Container Service Extension (CSE) combined with Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG) unlocks powerful container capabilities for VMware Cloud Director tenants. However, the deployment process can be complex. Based on real-world scenarios, here are some common issues and solutions.
1. Cluster Stuck in Reconciling State:
Issue: TKG clusters fail to reconcile due to network connectivity issues.
Scenario: A service provider found that clusters deployed by their tenants were perpetually stuck in the “Reconciling” state.
Solution: Verify that the EPHEMERAL_TEMP_VM can access the internet. This VM requires internet access to pull images during the bootstrap process. Configure a NAT or proxy if direct access is unavailable.
2. Incorrect Placement Policies:
Issue: TKG clusters fail to deploy due to invalid placement policies.
Scenario: A tenant’s deployment attempt failed because the placement policy did not align with the available resources.
Solution: Review and update the placement policies in the CSE configuration file to match the available Org VDC resources. Perform a dry-run deployment to validate the configuration before allowing tenant access.
3. API Registration Errors:
Issue: Kubernetes API server endpoints fail to register with VCD.
Solution: Ensure that the Kubernetes API endpoint is reachable from the VCD appliance. Check firewall rules and DNS resolution to eliminate connectivity issues.