Config Connector is a Kubernetes add-on that enables you to manage Google Cloud resources through Kubernetes Resource Model (KRM). It allows you to define and manage cloud infrastructure using familiar Kubernetes-native tools and workflows, treating Google Cloud resources as Kubernetes objects.
As…Config Connector is a Kubernetes add-on that enables you to manage Google Cloud resources through Kubernetes Resource Model (KRM). It allows you to define and manage cloud infrastructure using familiar Kubernetes-native tools and workflows, treating Google Cloud resources as Kubernetes objects.
As a Cloud Associate Engineer, understanding Config Connector is essential for implementing infrastructure as code solutions. It bridges the gap between Kubernetes and Google Cloud by allowing you to declare GCP resources like Cloud Storage buckets, Pub/Sub topics, BigQuery datasets, and Compute Engine instances using YAML manifests.
Key features include:
1. **Declarative Management**: You define the desired state of your cloud resources in YAML files, and Config Connector ensures the actual state matches your declarations.
2. **Native Kubernetes Integration**: Resources are managed using kubectl commands, making it seamless for teams already working with Kubernetes clusters.
3. **GitOps Compatibility**: Config Connector works well with GitOps tools like Anthos Config Management, enabling version-controlled infrastructure changes.
4. **Resource Dependencies**: You can establish relationships between resources, ensuring proper creation order and referencing existing cloud resources.
5. **Namespace-scoped or Cluster-scoped**: Resources can be organized at different scopes based on your organizational requirements.
To implement Config Connector, you install it on a GKE cluster, configure appropriate IAM permissions for the service account, and then apply Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) that represent GCP resources. Each supported Google Cloud service has corresponding CRDs.
Benefits for solution implementation include consistent deployment workflows, reduced context switching between tools, better integration with CI/CD pipelines, and unified management of both application workloads and cloud infrastructure through a single control plane.
Config Connector supports hundreds of Google Cloud resources and continuously adds support for new services, making it a powerful tool for comprehensive cloud infrastructure management.
Config Connector is a Kubernetes add-on that allows you to manage Google Cloud resources through Kubernetes Resource Model (KRM). It enables you to create, update, and delete GCP resources using Kubernetes-style declarative configuration files (YAML manifests).
Why is Config Connector Important?
Config Connector is significant for several reasons:
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Manage cloud infrastructure using the same declarative approach as Kubernetes workloads • GitOps Workflows: Store infrastructure definitions in Git repositories for version control and collaboration • Unified Management: Use kubectl and Kubernetes tools to manage both applications and cloud resources • Consistency: Apply Kubernetes concepts like namespaces, labels, and RBAC to cloud resource management • Drift Detection: Config Connector continuously reconciles desired state with actual state
How Config Connector Works
1. Installation: Config Connector is installed as an add-on in a GKE cluster or any Kubernetes cluster
2. Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs): It provides CRDs for GCP resources like ComputeInstance, SQLInstance, StorageBucket, etc.
3. Controllers: Kubernetes controllers watch for changes to Config Connector resources and make corresponding API calls to GCP
4. Service Account: Config Connector uses a Google Service Account with appropriate IAM permissions to manage resources
5. Reconciliation Loop: The controller continuously ensures the actual GCP resource state matches the desired state defined in manifests
Example Use Case
To create a Cloud Storage bucket using Config Connector, you would apply a YAML manifest like:
apiVersion: storage.cnrm.cloud.google.com/v1beta1 kind: StorageBucket metadata: name: my-bucket spec: location: US
Key Features to Remember
• Uses Kubernetes namespaces to organize GCP resources • Supports resource dependencies and references • Provides status conditions for tracking resource provisioning • Integrates with Policy Controller for governance • Works with Config Sync for GitOps deployments
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Config Connector
1. Identify the Use Case: When a question mentions managing GCP resources using Kubernetes manifests or kubectl, think Config Connector
2. GitOps Scenarios: If the scenario involves storing infrastructure definitions in Git and using Kubernetes-native tools, Config Connector is likely the answer
3. Compare with Alternatives: Know the differences between Config Connector, Terraform, and Deployment Manager. Config Connector is Kubernetes-native while others are not
4. GKE Context: Questions about extending GKE capabilities to manage non-Kubernetes GCP resources often point to Config Connector
5. Look for Keywords: Terms like declarative, Kubernetes Resource Model, CRDs for GCP, or kubectl for cloud resources suggest Config Connector
6. IAM Requirements: Remember that Config Connector needs a service account with permissions for the resources it manages
7. Reconciliation: If a question asks about maintaining desired state or automatic drift correction for GCP resources in a Kubernetes environment, Config Connector provides this functionality
8. Elimination Strategy: If the answer options include both Terraform and Config Connector, choose Config Connector when the scenario emphasizes Kubernetes-native workflows