Creating a Pod

Learn to create a Pod with kubectl apply.

Creating pods

To create a pod from YAML, kubectl apply -f is used. To run commands in the pod's container, copy files and access it locally:

kubectl apply -f pod.yaml
kubectl exec -it web -- sh                    # a shell
kubectl exec web -- nginx -v                  # a single command
kubectl cp ./index.html web:/usr/share/nginx/html/index.html
kubectl port-forward pod/web 8080:80          # localhost:8080 -> pod 80

port-forward

kubectl port-forward opens a temporary tunnel from a local port to a pod (or service) in the cluster; ideal for debugging without creating a Service. The tunnel stays open while the command runs:

$ kubectl port-forward pod/web 8080:80
Forwarding from 127.0.0.1:8080 -> 80
# in another terminal:
$ curl -s localhost:8080 | head -4

Exercise Work with a pod

Write three commands: apply pod.yaml; run nginx -v in the web pod; forward local port 8080 to port 80 of the web pod.

Show example solution

kubectl apply -f pod.yaml
kubectl exec web -- nginx -v
kubectl port-forward pod/web 8080:80

Test yourself

What does -- do in kubectl exec web -- nginx -v?
- It marks that the following arguments belong to the container command, not kubectl
- It starts a comment
- It runs the command in the background
- It is unnecessary
Show answer

It marks that the following arguments belong to the container command, not kubectl — Without it, -v would be taken as a kubectl flag.

Connect local 8080 to the pod's 80.

kubectl ____ pod/web 8080:80

Show answer

kubectl port-forward pod/web 8080:80

Match.

exec -it

Interactive shell
cp

Copy files
port-forward

Local tunnel
--

Container command starts

Next lesson: Pod status

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