Minikube Lab setup with VMware Workstation

minikube is local Kubernetes, focusing on making it easy to learn and develop for Kubernetes.

This post focus on how to set up a minikube on Windows 10 using VMware Workstation

Install a Hypervisor (Type-II)

Download and install VMware Workstation
On successful installation of VMware Workstation, vmrun.exe should be added to your Windows variable PATH.
Add C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Workstation to your Windows PATH variable.
How to set Environment variable -> Start -> Run-> sysdm.cpl -> Advanced -> Environment Variables.

Download Docker machine driver

Download Docker machine driver docker-machine-driver-vmware_0.1.5_windows_amd64.tar.gz from https://github.com/machine-drivers/docker-machine-driver-vmware/releases and extract the file docker-machine-driver-vmware.exe
Create a folder at C:\Program Files\Docker\docker-machine-driver and copy docker-machine-driver-vmware.exe to this folder.
Add this folder to your Windows PATH variable(Refer above How to set the Environment variable).

Install kubectl

Refer K8s documentation to Install and Set Up kubectl.
Download the latest version of kubectl for Windows(AMD64)
Create a folder at C:\Program Files\Kubectl.
Add the kubectl.exe to this folder.
Add this folder to your Windows PATH variable(Refer above How to set the Environment variable).

Check the version installed

kubectl version --client

Install minikube

Download and Install minikube

Start the Minikube

Use VMware as the hypervisor driver

minikube start --driver=vmware

Error: If you encounter the following issue in minikube logs, just follow further instructions to solve it.

IP address never found in dhcp leases file Temporary Error: Could not find an IP address for <mac>

Following the below extra steps to resolve the aforesaid issue.

C:\ProgramData\VMware and edit this file vmnetdhcp.leases then add the parameters as shown below if it’s not automatically detected (adjust start and end date to current date).

If VM is not automatically registered do it yourself

Open VMware workstation File->Open-> Browse to the minikube deployment path C:\Users\name\.minikube\machines\minikube and register the VM by opening the .vmx file and power ON.

By now IP should be automatically assigned and ping the IP, if not reachable then edit the VM and change it to the below setting