How to Deploy a Kubernetes Cluster on Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) is a managed Kubernetes service that simplifies the deployment and scaling of containerized applications. In this blog, you'll learn how to deploy a Kubernetes cluster using the GCP Console (Standard Mode) and expose a basic NGINX application using a LoadBalancer.

Prerequisites

Make sure you have:

• A Google Cloud account
• A GCP Project created
• Billing enabled
• Kubernetes Engine API enabled
• [Optional] gcloud CLI installed locally

Step 0: Install gcloud CLI (Optional but recommended)

If you want to connect to GKE from your local terminal:

1. Download and install the gcloud CLI:

Code

curl -O https://dl.google.com/dl/cloudsdk/channels/rapid/downloads/google-cloud-cli-454.0.0-linux-x86_64.tar.gz
tar -xf google-cloud-cli-454.0.0-linux-x86_64.tar.gz
./google-cloud-sdk/install.sh
export PATH="$HOME/google-cloud-sdk/bin:$PATH"
source ~/.bashrc
gcloud version
      

        2. Initialize the CLI

Code

gcloud init
      

         3. Install kubectl:

Code

gcloud components install kubectl
      

Step 1: Create a GKE Cluster (Console UI)

Go to: GCP Console > Kubernetes Engine > Clusters

Click “Create Cluster”, and choose:

• Mode: Standard
• Cluster Basics:
  
  • Name: my-gke-cluster
  • Location type: Zonal
  • Zone: us-central1-a
  • Release Channel: Regular (recommended)

Step 2: Configure Default Node Pool

Under default-pool, configure:

• Nodes: 2
• Machine Type: e2-medium
• OS Image: Ubuntu
• Disk Size: 20 GB

Optional: Enable Autoscaler

• Enable cluster autoscaler
• Min nodes: 2
• Max nodes: 4
• Location policy: Any‍
• Size limit type: Total limits

Autoscaling lets your cluster grow/shrink based on workload.

Step 3: Networking Configuration

• Use the default VPC You may also use a private custom VPC based on your security needs.

Step 4: Click “Create”

Once all settings are done, click Create and wait ~3–5 minutes.

Step 5: Connect to the Cluster

You can either use Cloud Shell or your local terminal (with gcloud installed).

Using Cloud Shell

Click “Connect” on your cluster → Copy the gcloud command and run in Cloud Shell.

Using Local CLI

Code

gcloud container clusters get-credentials my-gke-cluster --zone us-central1-a --project [PROJECT_ID]
      

Step 6: Deploy NGINX to GKE

1. Create the deployment

Code

kubectl create deployment nginx --image=nginx   
      

2. Expose with LoadBalancer

Code

kubectl expose deployment nginx --port=80 --target-port=80 --type=LoadBalancer     

Step 7: Access Your App

To get the external IP:

Code

kubectl get svc      
      

Wait until the EXTERNAL-IP field shows a public IP (may take 1–2 mins). Open that IP in your browser, and you should see the NGINX Welcome Page.

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Conclusion

You have now:

• Created a GKE cluster via the GCP Console
• Connected via CLI
• Deployed a basic NGINX app
• Exposed it using a LoadBalancer

Need help with Kubernetes or cloud deployments?

Our expert DevOps team can assist you in setting up a scalable, secure infrastructure on GCP. Contact us today to get started!