The topics in this section assume basic knowledge of InsightEdge and the data grid. If you aren't familiar with the data grid (at minimum), review the contents of the general Getting Started section before performing the tasks described here.
This topic describes how to deploy GigaSpaces products in a Kubernetes environment. The integration is packaged as a Helm chart. You can deploy the full InsightEdge Platform, which includes the data grid, using the Helm chart available in the GigaSpaces Helm repository.
This topic describes how to do basic and intermediate-level deployment tasks for the data grid and InsightEdge using simple Helm commands. You can perform these tasks using a Kubernetes minikube, because you only need a single node.
Configuring the data grid for InsightEdge involves the same tasks as configuring the data grid alone. The deployment and maintenance tasks described below use insightedge Helm charts commands. However, you can also perform these tasks using the xap Helm charts commands.
The Helm package manager is used for installing InsightEdge and XAP in the Kubernetes environment. Helm makes deploying complex applications more portable, supports automatic rollbacks, and is a familiar pattern for developers that is easy to understand. Moreover, since Helm is open source, there are many community charts available with standard configurations for common application services.
Helm supports installing charts in a number of ways. A Helm chart can be used in a variety of formats and locations; packaged, unpackaged, accessed via a remote URL or even in a chart repository. The xap and insightedge Helm charts are published in the GigaSpaces Helm chart repository at https://resources.gigaspaces.com/helm-charts.
You must fetch every chart that you will be using (for example: xap, xap-pu and xap-manager) in your GigaSpaces application environment.
All of the commands in the examples below assume that the Helm chart was fetched and stored in a local folder, but you can modify the commands to accomodate the other Helm install options (remote location, repo reference, etc.).
In the directory where you unpacked the Helm chart(s), run the following Helm command in the command window to start a data grid in Kubernetes. This deploys a Kubernetes cluster called hello, which contains a data grid comprised of one Space in a Data Pod, and one Platform Manager called hello-xap-manager in a Management Pod. The Platform Manager manages the Space, the Manager service, and the headless service. There are no backup instances specified.
The rest of the data grid tasks described below use command examples from the insightedge Helm chart. However, you can also perform these tasks using the xap Helm chart.
You can monitor the hello cluster you deployed using any of the following administration tools.
Helm: Run the following command to print the status of the "hello' release in the command window.
Kubectl: run the following command to print the name, description, and status of the Pods in the command window. A list of events is also printed, which can be used for troubleshooting purposes. For example, if you detected a problem in one of the Pods, you can see the Pod termination reason and exit code.
To delete the hello Space cluster, use the following Helm command. It removes the release, but leaves the logs and data so you can inspect them at a future time. This command will remove both the Platform Manager and the Space.
If you want to remove the release and delete all the hello release data from the server, add the --purge option.
The Kubernetes installation comes with a 24-hour trial tryme license, to enable users to perform one-click installation and explore the InsightEdge Platform and XAP functionality. However, if you want a longer trial license, you can apply the evaluation license key that you received in the email that was sent to you after you downloaded your InsightEdge or XAP commercial edition from the Download Center. These instructions are also applicable for applying a your official product license after you purchase a GigaSpaces product.
helm install insightedge --name hello --set pu.license="<your license key>"
You must enclose the license key in quotation marks ("...").
If you install a Processing Unit using the insightedge-pu or xap-pu chart, use the syntax --set license="<your license key>".