---
name: k8s-vind
description: Manage vCluster (virtual Kubernetes clusters) instances using vind. Use when creating, managing, or operating lightweight virtual clusters for development, testing, or multi-tenancy.
license: Apache-2.0
metadata:
author: rohitg00
version: "1.0.0"
tools: 14
category: development
---
# vCluster (vind) Management
Manage virtual Kubernetes clusters using kubectl-mcp-server's vind tools (14 tools).
vCluster enables running fully functional Kubernetes clusters as lightweight workloads inside a host cluster, combining multi-tenancy with strong isolation.
## When to Apply
Use this skill when:
- User mentions: "vCluster", "vind", "virtual cluster", "lightweight cluster"
- Operations: creating dev environments, multi-tenant isolation, ephemeral clusters
- Keywords: "virtual Kubernetes", "dev cluster", "pause cluster", "tenant isolation"
## Priority Rules
| Priority | Rule | Impact | Tools |
|----------|------|--------|-------|
| 1 | Detect vCluster CLI first | CRITICAL | `vind_detect_tool` |
| 2 | Check cluster status before operations | HIGH | `vind_status_tool` |
| 3 | Connect before kubectl operations | HIGH | `vind_connect_tool` |
| 4 | Pause unused clusters to save resources | MEDIUM | `vind_pause_tool` |
## Quick Reference
| Task | Tool | Example |
|------|------|---------|
| Detect vCluster | `vind_detect_tool` | `vind_detect_tool()` |
| List clusters | `vind_list_clusters_tool` | `vind_list_clusters_tool()` |
| Create cluster | `vind_create_cluster_tool` | `vind_create_cluster_tool(name)` |
| Connect to cluster | `vind_connect_tool` | `vind_connect_tool(name)` |
## Prerequisites
- **vCluster CLI**: Required for all vind tools
```bash
curl -L -o vcluster "https://github.com/loft-sh/vcluster/releases/latest/download/vcluster-$(uname -s | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')-$(uname -m)"
chmod +x vcluster && sudo mv vcluster /usr/local/bin/
```
## Check Installation
```python
vind_detect_tool()
```
## List Clusters
```python
vind_list_clusters_tool()
```
## Get Cluster Status
```python
vind_status_tool(name="my-vcluster", namespace="vcluster")
```
## Get Kubeconfig
```python
vind_get_kubeconfig_tool(name="my-vcluster", namespace="vcluster")
```
## View Logs
```python
vind_logs_tool(name="my-vcluster", namespace="vcluster", tail=100)
```
## Cluster Lifecycle
### Create Cluster
```python
vind_create_cluster_tool(name="dev-cluster")
vind_create_cluster_tool(
name="dev-cluster",
namespace="dev",
kubernetes_version="v1.29.0",
connect=True
)
vind_create_cluster_tool(
name="custom-cluster",
set_values="sync.toHost.pods.enabled=true,sync.toHost.services.enabled=true"
)
```
### Delete Cluster
```python
vind_delete_cluster_tool(name="dev-cluster")
vind_delete_cluster_tool(
name="dev-cluster",
namespace="dev",
delete_namespace=True
)
```
### Pause Cluster (Save Resources)
```python
vind_pause_tool(name="dev-cluster")
```
### Resume Cluster
```python
vind_resume_tool(name="dev-cluster")
```
## Connect/Disconnect
### Connect to Cluster
```python
vind_connect_tool(name="dev-cluster")
vind_connect_tool(
name="dev-cluster",
namespace="dev",
kube_config="~/.kube/vcluster-config"
)
```
### Disconnect from Cluster
```python
vind_disconnect_tool()
```
## Upgrade Cluster
```python
vind_upgrade_tool(
name="dev-cluster",
kubernetes_version="v1.30.0"
)
vind_upgrade_tool(
name="dev-cluster",
values_file="new-values.yaml"
)
```
## Describe Cluster
```python
vind_describe_tool(name="dev-cluster")
```
## Platform UI
```python
vind_platform_start_tool()
vind_platform_start_tool(host="0.0.0.0", port=9898)
```
## Development Workflow
### Quick Dev Environment
```python
vind_create_cluster_tool(name="dev", connect=True)
kubectl_apply(manifest="""
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
name: my-app
namespace: default
spec:
replicas: 1
selector:
matchLabels:
app: my-app
template:
metadata:
labels:
app: my-app
spec:
containers:
- name: app
image: nginx:alpine
""")
```
### Multi-Tenant Setup
```python
vind_create_cluster_tool(name="team-a", namespace="team-a-vcluster")
vind_create_cluster_tool(name="team-b", namespace="team-b-vcluster")
vind_list_clusters_tool()
```
### Resource Management
```python
vind_pause_tool(name="dev")
vind_resume_tool(name="dev")
```
## Docker-Specific Configuration
For vCluster in Docker (vind) deployments, use `--set` values:
```python
vind_create_cluster_tool(
name="docker-cluster",
set_values="experimental.docker.network=my-network,experimental.docker.ports[0].containerPort=80"
)
```
## Troubleshooting
### Cluster Not Starting
```text
1. vind_detect_tool()
2. vind_logs_tool(name="my-cluster", tail=200)
3. vind_status_tool(name="my-cluster")
```
### Connection Issues
```text
1. vind_disconnect_tool()
2. vind_connect_tool(name="my-cluster")
3. vind_get_kubeconfig_tool(name="my-cluster")
```
### Resource Issues
```text
1. vind_pause_tool(name="unused-cluster")
2. vind_delete_cluster_tool(name="old-cluster", delete_namespace=True)
```
## CLI Installation
Install vCluster CLI:
```bash
curl -L -o vcluster "https://github.com/loft-sh/vcluster/releases/latest/download/vcluster-$(uname -s | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')-$(uname -m)"
chmod +x vcluster
sudo mv vcluster /usr/local/bin/
vcluster version
```
## Related Skills
- [k8s-multicluster](../k8s-multicluster/SKILL.md) - Multi-cluster management
- [k8s-helm](../k8s-helm/SKILL.md) - Helm chart operations
- [k8s-operations](../k8s-operations/SKILL.md) - kubectl operations
