Cluster API Lifecycle Management

Manage Kubernetes clusters using kubectl-mcp-server's Cluster API tools (11 tools).

Requires the capi toolset: start kubectl-mcp-server with --toolsets default,capi (or MCP_TOOLSETS=default,capi).

When to Apply

Use this skill when:

• User mentions: "Cluster API", "CAPI", "cluster lifecycle", "machine", "workload cluster"
• Operations: provisioning clusters, scaling nodes, upgrading Kubernetes versions
• Keywords: "provision cluster", "scale workers", "machine deployment", "cluster class"

Priority Rules

Priority	Rule	Impact	Tools
1	Detect CAPI installation first	CRITICAL	detect_ecosystem
2	Check cluster phase before operations	HIGH	capi_get_cluster
3	Monitor machines during scaling	HIGH	capi_list_machines
4	Get kubeconfig after provisioning	MEDIUM	capi_get_cluster_kubeconfig

Quick Reference

Task	Tool	Example
Detect CAPI	detect_ecosystem	detect_ecosystem()
List clusters	capi_list_clusters	capi_list_clusters(namespace)
Get cluster kubeconfig	capi_get_cluster_kubeconfig	capi_get_cluster_kubeconfig(name, namespace)
Scale workers	capi_scale_machinedeployment	capi_scale_machinedeployment(name, namespace, replicas)

Check Installation

detect_ecosystem()

List Clusters

# List all CAPI clusters
capi_list_clusters(namespace="default")

# Shows:
# - Cluster name
# - Phase (Provisioning, Provisioned, Deleting)
# - Infrastructure ready
# - Control plane ready

Get Cluster Details

capi_get_cluster(name="my-cluster", namespace="default")

# Shows:
# - Spec (control plane, infrastructure)
# - Status (phase, conditions)
# - Network configuration

Get Cluster Kubeconfig

# Get kubeconfig for workload cluster
capi_get_cluster_kubeconfig(name="my-cluster", namespace="default")

# Returns kubeconfig to access the cluster

Machines

List Machines

capi_list_machines(namespace="default")

# Shows:
# - Machine name
# - Cluster
# - Phase (Running, Provisioning, Failed)
# - Provider ID
# - Version

Get Machine Details

capi_get_machine(name="my-cluster-md-0-xxx", namespace="default")

Machine Deployments

List Machine Deployments

capi_list_machinedeployments(namespace="default")

# Shows:
# - Deployment name
# - Cluster
# - Replicas (ready/total)
# - Version

Scale Machine Deployment

# Scale worker nodes
capi_scale_machinedeployment(
    name="my-cluster-md-0",
    namespace="default",
    replicas=5
)

Machine Sets

capi_list_machinesets(namespace="default")

Machine Health Checks

capi_list_machinehealthchecks(namespace="default")

# Health checks automatically remediate unhealthy machines

Cluster Classes

# List cluster templates
capi_list_clusterclasses(namespace="default")

# ClusterClasses define reusable cluster configurations

Create Cluster

kubectl_apply(manifest="""
apiVersion: cluster.x-k8s.io/v1beta1
kind: Cluster
metadata:
  name: my-cluster
  namespace: default
spec:
  clusterNetwork:
    pods:
      cidrBlocks:
      - 192.168.0.0/16
    services:
      cidrBlocks:
      - 10.96.0.0/12
  controlPlaneRef:
    apiVersion: controlplane.cluster.x-k8s.io/v1beta1
    kind: KubeadmControlPlane
    name: my-cluster-control-plane
  infrastructureRef:
    apiVersion: infrastructure.cluster.x-k8s.io/v1beta1
    kind: AWSCluster
    name: my-cluster
""")

Create Machine Deployment

kubectl_apply(manifest="""
apiVersion: cluster.x-k8s.io/v1beta1
kind: MachineDeployment
metadata:
  name: my-cluster-md-0
  namespace: default
spec:
  clusterName: my-cluster
  replicas: 3
  selector:
    matchLabels:
      cluster.x-k8s.io/cluster-name: my-cluster
  template:
    spec:
      clusterName: my-cluster
      version: v1.28.0
      bootstrap:
        configRef:
          apiVersion: bootstrap.cluster.x-k8s.io/v1beta1
          kind: KubeadmConfigTemplate
          name: my-cluster-md-0
      infrastructureRef:
        apiVersion: infrastructure.cluster.x-k8s.io/v1beta1
        kind: AWSMachineTemplate
        name: my-cluster-md-0
""")

Cluster Lifecycle Workflows

Provision New Cluster

1. kubectl_apply(cluster_manifest)
2. capi_list_clusters(namespace)  # Wait for Provisioned
3. capi_get_cluster_kubeconfig(name, namespace)  # Get access

Scale Workers

1. capi_list_machinedeployments(namespace)
2. capi_scale_machinedeployment(name, namespace, replicas)
3. capi_list_machines(namespace)  # Monitor

Upgrade Cluster

1. # Update control plane version
2. # Update machine deployment version
3. capi_list_machines(namespace)  # Monitor rollout

Troubleshooting

Cluster Stuck Provisioning

1. capi_get_cluster(name, namespace)  # Check conditions
2. capi_list_machines(namespace)  # Check machine status
3. kubectl_get(resource_type="events", namespace)  # Check events
4. # Check infrastructure provider logs

Machine Failed

1. capi_get_machine(name, namespace)
2. kubectl_get(resource_type="events", namespace)
3. # Common issues:
   # - Cloud provider quota
   # - Invalid machine template
   # - Network issues

Related Skills

• k8s-multicluster - Multi-cluster operations
• k8s-operations - kubectl operations