Install PostgreSQL on Kubernetes with KubeBlocks

kubeblocks_pg.txt

# Install PostgreSQL on Kubernetes with KubeBlocks

## Introduction

Managing databases on Kubernetes has always been a challenge—until **KubeBlocks** arrived!

KubeBlocks provides a **unified API**, allowing you to manage **MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, Pulsar, ClickHouse**, and more in a consistent way without learning multiple database operation tools.

In this tutorial, we will focus on **PostgreSQL** and demonstrate how to install and connect to a PostgreSQL database on Kubernetes using KubeBlocks.

---

## Why Choose KubeBlocks?

Kubernetes excels at managing **stateless applications**, but handling **stateful applications like databases** often requires:

✅ Finding the right database operator

✅ Learning different APIs and configuration methods

✅ Managing **backups, scaling, monitoring**, and other operational tasks

**KubeBlocks simplifies all of this!**

🔹 **Unified API** — Manage different databases with the same commands

🔹 **High Availability** — Production-grade failover and recovery mechanisms

🔹 **Built-in Monitoring** — Pre-configured **Prometheus & Grafana** dashboards

---

## **Installing KubeBlocks**

### **Step 1: Install KubeBlocks CLI**

First, install the **KubeBlocks CLI**, which is used to manage database clusters:

```bash
export KB_CLI_VERSION=v0.9.2
curl -fsSL https://kubeblocks.io/installer/install_cli.sh | bash -s $KB_CLI_VERSION

```

Verify the installation:

```bash
kbcli --help

```

You should see a list of available KubeBlocks CLI commands.

---

### **Step 2: Deploy KubeBlocks on Kubernetes**

### **2.1 Install KubeBlocks CRDs (Custom Resource Definitions)**

```bash
export KB_VERSION=v0.9.2
kubectl create -f https://github.com/apecloud/kubeblocks/releases/download/$KB_VERSION/kubeblocks_crds.yaml

```

### **2.2 Add KubeBlocks Helm Repository**

```bash
helm repo add kubeblocks https://apecloud.github.io/helm-charts
helm repo update

```

### **2.3 Install KubeBlocks Using Helm**

```bash
helm -n kb-system install kubeblocks kubeblocks/kubeblocks --version 0.9.2 \
  --set image.registry=docker.io \
  --set dataProtection.image.registry=docker.io \
  --set addonChartsImage.registry=docker.io \
  --create-namespace

```

Once installed, check if KubeBlocks is running:

```bash
kubectl get pods -n kb-system

```

You should see **KubeBlocks-related pods in Running state**.

---

## **Installing PostgreSQL**

### **Step 3: Deploy a PostgreSQL Cluster with KubeBlocks**

Now, let's use KubeBlocks to **quickly launch a PostgreSQL cluster**!

Run the following command to create a PostgreSQL cluster:

```bash
kbcli cluster create my-postgresql --cluster-definition postgresql

```

After a few minutes, check the PostgreSQL cluster status:

```bash
kubectl get pods -n default

```

You should see an output similar to:

```bash
NAME                         READY   STATUS    RESTARTS   AGE
my-postgresql-postgresql-0   4/4     Running   0          79s
my-postgresql-postgresql-1   4/4     Running   0          79s

```

This indicates that the PostgreSQL cluster is successfully running! 🎉

---

## **Connecting to PostgreSQL and Running SQL Commands**

### **Step 4: Connect to PostgreSQL**

```bash
kbcli cluster connect my-postgresql

```

After running the above command, you will enter the **PostgreSQL interactive shell**, where you can execute SQL statements:

```sql
CREATE DATABASE testdb;
\c testdb
CREATE TABLE users (id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY, name VARCHAR(100), age INT);
INSERT INTO users (name, age) VALUES ('Alice', 30), ('Bob', 25);
SELECT * FROM users;

```

You should see the PostgreSQL query results, indicating successful database operations! 🚀

---

## **Summary**

✅ **Installed KubeBlocks** and deployed PostgreSQL on Kubernetes

✅ **Used KubeBlocks’ unified API** to quickly create a PostgreSQL cluster

✅ **Connected to PostgreSQL and executed SQL commands**

---

## **Why KubeBlocks is the Future of Database Management?**

🚀 **Supports multiple databases**: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, Pulsar, ClickHouse, and more

💡 **Unified API for seamless management**, eliminating the need to learn multiple database operation tools

⚡ **Production-grade high availability, monitoring, and scalability**

📢 **What’s Next?**

🔹 **Try other databases**: Experiment with **MySQL, MongoDB, or Redis**

🔹 **Explore advanced features**: Such as **auto-scaling, backup, and restore**

🔹 **Join the community**: Star [KubeBlocks on GitHub](https://github.com/apecloud/kubeblocks) and participate in discussions!

💬 **Got questions?** Comment below or join our **Slack community**!

Happy Coding! 🚀