Build & Upgrade a Multi-Node Kubernetes Cluster | kubeadm + Calico
🎥 Build & Upgrade a Multi-Node Kubernetes Cluster | kubeadm + Calico
In this hands-on session, you will learn how to build and safely upgrade a multi-node Kubernetes cluster using kubeadm and Calico.
We start from cluster creation, cover prerequisites and networking, and then walk through a production-aligned Kubernetes upgrade, including control plane and worker nodes.
This video was originally recorded as part of my CKA Certification Course, but I am releasing it as a single standalone lecture so it can reach a wider audience and be useful even if you are not following the course in a day-by-day format.
📌 Important note
During the lecture, you may hear references like Day 7 or Day 20. Do not get confused by that. Those references point to how I structured the CKA course internally. This video is complete on its own.
Also, please check the pinned comment for important links and updates related to this session.
📂 GitHub Notes
🔧 Cluster Build Notes: https://github.com/CloudWithVarJosh/C...
🔁 Cluster Upgrade Notes: https://github.com/CloudWithVarJosh/C...
📘 What You’ll Learn
Build a multi-node Kubernetes cluster using kubeadm
Understand required ports, firewall rules, and security groups
Configure control plane and worker nodes correctly
Verify cluster health and readiness
Understand Kubernetes versioning and release cadence
Apply safe upgrade sequencing and version skew rules
Perform rolling upgrades of control plane and worker nodes
Use cordon, drain, and PodDisruptionBudgets correctly
Verify cluster health after upgrade
Troubleshoot Calico-related issues post-upgrade
⏰ Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:43 Cluster Build: Overview
00:04:22 Cluster Build: Prerequisites
00:06:27 Demo Overview: Multi-Node Kubernetes Cluster (v1.32)
00:07:03 Architecture Overview & Firewall / Security Group Rules
00:14:30 AWS Console Walkthrough: Control Plane & Worker Node Security Groups
00:19:29 Create and Configure the Control Plane Node
00:46:54 Create and Configure Worker Nodes
01:03:43 Cluster Build: Final Verification and Validation
01:05:39 Cluster Upgrade: Introduction
01:07:32 Cluster Upgrade: Prerequisites
01:08:44 Kubernetes Versioning and Release Cadence
01:14:35 Skipping Versions and Upgrade Sequencing
01:18:08 Why Upgrades Matter and Production Upgrade Flow (Overview)
01:18:54 Production Upgrade Flow (Step-by-Step)
01:22:48 Kubernetes Upgrade Strategies
01:24:43 Demo: Upgrade a Multi-Node Kubernetes Cluster using kubeadm
01:25:32 Upgrade Demo: Prerequisites
01:29:58 Upgrading the Control Plane Node
01:47:26 Worker Node Upgrades (One at a Time): Cordon, Drain, PodDisruptionBudgets
02:07:10 Calico Post-Upgrade Troubleshooting (Important)
02:16:54 Outro and Next Steps
📚 Other Courses on the Channel
Kubernetes
👉 CKA 2025 Playlist: • CKA Certification Course 2025
👉 Kubernetes Projects: • Kubernetes Projects
👉 Kubernetes Mega Project: • DevSecOps Mega Project | Multi-AZ Amazon E...
CI/CD with Jenkins
👉 Jenkins Playlist: • Jenkins: Basics To Production
👉 GitHub Repository: https://github.com/CloudWithVarJosh/J...
🔗 Stay Connected
👉 LinkedIn: / varun-joshi-2b516752
👉 GitHub: https://github.com/CloudWithVarJosh
🔖 Hashtags
#Kubernetes #CKA2025 #kubeadm #Calico #KubernetesUpgrade #ClusterUpgrade
#KubernetesCluster #DevOps #Cloud #HandsOnK8s #CloudWithVarJosh