Spent last weekend diving deep into Kubernetes—this time, on my own bare metal server! 🚀
After trying multiple managed Kubernetes services like AKS (Azure), EKS (AWS), and GKE (GCP), I wanted to truly understand the open source version and explore the customization options that bare metal offers. I assumed, with all the AI tools and guides available, it would be a breeze. But reality had other plans: every fresh install attempt brought new, unexpected errors and challenges.
This experience was a reminder that while managed cloud services abstract away much of the complexity, setting up Kubernetes from scratch on your own hardware is a different beast. The flexibility and performance are unmatched, but it demands patience, troubleshooting, and a willingness to get your hands dirty.
To help others avoid the same pitfalls (and the sea of conflicting information online), I started documenting every step, error, and solution. The result: a detailed, step-by-step guide with explanations for why each step matters. If you’re looking to set up Kubernetes on Ubuntu, or just want to see what’s involved under the hood, check out my GitHub
Hope this helps anyone learning Kubernetes on their own or looking to go beyond managed services. Would love to hear your own stories or tips for running K8s on bare metal!