# Create a Local Kubernetes Cluster with kind: Multi-Node, Ingress and Local Images

> Install kind, create a multi-node Kubernetes cluster in Docker with port mappings, deploy an app, load local images without a registry and delete the cluster.

- Source: https://www.itwonderlab.com/kind-local-kubernetes-cluster/
- Published: 2026-09-06
- Updated: 2026-09-06
- Author: Javier Ruiz Jiménez (https://www.javierruizjimenez.com/)
- Site: IT Wonder Lab (https://www.itwonderlab.com/)

---

## What is kind

[kind](https://www.itwonderlab.com/kind/) means "Kubernetes in Docker": each node of the cluster is a [Docker](https://www.itwonderlab.com/docker/) container. You get a real multi-node [Kubernetes](https://www.itwonderlab.com/kubernetes/) cluster in about a minute, and `kind delete cluster` removes it with no trace. It is the usual choice to test manifests and [Helm](https://www.itwonderlab.com/helm/) charts locally and in CI. Other local options are [K3s](https://www.itwonderlab.com/install-kubernetes-k3s/) and [Rancher Desktop](https://www.itwonderlab.com/rancher-desktop-kubernetes/).

You need Docker running and [kubectl](https://www.itwonderlab.com/kubectl-cheat-sheet/).

## Install

```bash
curl -Lo ./kind https://kind.sigs.k8s.io/dl/v0.24.0/kind-linux-amd64
chmod +x ./kind && sudo mv ./kind /usr/local/bin/kind
kind version
```

On macOS: `brew install kind`. Check the releases page for the current version number.

## First cluster

```bash
kind create cluster --name lab
kubectl cluster-info --context kind-lab
kubectl get nodes
```

kind adds the context `kind-lab` to your kubeconfig and selects it.

## Multi-node cluster with exposed ports

A configuration file defines the nodes and publishes ports of the node to your machine, which is how you reach an ingress controller:

```yaml title="kind-config.yaml"
kind: Cluster
apiVersion: kind.x-k8s.io/v1alpha4
nodes:
  - role: control-plane
    kubeadmConfigPatches:
      - |
        kind: InitConfiguration
        nodeRegistration:
          kubeletExtraArgs:
            node-labels: "ingress-ready=true"
    extraPortMappings:
      - containerPort: 80
        hostPort: 8080
        protocol: TCP
      - containerPort: 443
        hostPort: 8443
        protocol: TCP
  - role: worker
  - role: worker
```

```bash
kind delete cluster --name lab
kind create cluster --name lab --config kind-config.yaml
kubectl get nodes
```

You now have one control plane and two workers, all containers (`docker ps` shows them).

## Deploy an application

```bash
kubectl create deployment web --image=nginx:stable --replicas=3
kubectl expose deployment web --port=80
kubectl get pods -o wide
kubectl port-forward svc/web 8081:80
curl http://localhost:8081
```

The pods are spread over the two workers. For HTTP routing, install an ingress controller. The ingress-nginx project provides a manifest for kind (see its "kind" deployment guide) that uses the `ingress-ready` label set above, and then requests to `http://localhost:8080` reach your `Ingress` rules.

## Use local images without a registry

kind nodes cannot see the images in your Docker daemon, so load them:

```bash
docker build -t myapp:dev .
kind load docker-image myapp:dev --name lab
kubectl create deployment myapp --image=myapp:dev
kubectl set image deployment/myapp myapp=myapp:dev
```

Use a specific tag (not `latest`) and set `imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent`, or Kubernetes will try to pull the image from Docker Hub and fail.

## Everyday commands

```bash
kind get clusters
kind export logs ./logs --name lab     # debugging information
kind delete cluster --name lab
kubectl config get-contexts
```

## Use kind in CI

Create the cluster in a job, apply your manifests, run tests, delete it. With GitHub Actions the `helm/kind-action` action does the setup ([GitHub Actions](https://www.itwonderlab.com/github-actions/)).

## Next steps

Package an app with [Kustomize](https://www.itwonderlab.com/kustomize-kubernetes-overlays/), install charts with [Helm](https://www.itwonderlab.com/install-kubernetes-helm/) and deliver them with [Argo CD](https://www.itwonderlab.com/argocd-gitops-kubernetes/).