Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA)Kubernetes FundamentalsMedium

A cluster operator needs to check the version of both the Kubernetes client (kubectl) and the server components (kube-apiserver, kubelet). Which `kubectl` command should they use to retrieve this information?

  1. A`kubectl get nodes -o wide`
  2. B`kubectl cluster-info`
  3. C`kubectl version`
  4. D`kubectl describe cluster`
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C. `kubectl version`

The `kubectl version` command outputs the client version (kubectl) and connects to the Kubernetes API server to retrieve and display the server components' versions, including kube-apiserver and kubelet.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. This command shows node details, not client/server versions.
  • B. `kubectl cluster-info` shows endpoints of control plane services, not versions.
  • D. `kubectl describe` is used for detailed information about a specific resource, and 'cluster' is not a standard describable resource in this context.

`kubectl version`

The `kubectl version` command is used to display the version of the Kubernetes client (`kubectl`) and the Kubernetes server components.

  • Shows client (kubectl) version.
  • Shows server (kube-apiserver, kubelet, etc.) versions.
  • Useful for debugging compatibility issues.

Memory trick: To know the 'Version', just ask for 'Version'.

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