Automated Deployment using Jenkins Dynamic Slave Node

The project consists steps for web application deployment on kubernetes cluster using jenkins dynamic slave node. The project is implemented on minikube i.e single node Kubernetes Cluster. It involves configuration of Cloud in Jenkins Server i.e dynamic slave node. The web application docker image is built and pushed to docker hub repository using the dynamic node using docker cli Jenkins plugin .

Project Infra Diagram

Fig 1.: Project Flow

Pre-requistes

• Docker-ce Server
• Jenkins Server

Assumption

Both the servers are hosted in different VMs with Redhat Enterprise Linux 8 as Base Opertaing system

Scope of Project

1. Container Image for Jenkins Slave Node

2. Configure Cloud in Jenkins Server

3. Create chain Jobs with

   • Job 1

     Create image with the latest code and push it to repository

   • Job 2

     Rollout or create new application code

Configure Docker Server

Jenkins dynamic slave node or cloud works on JNLP i.e Java Network Launch Protocol. It enables an application to be launched on a client desktop by using resources that are hosted on a remote web server. By default, the docker server exposes docker api to the localhost only i.e docker command works only on the localhost. We need to configure Docker Server on which the Jenkins will launch its slave nodes to accept the remote docker api connections.

We need to edit the docker server systemd service file. The docker server needs to be configured to accept the remote docker cli or api commands. We will be adding an extra port for docker daemon in ExecStart option in systemd service file.

ExecStart=/usr/bin/dockerd -H fd:// -H tcp:0.0.0.0:5274

-H tcp:0.0.0.0:5274 => the parameter that has to be appended to the ExecStart Option

The port number can be any number which is not being currently used in the host.

After configuration of the docker server, the server needs to be restarted i.e systemctl restart docker.

Fig 2.: Docker Server Configuration

Jenkins Slave Node Container Image

The container image for slave node needs to be ssh enabled for jenkins server to run jobs on it. The alpine linux base operating system is used keeping in mind to minimise the size of the image as much as possible. The two software packages that are must to be installed in image i.e

• Java
• Openssh

Command to install packages in Alpine Linux

apk add --no-cache --update openssh openjdk11

Configuration of user

The user with username slave_node is configured using adduser command with jenkins password.

adduser -D -h /home/slave_node --gecos "Jenkins Slave Node" slave_node &&\
echo "slave_node:jenkins" | chpasswd

Download and configure kubectl

To enable the slave node to launch kubernetes resources on Kubernetes Cluster, the kubectl is configured with authentication files i.e client.key,client.crt and ca.crt.

curl -LO https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/`curl -s \
         https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/stable.txt`/bin/linux/amd64/kubectl && \

chmod +x kubectl && \

mv kubectl /usr/bin

Configure own Slave Node

Anyone can make use of the image and copy the kuberenetes user credentials in the image and provide kubernetes cluster IP and file names. The Dockerfile extract needs to be :

FROM riteshsoni296/kubectl:latest
COPY client.crt client.key ca.crt config.template /home/slave_node/.kube/
RUN chown -Rf slave_node.slave_node /home/slave_node/.kube
ENV KUBERNETES_CLUSTER_IP="192.168.99.101"
ENV CA_CERTIFICATE="ca.crt"
ENV CLIENT_CERTIFICATE="client.crt"
ENV CLIENT_KEY="client.key"

EXPOSE 22
RUN envsubst "`env | awk -F = '{printf " \\\\$%s", $1}'`" < /home/slave_node/.kube/config.template\
    > /home/slave_node/.kube/config

CMD ["/usr/sbin/sshd", "-D"]

The complete Dockerfile is present in the repository inside location kubectl_node_config.

Configure Cloud in Jenkins Server

In Jenkins, there are two types of slave nodes that can be configured. They are

a. Static

b. Dynamic

In static slave node, the worker machine is connected to the jenkins server all the time even when there are not jobs to schedule. This sometimes leads to wastage of resoruces unnecessary.

So, dynamic node comes to rescue; which is only configured when there are available jobs for scheduling. As soon as the Job is completed, the node is destroyed.

Pre-requisites

Plugins to be installed in Jenkins Server

• Docker Plugin

a. Click on Manage Jenkins on Left Column of Jenkins Landing Page

b. Click on Manage Nodes and Clouds

c. Click on Configure Clouds

Fig 3.: Configure Cloud

d. Select Docker from Add a New Cloud dropdown

e. Provide Name for Slave Node like kubectl_node

f. Click on Docker Cloud Details

g. Provide Docker Server URL

For example:
    Docker Server IP                        : 192.168.99.105
    Port Configured on Docker Service  File : 5274

Docker Host URI : tcp://192.168.99.105:5274

Fig 3.: Configure Docker Server Details

h. After Configuration Click on Test Connection to verify the connectivity with the docker server.

i. Click on Enabled checkbox to enable this slave node configuration

j. Then click on Docker Agent Templates and then Add Docker Template

Labels                  : <any_label_for node>
Click on Enabled checkbox
Name                    : <any name for the node>
Docker Image            : <docker_image_for_slave_node>
Remote File System Root : <root__or_home_directory_of configured_user>
Connect Method          : Connect with SSH
    Select Use Configured SSH Credentials from `SSH Key` dropdown
    Click on Add in SSH Credentials option
        Provide Login details for the Container Image i.e username and password
    Host Key Verification Strategy: Non Verifying Verification Strategy

Pull Strategy            : Pull Once and Update Latest 

Fig 4.: Configure Container Image Credentials

Fig 5.: Configure Container Image Pull Strategy

k. Click on Save and Apply

Trigger Deployment when changes are pushed to SCM

Job 1: Build and Push Image due to SCM Changes

Steps to create Build-Configuration Job are as follows:

1. Create a New Item at the left column in Jenkins Welcome page

2. Configure Job Name

Fig 6.: Job Name Configuration

3. Configure github project URL

The website code that is used in this repository for deployment on EC2 web server Github URL

4. Configure Source Code Management

Fig 7.: Source Code Management Configuration

5. Configure Build Triggers

The Job should be triggered only when any changes are pushed to the code repository. So we need to enable the checkbox near Poll SCM and configure the schedular to run at every minute by setting "* * * * * " value.

Fig 7.: Configure Build Triggers

6. Steps to perform at Build Stage

Select Build/Publish Docker Image from Add Build Step dropdown.

Directory for Dockerfile : .
    > Here "." repersents current directory
Cloud : <label_donfigured_for_cloud>
Image: <image_name_to_be_pushed_in_docker_registry>
Enable `Push Image` checkbox
Registry Credentials:
    Click on Add
        And Provide Docker Hub Repository credentials to perform push operation 

Fig 8.: Build and Push Application Container Image

7. Save and Apply

Fig 9.: Job Console Output

Job 2: Rollout or Deploy New Application

Steps to create Build-Configuration Job are as follows:

1. Create a New Item at the left column in Jenkins Welcome page

2. Configure Job Name

3. Enable Restrict Where This Project can be run

Label Expression: <label_configured_of_cloud>

Fig 10.: Job Environment Configuration

4. Configure Build Triggers

Enable Build After Other Projects are built for Job Chaining.

Projects to watch: Build-Configuration

Fig 11.: Build Trigger Configuration

5. Steps to perform at Build Stage

Select Execute Shell from Add Build Step dropdown. The script is present in scripts directory in this repository with name deployment_configuration_job_build_stage.sh. The contents of script needs to be copied in the build stage of the job.

Fig 12.: Build Stage Configuration

6. Save and Apply

Source: LinuxWorld Informatics. Private Ltd.

Under Guidance of : Mr. Vimal Daga