> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.rafftechnologies.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect to Kubernetes with kubectl

> Download the admin kubeconfig and run kubectl against your cluster

<sub>Updated August 24, 2026</sub>

Every cluster exposes its API server on a public endpoint (`https://<cluster-id>.k8s.raffusercloud.com:6443`). Access is by the cluster's kubeconfig.

## Before you start

* A cluster in **Running** state
* [kubectl](https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/tools/) installed locally

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Download the kubeconfig">
    Open the cluster and click **kubeconfig** in the header (also available under **Settings**).

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/rafftechnologiesllc/pydLUQqixwIwkrCw/images/products/compute/kubernetes/kubeconfig-download.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=pydLUQqixwIwkrCw&q=85&s=f08568a597fc48edb6220264d9b422fc" alt="Cluster Settings page with the kubeconfig Download button" width="1656" height="943" data-path="images/products/compute/kubernetes/kubeconfig-download.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Point kubectl at it">
    ```bash theme={null}
    export KUBECONFIG=~/Downloads/<cluster-name>.yaml
    kubectl get nodes
    ```

    You should see your control-plane and worker nodes in `Ready` state.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Deploy something">
    ```bash theme={null}
    kubectl create deployment web --image=nginx --replicas=2
    kubectl get pods -o wide
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  The kubeconfig grants **full cluster-admin access**. Store it like a password, never commit it to a repository, and don't share it outside your team. You can also fetch it from the [API](/api-reference/kubernetes/get-kubeconfig).
</Warning>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Expose a service" icon="globe" href="/products/build/kubernetes/quickstart-guides/expose-a-service">
    Reach your workload from the internet
  </Card>

  <Card title="View logs & metrics" icon="chart-line" href="/products/build/kubernetes/quickstart-guides/view-logs-and-metrics">
    Watch workloads without leaving the dashboard
  </Card>
</CardGroup>