A Guide to Deploy ArgoCD in Amazon EKS Cluster

Overview

In today’s fast-paced world of software development, managing complex deployments efficiently is paramount.

Kubernetes has emerged as a leading platform for container orchestration, with Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) being a popular choice for managing Kubernetes clusters on AWS. When it comes to continuous deployment and GitOps workflows on Kubernetes, ArgoCD stands out as a powerful tool.

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Introduction to ArgoCD and Amazon EKS

ArgoCD is a declarative GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes. It allows users to define applications, environments, and configurations declaratively in Git repositories and automatically ensures that the desired state of these applications is maintained in the Kubernetes clusters.

Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) is a managed Kubernetes service provided by AWS. It simplifies deploying, managing, and scaling containerized applications using Kubernetes on AWS infrastructure.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the process of deploying ArgoCD in an Amazon EKS cluster, its benefits, challenges, and some frequently asked questions.

Steps to Deploy ArgoCD in Amazon EKS

Step 1: Prerequisites

Before diving into the deployment process, ensure you have:

An AWS account with appropriate permissions to create Amazon EKS clusters.
Installed and configured the AWS CLI, kubectl, and eksctl on your local machine.
Basic knowledge of Kubernetes and GitOps concepts.

Step 2: Create an Amazon EKS Cluster

Using eksctl, create an Amazon EKS cluster with the desired configuration, including node instance types, networking settings, and AWS IAM roles.

bash

eksctl create cluster --name my-cluster --version 1.21 --node-type t3.medium --nodes 3 --region us-west-2

1	eksctl create cluster --name my-cluster --version 1.21 --node-type t3.medium --nodes 3 --region us-west-2

Step 3: Install ArgoCD

Deploy ArgoCD to the Kubernetes cluster using the provided manifests or Helm chart.

bash

kubectl create namespace argocd
kubectl apply -n argocd -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/argoproj/argo-cd/stable/manifests/install.yaml

1 2	kubectl create namespace argocd kubectl apply -n argocd -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/argoproj/argo-cd/stable/manifests/install.yaml

Step 4: Access ArgoCD UI

Retrieve the ArgoCD admin password and access the web UI using port forwarding.

bash

kubectl -n argocd get secret argocd-initial-admin-secret -o jsonpath="{.data.password}" | base64 -d
kubectl port-forward svc/argocd-server -n argocd 8080:443

1 2	kubectl -n argocd get secret argocd-initial-admin-secret -o jsonpath="{.data.password}" \| base64 -d kubectl port-forward svc/argocd-server -n argocd 8080:443

Navigate to https://localhost:8080 in your web browser and log in using the admin credentials.

Benefits of ArgoCD on Amazon EKS

GitOps Workflow: ArgoCD follows the GitOps methodology, allowing for declarative configuration and automated deployments triggered by Git repository changes.
Visibility and Auditing: ArgoCD provides a centralized dashboard for managing and monitoring the state of applications deployed on Kubernetes clusters.
Rollback Capabilities: Easily rollback to previous versions of applications in case of issues or failures, ensuring resilience and reliability.
Scalability: Seamlessly scale applications and clusters with ArgoCD’s robust architecture and integration with Kubernetes.

Challenges and Considerations

While deploying ArgoCD on Amazon EKS offers numerous benefits, there are some challenges and considerations to keep in mind:

Resource Consumption: ArgoCD requires resources to operate efficiently, including CPU, memory, and storage. Proper resource allocation and monitoring are essential to prevent performance issues.
Security Configuration: Ensure proper security configurations, including role-based access control (RBAC), network policies, and encryption to protect sensitive data and resources.
Integration with Existing Tools: Consider how ArgoCD will integrate with existing CI/CD pipelines, monitoring tools, and workflows to ensure seamless operation and collaboration within the development team.

Conclusion

Deploying ArgoCD in an Amazon EKS cluster streamlines the management of Kubernetes applications, promoting automation, reliability, and scalability. By leveraging ArgoCD’s GitOps principles, teams can achieve greater efficiency and agility in their software delivery pipelines on Amazon EKS. However, it’s essential to consider the challenges and best practices to ensure a successful deployment and operation of ArgoCD in production environments.

Drop a query if you have any questions regarding Amazon EKS and we will get back to you quickly.

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FAQs

1. Can I deploy applications from multiple Git repositories with ArgoCD?

ANS: – Yes, ArgoCD supports deploying applications from multiple Git repositories, allowing for flexible and modular configuration management.

2. How does ArgoCD handle secrets and sensitive data?

ANS: – ArgoCD integrates with Kubernetes secrets management systems, such as AWS Secrets Manager or HashiCorp Vault, to securely manage sensitive data during deployments.

WRITTEN BY Rajveer Singh Chouhan

Rajveer Singh Chouhan works as a Research Associate at CloudThat. He has been learning and gaining practical experience in AWS and Azure. Rajveer is also passionate about continuously expanding his skill set and knowledge base by actively seeking opportunities to learn new skills. Rajveer regularly reads blogs and articles related to various programming languages, technologies, and industry trends to stay up to date with the latest developments in the field.