Default Namespace
- Docker & Kubernetes course
- Intermediate
- Lesson 59/82
- 4 min
Learn the default and kube-system Namespaces.
The default namespace
To avoid typing -n constantly, the active context's default namespace is changed. This setting is written into the kubeconfig and affects all later commands:
kubectl config set-context --current --namespace=dev
kubectl config view --minify -o jsonpath='{..namespace}'
# dev
kubectl get pods # now the pods in devSmall tools like kubens reduce this to one command. Warning: forgetting which namespace you are in on a production cluster is dangerous; showing the context and namespace name at the start of the shell line is a common precaution.
Verifying the active namespace
Two ways to see which namespace you are in: config get-contexts shows the NAMESPACE column; config view --minify prints only the active context:
$ kubectl config get-contexts
CURRENT NAME CLUSTER AUTHINFO NAMESPACE
* minikube minikube minikube dev
$ kubectl config set-context --current --namespace=default # go backPractice Change the default
Write three commands: set the active context's namespace to dev; list the contexts; list the pods without writing -n.
Starter code
# buraya yazSample solution
kubectl config set-context --current --namespace=dev
kubectl config get-contexts
kubectl get podsExpected output
Context "minikube" modified. CURRENT NAME CLUSTER AUTHINFO NAMESPACE * minikube minikube minikube dev NAME READY STATUS RESTARTS AGE web-6b9c8d7f5-xyzab 1/1 Running 0 1h
Questions and answers
Review the lesson questions together with their answers. To test yourself, solve the lesson interactively.
1 What does set-context --current --namespace=dev change?
- It deletes the default namespace in the cluster
- Every user's namespace
- It moves pods to dev
- The active context's default namespace (in the kubeconfig) Correct answer
Explanation: The setting only affects your kubeconfig file.
2 Change the active context's namespace.
kubectl config set-context ____ --namespace=devkubectl config set-context --current --namespace=devExplanation: --current selects the active context.
3 Match.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
set-context --current |
Change the active context |
config view --minify |
Only the active context |
kubens |
Namespace switching tool |
NAMESPACE column |
get-contexts output |