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| 1 | +--- |
| 2 | +title: How to connect to a fully isolated Kubernetes Kapsule cluster using Public Gateway |
| 3 | +description: Learn how to connect to a private Kubernetes cluster using kubectl and Public Gateway. Follow steps to connect securely to your cluster while ensuring its networking isolation. |
| 4 | +tags: connection cluster kubectl public-gateways |
| 5 | +dates: |
| 6 | + validation: 2025-12-04 |
| 7 | + posted: 2025-12-04 |
| 8 | +--- |
| 9 | +import Requirements from '@macros/iam/requirements.mdx' |
| 10 | + |
| 11 | + |
| 12 | +When [creating your cluster](/kubernetes/how-to/create-cluster/), you can choose to connect it to a Private Network using [full isolation](/kubernetes/reference-content/secure-cluster-with-private-network/#what-is-the-difference-between-controlled-isolation-and-full-isolation). The control plane is created without a public IP, and a [Public Gateway](/public-gateways/how-to/configure-a-public-gateway/) is required to connect to it. |
| 13 | + |
| 14 | +You can connect to the control plane using your Public Gateway's [SSH bastion](/public-gateways/how-to/use-ssh-bastion/). This lets you manage your cluster using `kubectl` and other tools while ensuring that its control plane is not exposed to the Internet. |
| 15 | + |
| 16 | +<Requirements /> |
| 17 | + |
| 18 | +- A [Scaleway account](https://console.scaleway.com) logged into the console. |
| 19 | +- [Owner status](https://console.scaleway.com) or [IAM permissions](/iam/concepts/#permission) to perform actions in the intended Organization. |
| 20 | +- Created a [Private Network](/vpc/how-to/create-private-network/) with an attached [Public Gateway](/public-gateways/how-to/create-a-public-gateway/) with [SSH bastion](/public-gateways/how-to/use-ssh-bastion/) enabled. |
| 21 | +- Created a [Kubernetes Kapsule cluster](/kubernetes/how-to/create-cluster/) attached to the aforementioned Private Network, and configured with [full isolation](/kubernetes/reference-content/secure-cluster-with-private-network/#what-is-the-difference-between-controlled-isolation-and-full-isolation). |
| 22 | +- [kubectl](https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/tools/) installed locally. |
| 23 | +- The [Scaleway CLI](/scaleway-cli/quickstart/) installed locally. |
| 24 | +- Downloaded [a `kubeconfig` file](https://www.scaleway.com/en/docs/kubernetes/how-to/connect-cluster-kubectl/) from the Scaleway console. |
| 25 | + |
| 26 | +## Opening a SSH tunnel to the Kubernetes Kapsule control plane |
| 27 | + |
| 28 | +To connect to the fully isolated Kubernetes Kapsule control plane, you can open a SSH tunnel using the Public Gateway's SSH bastion. This will port-forward the control plane to a local port, to which you can then connect. |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | +### Finding your cluster's URL |
| 31 | + |
| 32 | +In the Scaleway console, go to the [Kubernetes product section](https://console.scaleway.com/kubernetes), then click your cluster's name. |
| 33 | + |
| 34 | +Scroll down to the **Network** section, and click on the **URL** value. The URL is copied to your clipboard. |
| 35 | + |
| 36 | +### Opening the SSH tunnel |
| 37 | + |
| 38 | +Open a terminal on your computer, then run the following command: |
| 39 | + |
| 40 | +```bash |
| 41 | +ssh -fNL 6443:<CLUSTER_URL_WITHOUT_HTTPS> bastion@<PUBLIC_GATEWAY_PUBLIC_IP> -p <SSH_BASTION_PORT> |
| 42 | +``` |
| 43 | + |
| 44 | +Make sure to replace the values with the appropriate values. `<CLUSTER_URL_WITHOUT_HTTPS>` should end in `:6443`, which is the control plane's port. |
| 45 | + |
| 46 | +Here is an example command: |
| 47 | + |
| 48 | +```bash |
| 49 | +ssh -fNL 6443:1379355f-f36a-4383-9791-b6c573dea811.api.k8s.fr-par.scw.cloud:6443 bastion@51.159.153.192 -p 61000 |
| 50 | +``` |
| 51 | + |
| 52 | +<Message type="note"> |
| 53 | + |
| 54 | +The command contains several `ssh` flags: |
| 55 | + |
| 56 | +- `-f` runs the command in the background; |
| 57 | +- `-N` tells `ssh` not to run a remote command, which is the case here since we only want to port-forward; |
| 58 | +- `-L` sets up port-forwarding from a local port (here, port `6443`) and a given host and port on the remote side; |
| 59 | +- `-p` indicates the remote SSH port. |
| 60 | + |
| 61 | +</Message> |
| 62 | + |
| 63 | +A tunnel to the Kubernetes Kapsule control plane is opened: all local traffic to port `6443` will now be redirected to the control plane through the Public Gateway's SSH bastion. |
| 64 | + |
| 65 | +## Accessing the cluster |
| 66 | + |
| 67 | +### Editing the `/etc/hosts` file |
| 68 | + |
| 69 | +The downloaded `kubeconfig` file points to the control plane's URL, which is currently unreachable due to its lack of public IP. However, you can redirect traffic to your local port-forwarded port by editing your `/etc/hosts` file. |
| 70 | + |
| 71 | +Open the `/etc/hosts` file on your computer using a text editor, and add the following line: |
| 72 | + |
| 73 | +``` |
| 74 | +127.0.0.1 <CLUSTER_URL_WITHOUT_HTTPS> |
| 75 | +``` |
| 76 | + |
| 77 | +Using the same values as the previous example, the line would be: |
| 78 | + |
| 79 | +``` |
| 80 | +127.0.0.1 1379355f-f36a-4383-9791-b6c573dea811.api.k8s.fr-par.scw.cloud |
| 81 | +``` |
| 82 | + |
| 83 | +Processes on your computer now resolve your cluster's hostname to `127.0.0.1`, your `localhost` address. |
| 84 | + |
| 85 | +### Using `kubectl` |
| 86 | + |
| 87 | +You can now manage your cluster using `kubectl`. Run the following command: |
| 88 | + |
| 89 | +```bash |
| 90 | +kubectl get nodes |
| 91 | +``` |
| 92 | + |
| 93 | +A list of nodes from your Kapsule cluster should appear. |
| 94 | + |
| 95 | +<Message type="note"> |
| 96 | + |
| 97 | +You need to run the `ssh` command again every time your computer reboots. This can be automated using various tools such as shell scripts. |
| 98 | + |
| 99 | +</Message> |
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