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Mastering ArgoCD in Kubernetes: Installation and Best Practices

In today’s fast-paced DevOps environment, CI/CD with ArgoCD has become a game-changer for managing our deployment to Kubernetes. 

ArgoCD is a declarative, GitOps based continuous delivery tool that helps us deploy applications in a Kubernetes cluster automatically and at scale, where we cannot have CI/CD without GitOps practices – GitOps is the CI/CD pipeline to deliver applications and services. By use Git as the source of truth, we can keep our deployment pipeline secured, consistent, and scalable. This article discusses how to master CI/CD using ArgoCD, including how to install ArgoCD, how to best use it, how to integrate with Kubernetes distributions such as EKS and AKS, and how it interfaces with AI DevOps platform. This guide is suitable for complete beginners deploying ArgoCD using GitOps with Terraform, to experienced DevOps Engineers wanting to deploy ArgoCD in Kubernetes. 

What is ArgoCD and Its Role in Kubernetes?

ArgoCD is another Kubernetes-native tool that utilizes a GitOps approach, and it helps teams to manage infrastructure and application deployments using Git repositories. ArgoCD is focused on the CD part of the CI/CD system, and it achieves this by pointing the current state of your Kubernetes cluster to the desired state in Git, and invoking reconciliation functions as specified by your deployment.  This makes ArgoCD a key tool in deploying ArgoCD in Kubernetes and the most beneficial tool to adopt when implementing your own automated CI/CD pipeline using GitOps. It provides features like rollback capabilities, integrated step by step CI/CD pipelines using GitStash integrations, and a user-friendly dashboard.

Kubernetes serves as the runtime environment for applications, with ArgoCD taking care of the cluster configurations and node/application policies. This responsibility leverages the capabilities of Helm, Terraform, AI DevOps tools, and others to enhance complexity and flexibility regardless of application distribution on Kubernetes distros, such as Amazon EKS, Azure AKS, or Google GKE. 

Installing ArgoCD: Step-by-Step Guide

To deploy ArgoCD in Kubernetes, you need to install ArgoCD on your cluster. Below is a detailed guide to install ArgoCD using direct manifests and Helm install ArgoCD.

Prerequisites

Before starting with installing kubectl and ArgoCD, ensure you have:

  • A running Kubernetes cluster (refer to guides on install Kubernetes or Kubernetes cluster setup step by step).
  • kubectl installed and configured (check guides on installing kubectl, including install Kubernetes on Windows).
  • A Git repository for storing application manifests.

Option 1: Installing ArgoCD Using Manifests

  1. Create a Namespace: 

Create a dedicated namespace for ArgoCD:
kubectl create namespace argocd

  1. Apply ArgoCD Manifests:

 Download and apply the official ArgoCD manifests:

kubectl apply -n argocd -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/argoproj/argo-cd/stable/manifests/install.yaml

  1. Verify Installation:

 Ensure all components, including the ArgoCD notification controller, are running:
 

kubectl get pods -n argocd

Option 2: Helm Install ArgoCD

Using Helm dependencies simplifies the installation process for complex configurations. Follow these steps:

  1. Add the ArgoCD Helm Chart Repository:


helm repo add argo https://argoproj.github.io/argo-helm

helm repo update

  1. Install ArgoCD:
    helm install

 argocd argo/argo-cd –namespace argocd –create-namespace

  1. Customize with Values File: Use an ansible requirements yml or Helm values file to customize settings like resource limits or enabling the ArgoCD notification controller.Access the ArgoCD UI by port-forwarding:

kubectl port-forward svc/argocd-server -n argocd 8080:443

Log in using the default admin credentials (retrieve the password with kubectl -n argocd get secret argocd-initial-admin-secret -o jsonpath=”{.data.password}” | base64 -d).

Configuring ArgoCD for GitOps

Once installed, configure ArgoCD to manage your Kubernetes cluster using GitOps principles, enabling automated CI/CD pipelines. This involves setting up an ArgoCD application spec to define application deployments.

Adding a Cluster

To manage multiple clusters, use the ArgoCD add cluster command:

argocd cluster add <context-name> –name <cluster-name>

This is ideal for working with EKS vs AKS or other Kubernetes distros, allowing seamless management of multiple environments.

Defining an Application

Create an ArgoCD application spec in a YAML file:

apiVersion: argoproj.io/v1alpha1

kind: Application

metadata:

  name: my-app

  namespace: argocd

spec:

  project: default

  source:

    repoURL: https://github.com/your-repo.git

    path: manifests/

    targetRevision: main

  destination:

    server: https://kubernetes.default.svc

    namespace: default

  syncPolicy:

    automated:

      prune: true

      selfHeal: true

Integrating ArgoCD with Terraform, Helm, and AI DevOps Platforms

ArgoCD’s flexibility is enhanced when integrated with Terraform, Helm, and AI DevOps platforms. For infrastructure as code, merge Terraform configurations with ArgoCD to manage both infrastructure and applications in a GitOps workflow. Use a template file Terraform to define Kubernetes resources and sync them with ArgoCD.

Helm dependencies allow you to package up complicated applications, and ArgoCD supports Helm charts out-of-the-box for deployment into Kubernetes. Furthermore, AI-based DevOps platforms can augment ArgoCD with intelligent insights, predictive analytics, and automated optimization for your automated CI/CD pipelines, to make deployments more efficient and secure.

Best Practices for CI/CD with ArgoCD

To master CI/CD with ArgoCD, follow these best practices for robust automated CI/CD pipelines:

  • Git as the Single Source of Truth: Store all manifests, Helm charts, and Terraform configurations in a Git repository for traceability and version control.

 

  • Namespace Isolation: Deploy ArgoCD in a dedicated namespace (e.g., argocd) and use separate namespaces for applications to avoid conflicts.

 

  • Automate Sync Policies: Enable prune and selfHeal in the ArgoCD application spec to keep your cluster in sync with Git.

 

  • Secure ArgoCD: Use RBAC, enable SSO, and rotate the admin password regularly.

 

  • Monitor with Notifications: Configure the ArgoCD notification controller for alerts on sync failures or deployment issues via Slack, Teams, or email.

 

  • Modularize Configurations: Use Helm dependencies or template file Terraform to break down large manifests for better maintainability.

 

  • Test Across Distros: Validate your setup across EKS vs AKS or other Kubernetes distros for compatibility.

 

  • Backup and Recovery: Regularly back up your Git repository and ArgoCD configurations to prevent data loss.

Common Challenges and Solutions

  • Sync Failures: Check Git repository errors or network issues. Use the ArgoCD UI for detailed logs.
  • Resource Conflicts: Ensure GitOps Terraform and ArgoCD do not manage the same resources to avoid conflicts.
  • Cluster Access: For ArgoCD add cluster, verify the cluster’s kubeconfig has the necessary permissions.

Why Choose ArgoCD for CI/CD?

 ArgoCD landscape due to its declarative approach, tight integration with Kubernetes, and support for GitOps Terraform, Helm, and AI DevOps platforms. Its focus on continuous deployment makes it ideal for managing complex Kubernetes cluster vs node setups. The ability to deploy ArgoCD in Kubernetes across Kubernetes distros like EKS and AKS ensures versatility for modern DevOps workflows.

Conclusion

CI/CD with ArgoCD is vital to a DevOps team looking to improve deployment. Following the ArgoCD install steps, using Helm install ArgoCD, GitOps Terraform and AI DevOps platform. In addition, you should build automated CI/CD pipelines deploying your application(s) using best practices for CI/CD, where you can ensure that you produce applications that will solidify and scale. Whether you operate from a single Kubernetes cluster, or multiple Kubernetes distros, ArgoCD should help to administer deployments within your clusters with reliability and with consistency. Furthermore, platforms such as devseccops.ai, will help simplify your CI/CD pipeline by enabling security and security insights rooted in AI, making an ultimate continuous delivery pipeline more effective and efficient for your DevOps processes. Get started today with exploring CI/CD using ArgoCD and embrace the GitOps approach, for more confidence in your Kubernetes environment.

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