Commandline Operations

Learn the most common command-line operations for managing KubeOps virtual machines - including creating a VM with a YAML configuration file, starting or stopping the VM by patching its runStrategy, viewing the VM or instance status with kubectl describe, restarting the VM (which deletes the instance and causes data loss), and deleting the VM either in a cascading manner (removing the VM and its instance) or by leaving orphaned instances.

Create a new virtual machine

The command kubectl with the paramater create uses the VM configuration file vm-config.yaml. For more detailed explaination on VM configuration files, see [Detailed Explanation for Configuration File for Custom VMs](Detailed Explanation for Configuration File for Custom VMs).

kubectl create -f vm-config.yaml

Start the virtual machine

Start the virtual machine VMNAME. Replace VMNAME with the name of your virtual machine,

kubectl patch virtualmachine VMNAME --type merge -p \
'{"spec":{"runStrategy":"Always"}}'

Status of a virtual machine

Print the status of the virtual machine VMNAME. Replace VMNAME with the name of your virtual machine,

kubectl describe virtualmachine VMNAME

Status of a virtual machine instance

kubectl describe virtualmachineinstance VMNAME

Stop the virtual machine instance

kubectl patch virtualmachine VMNAME--type merge -p \
'{"spec":{"runStrategy":"Halted"}}'

Restart the virtual machine

{{ hazard_notice }} Restarting the virtual machine will delete the virtual machine instance. This action cannot be undone. {{ /hazard_notice }}

kubectl delete virtualmachineinstance vm

Cascade delete (implicit)

Kubectl first deletes the virtual machine, followed by deleting the corresponding virtual machine instance.

Delete the virtual machine VMNAME. Replace VMNAME with the name of your virtual machine,

{{ hazard_notice }} This action cannot be undone. {{ /hazard_notice }}

kubectl delete virtualmachine VMNAME

Cascade delete (explicit)

Kubectl first deletes the virtual machine, followed by deleting the corresponding virtual machine instance.

Delete the virtual machine VMNAME. Replace VMNAME with the name of your virtual machine,

{{ hazard_notice }} This action cannot be undone. {{ /hazard_notice }}

kubectl delete virtualmachine VMNAME --cascade=true

Delete orphans

The running virtual machine is only detached, but not deleted.

Delete orphans of the virtual machine VMNAME. Replace VMNAME with the name of your virtual machine,

kubectl delete virtualmachine VMNAME --cascade=false