Kubernetes on Azure: A Beginner’s Guide to Cluster Deployment

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) is Microsoft Azure’s managed Kubernetes offering. It provides a fast and easy way to deploy, manage, and scale containerized applications using Kubernetes on the Azure cloud.

In this guide, we’ll walk through setting up an AKS cluster via the Azure Portal (GUI) and also show how to connect using Azure CLI and deploy a simple NGINX app using a LoadBalancer.

Prerequisites to Deploy Kubernetes on Azure

Before you begin:

• Azure account
• Azure Subscription
• Azure CLI (optional for CLI connection)
• Basic familiarity with containers and Kubernetes

Step 1: Install Azure CLI (Optional)

To interact with AKS via CLI:

Install on Linux/macOS:

Code

curl -sL https://aka.ms/InstallAzureCLIDeb | sudo bash
      

Install on Windows:

Download from: https://aka.ms/installazurecli

Login:

Code

az login
      

This will open a browser window for you to sign in.

Step 2: Create an AKS Cluster Using the Azure Portal

1. Go to the Azure Portal
   URL: https://portal.azure.com
   
2. Search for “Kubernetes services” in the top search bar.
   
3. Click + Create → Create Kubernetes Cluster
   

Cluster Basics

Fill in the following:

• Subscription: Select your Azure subscription (e.g., Microsoft Azure Sponsorship)
• Resource Group: Create new or choose an existing (e.g., defaultresourcegroup-cid)
• Cluster preset configuration: Dev/Test
• Kubernetes Cluster Name: my-aks-cluster
• Region: (US) East US or your preferred region
• Kubernetes version: Leave as default (1.32.5 or latest)
• Availability Zones: None
• Enable Long-Term Support: Off
• Automatic Upgrade: Enabled with patch (recommended)
• Node Security Channel Type: Node Image
• Authentication: Local accounts with Kubernetes RBAC

Click Next: Node pools >

Node Pool Configuration

• Node Pool Name: default
• Node size: Standard_B2s or Standard_DS2_v2
• OS Type: Linux
• Node count: 2
• Enable auto-scaling (Optional but recommended)
  
  • Minimum nodes: 2
  • Maximum nodes: 4
    
    

Authentication

You can use system-assigned managed identity (recommended).

You can skip RBAC/Active Directory for now if you're just testing.

Networking

• Network configuration: Basic (default)
• DNS prefix: Optional

Advanced networking (Azure CNI) can be enabled later if required.

Review + Create

Once all configurations are done:

• Click Review + Create
  
• Validate and click Create

It’ll take ~5–10 mins to provision the cluster.

Step 3: Connect to AKS Cluster

After deployment:

1. In Azure Portal → Go to your AKS Cluster
2. Click "Connect"

Copy the CLI command shown, e.g.:

Code

az aks get-credentials --resource-group my-resource-group --name my-aks-cluster
      

Now check the connection:

Code

kubectl get nodes
      

Step 4: Deploy NGINX App to AKS

1. Create a deployment

Code

kubectl create deployment nginx --image=nginx
      

2. Expose via LoadBalancer

Code

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

Step 5: Access the NGINX App

Check the service:

Code

kubectl get svc
      

You’ll see an EXTERNAL-IP after a few minutes.
Open it in a browser — you should see the NGINX welcome page.

Bonus: Clean Up

To avoid extra billing:

Code

az group delete --name my-resource-group
      

Hire Now!

HIRE DevOps Engineers Today!

Ready to enhance your development and operations strategies? Start your project with Zignuts expert DevOps engineers.

**Hire now**Hire Now**Hire Now**Hire now**Hire now

Hire now

Conclusion

In this guide, you learned how to:

• Deploy an AKS cluster via the Azure Portal
• Connect via Azure CLI
• Deploy and expose an NGINX app using a LoadBalancer