Cluster API for Homelab k3s
Cluster API turns k3s cluster lifecycle into YAML: create, scale, and upgrade whole clusters as code with a management cluster, no more one off scripts.
Tag: kubernetes
All the articles with the tag "kubernetes".
Renovate for k8s GitOps
Auto-update Kubernetes images and Helm charts with Renovate: the built-in Helm managers, custom regex managers, cron scheduling, and PR grouping rules.
External Secrets Operator + Vault on k3s
Pull secrets out of git with External Secrets Operator and Vault on k3s: real server mode, Kubernetes auth that actually works, rotation and audit trails.
k3s on Pi 5 Cluster: Real or Toy?
A k3s cluster on Raspberry Pi 5 is real Kubernetes with real limits. Which workloads stick, why the M.2 HAT is mandatory, and when to go buy mini-PCs.
Kustomize Without Helm: When Overlays Win
Skip Helm for home lab Kubernetes. Kustomize base + overlays give you dev/staging/prod variants with zero templating pain.
Compose-to-Helm Migration That Doesn't Break
Migrate from Docker Compose to Helm without throwing away your Compose setup. Use kompose, hybrid CI stages, and run both in parallel during the transition.
Ingress Choices in k3s: Traefik vs ingress-nginx vs HAProxy
Traefik, ingress-nginx, or HAProxy on k3s? ingress-nginx retired in March 2026. Install commands, IngressRoute vs Ingress, and the ServiceLB port trap.
k3s Backups: etcd Snapshots + Velero
etcd snapshots and Velero on k3s: the native S3 upload flags, the local-path hostPath trap that silently skips your PV data, and a restore drill that works.
MetalLB for Bare-Metal LoadBalancer
Give your bare-metal Kubernetes cluster load-balanced services with MetalLB. Layer 2, BGP, IPAddressPools, and when to use each.
Longhorn vs OpenEBS for k3s Storage
Longhorn is opinionated and simple. OpenEBS is modular with more levers. How the two storage drivers differ on architecture and speed for a 3-node k3s.
ArgoCD for Home Lab GitOps
ArgoCD runs GitOps on k3s: install it, lay out the repo, and manage apps declaratively from Git. Covers sealed-secrets, sync waves, and app-of-apps.
Helm Without the YAML Soup
Master Helm templating sanity. Values files, smart defaults, when to skip Helm entirely, and why nested variables aren't always the answer.