane Components

API Server

API Server Deep Dive: The central management point for the Kubernetes cluster
- Authentication and Authorization
- Admission Controllers
- API Extensions
- Performance Tuning

Controller Manager

Controller Manager Deep Dive: Core controllers and reconciliation loops
- Built-in Controllers
- Custom Controllers
- Reconciliation Patterns
- High Availability

Scheduler

Scheduler Deep Dive: Pod scheduling and placement decisions
- Scheduling Algorithms
- Resource Management
- Custom Schedulers
- Advanced Scheduling

etcd

etcd Deep Dive: Distributed key-value store
- Data Storage
- Consistency Models
- Backup and Recovery
- Performance Optimization

Node Components

Kubelet

Kubelet Deep Dive: Node agent and container management
- Container Lifecycle
- Volume Management
- Resource Management
- Node Health

Container Runtime

Container Runtime Deep Dive: Container execution and management
- Runtime Interface
- Image Management
- Container Operations
- Security Features

Kube Proxy

Kube Proxy Deep Dive: Network proxy and load balancing
- Service Implementation
- Proxy Modes
- Network Rules
- Performance Tuning

Networking Components

DNS (CoreDNS)

CoreDNS Deep Dive: Service discovery and DNS resolution
- DNS Architecture
- Custom DNS Configuration
- Performance Optimization
- Troubleshooting

CSI Drivers

CSI Driver Deep Dive: Storage integration and management
- Volume Lifecycle
- Storage Classes
- Volume Snapshots
- Storage Features

Cloud Controllers

Cloud Controller Deep Dive: Cloud provider integration
- Load Balancers
- Storage Management
- Node Lifecycle
- Network Routes

Best Practices

High Availability
- Component redundancy
- Leader election
- Failure recovery
- Backup strategies
Performance
- Resource optimization
- Scaling considerations
- Monitoring setup
- Tuning guidelines
Security
- Authentication
- Authorization
- Network policies
- Security contexts
Monitoring
- Metrics collection
- Log aggregation
- Alerting
- Troubleshooting

Networking

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our comprehensive networking training section. Here you’ll find detailed guides and tutorials covering everything from basic networking concepts to advanced topics in modern cloud-native networking.

Core Networking Concepts

Networking 101: TCP/IP, subnets, and fundamental concepts
Understanding VXLAN: Deep dive into Virtual Extensible LAN
Network Security Fundamentals: Firewalls, encryption, and security best practices

Container and Cloud Networking

Kubernetes VXLAN Networking: How Kubernetes uses VXLAN for overlay networks
Container Network Interface (CNI): Understanding Kubernetes networking plugins
Service Mesh Architecture: Modern microservices networking

Advanced Topics

Network Troubleshooting: Tools and techniques for debugging network issues
Network Performance: Optimization and monitoring
Software-Defined Networking: Modern approaches to network management

Hands-on Labs

Setting up a VXLAN Network
Kubernetes CNI Implementation
Network Monitoring Lab

Each section includes practical examples, diagrams, and real-world scenarios to help you understand and implement networking concepts effectively.

Rancher

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Rancher provides powerful tools to simplify multi-cluster management. In this section, explore guides, troubleshooting tips, and strategies for getting the most out of Rancher.

Rancher Training Resources

Networking 101

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction to Networking 101

Networking is a foundational component of modern technology, enabling communication between devices and systems. In this post, we will explore key networking concepts and provide the knowledge needed to understand how devices interact in a networked environment.

1. What is TCP/IP?

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is the backbone of the internet and most local networks. It defines how data is broken into packets, transmitted, and reassembled at the destination.

Understanding VXLAN

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Understanding VXLAN: Virtual Extensible LAN

Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) is a network virtualization technology that helps extend Layer 2 networks over Layer 3 infrastructure. It’s a key enabler in modern data centers, especially in cloud environments, providing scalable overlay networks for virtual machines and containers.

1. What is VXLAN?

VXLAN is a network overlay protocol that allows you to create a virtual Layer 2 network over a physical Layer 3 network. It encapsulates Ethernet frames in UDP packets, enabling the deployment of virtual networks across large, distributed environments.

Rancher Agents

Fri, 13 May 2022 04:04:00 +0000

What do the Rancher/cattle agents do?

The Rancher agents are how Rancher communicates with downstream clusters. It’s important to understand that Rancher does not create outbound connections to downstream clusters for gaining access to the Kubernetes API endpoint. This includes Rancher deployed clusters and imported clusters.

There are two different agent resources deployed on Rancher managed clusters:

cattle-cluster-agent
cattle-node-agent

cattle-cluster-agents

In Rancher v2.5, the cattle-cluster-agent Deployment has a single replica; in Rancher v2.6, it runs as at least two replicas for HA. When this pod starts, it creates a WebSocket connection to Ranchers API.

Rancher Certs

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 02:03:30 -0500

What are SSL Certs?

Generally referred to as a cert or certificate, an SSL certificate authenticates a website’s identity and enables an encrypted connection. A web browser and a server create an encrypted link using Secure Sockets Layer or SSL.

In short: SSL ensures the data exchanged between two systems is kept private. When you see a padlock icon next to the URL in the address bar, SSL protects the connection between you and the website you are visiting.