How to Run a Kubernetes Cluster on a VPS (Step-by-Step)

Kubernetes is no longer just for large enterprises.

Today, developers, startups, and small teams can run lightweight Kubernetes clusters on virtual private servers without paying for a fully managed platform.

If you want more control over your infrastructure, lower costs, and a practical way to learn container orchestration, running Kubernetes on a VPS can be a smart move.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the step-by-step logic of setting up a Kubernetes cluster on VPS infrastructure, explain the components you need, and help you choose the right setup for your workload.

Why Run Kubernetes on a VPS?

A VPS-based Kubernetes cluster gives you:

• lower infrastructure costs
• full control over your nodes
• flexibility in networking and storage
• a realistic environment for testing and production
• a practical way to learn Kubernetes operations

For many teams, this is a good middle ground between a single Docker host and a fully managed Kubernetes platform.

That said, Kubernetes on a VPS only makes sense if you actually need orchestration.

If you are running one small application, Docker Compose may still be the simpler option.

Recommended Cluster Layout

For most small teams, a good starting point is:

• 1 control plane node
• 2 worker nodes

This gives you a real multi-node cluster without making the setup too expensive or too complex.

A simple architecture looks like this:

Control Plane VPS
   ├── Kubernetes API
   ├── Scheduler
   └── Controller Manager

Worker VPS 1
   └── Application Pods

Worker VPS 2
   └── Application Pods

For learning or temporary environments, you can also start with a single-node setup.

For lightweight production clusters, many teams choose K3s, which is a simplified Kubernetes distribution that is easier to run on smaller VPS instances.

Step 1: Launch Your VPS Nodes

Start by provisioning your virtual machines.

At minimum, you’ll want:

• Ubuntu or another supported Linux distribution
• Stable public IPs
• Enough RAM and CPU for your workloads
• Private networking if available

A typical starter cluster might use:

• 1 small-to-medium VPS for the control plane
• 2 small VPS nodes for workers

Name them clearly, for example:

• k8s-control-1
• k8s-worker-1
• k8s-worker-2

This makes troubleshooting and node management much easier later.

Step 2: Prepare the Servers

Before installing Kubernetes, prepare all nodes.

Common preparation steps include:

• Updating packages
• Setting hostnames
• Disabling swap if required by your setup
• Ensuring time synchronization
• Opening the necessary firewall ports
• Installing a container runtime if your chosen distribution requires it

You should also make sure the nodes can communicate with each other over the network.

If your nodes cannot reliably reach one another, the cluster will not behave correctly.

Step 3: Choose Your Installation Method

You have two practical options.

Option A: K3s

K3s is often the easiest choice for VPS-based Kubernetes.

It is ideal for:

• Small clusters
• Development environments
• Learning
• Lightweight production workloads
• Teams that want less operational overhead

Why teams choose K3s:

• Simpler installation
• Lower resource usage
• Faster setup
• Less complexity than a full kubeadm-based cluster

Option B: kubeadm

If you want a more standard, upstream-style Kubernetes setup, use kubeadm.

This is a good choice if you want:

• A more traditional Kubernetes installation
• More control over configuration
• Experience closer to production-grade Kubernetes operations
• A path toward more advanced cluster management

If your main goal is speed and simplicity, start with K3s.

If your goal is deeper Kubernetes control and learning, choose kubeadm.

Step 4: Install the Control Plane

Your first node becomes the control plane.

This node manages the cluster and runs core control components.

If you use K3s

Install K3s on the control plane first.

Then retrieve the node token from the server so worker nodes can join the cluster.

If you use kubeadm

Install the required Kubernetes components, initialize the cluster, and generate the join command that worker nodes will use.

At this stage, you will also configure access to the cluster using kubectl.

The result should be a working control plane that can accept joining worker nodes.

Step 5: Join the Worker Nodes

Next, install Kubernetes or K3s agents on the worker nodes and join them to the control plane.

Once this step is complete, your cluster will have:

• One node managing the cluster
• Multiple nodes capable of running workloads

After joining, verify that the nodes appear correctly in the cluster.

Your final node list should look something like:

• Control plane node: Ready
• Worker node 1: Ready
• Worker node 2: Ready

At this point, you have a functioning Kubernetes cluster running on VPS infrastructure.

Step 6: Install Networking and Ingress

A Kubernetes cluster is not truly useful until workloads can communicate properly.

You will need to think about:

• Pod networking
• Service exposure
• Ingress traffic
• DNS routing

Some lightweight Kubernetes distributions include sensible defaults, while other setups require more manual networking configuration.

You will also likely want an Ingress Controller so you can expose applications through HTTP or HTTPS.

This allows traffic to flow like this:

User ↓ Domain / DNS ↓ Ingress Controller ↓ Kubernetes Service ↓ Application Pod

Without a clear ingress plan, deploying public-facing applications becomes much harder.

Step 7: Deploy Your First Application

Now the cluster is ready for real workloads.

A common first test is:

• an Nginx deployment
• a simple API
• a demo application
• a containerized internal tool

This lets you verify:

• scheduling works
• services work
• networking works
• ingress works
• nodes can run pods correctly

If your first app deploys successfully and is reachable, your cluster foundation is working.

Step 8: Add Persistent Storage, Monitoring, and Backups

This is the step many tutorials skip, but it matters.

If you plan to run real workloads, you need to think beyond basic setup.

Persistent storage

Applications like databases, file services, and CMS platforms need durable storage.

Plan how your VPS-based cluster will handle:

• persistent volumes
• backups
• disk resizing
• recovery

Monitoring

You should monitor:

• node health
• pod status
• CPU and memory usage
• disk pressure
• restart loops

Backups

A self-managed cluster means you are responsible for recovery.

At minimum, think about:

• VPS snapshots
• application backups
• database backups
• cluster configuration backups

Kubernetes gives orchestration, not automatic disaster recovery.

K3s or kubeadm: Which Should You Pick?

Here is the practical answer.

Choose K3s if you want:

• the fastest path to a working cluster
• lower resource usage
• simpler VPS operations
• a lightweight but real Kubernetes environment

Choose kubeadm if you want:

• a more standard Kubernetes setup
• more control over components
• deeper learning
• a stronger foundation for more advanced cluster management

For most VPS-based deployments, especially at the beginning, K3s is the most practical choice.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When teams first run Kubernetes on a VPS, they often make the same mistakes.

1. Starting too large

You do not need a complex multi-zone design on day one.
Start small and scale carefully.

2. Ignoring backups

Even a small cluster needs a recovery plan.

3. Underestimating networking

A lot of Kubernetes frustration comes from traffic routing and service exposure.

4. Forgetting observability

If you cannot see what the cluster is doing, debugging becomes painful.

5. Using Kubernetes when Docker would be enough

Kubernetes is powerful, but not every app needs it.

Who Should Run Kubernetes on a VPS?

This approach is a strong fit for:

• developers learning Kubernetes
• startups that want lower-cost orchestration
• teams running internal tools
• engineers building staging or test environments
• projects that need more than a single Docker host

It is usually a poor fit for:

• very simple apps
• teams with no infrastructure interest
• workloads that require enterprise-grade high availability from day one

Final Thoughts

Running a Kubernetes cluster on a VPS is absolutely possible, and for the right workloads, it can be a very cost-effective and flexible setup.

The key is not to overcomplicate it.

Start with a clear goal.

If you want the easiest path, use K3s.
If you want deeper control and a more traditional Kubernetes setup, use kubeadm.

In both cases, begin with a small cluster, validate your workloads, and only add complexity when the product actually demands it.

If you need flexible virtual machines to build your cluster, platforms like Raff Cloud make it easy to launch the nodes you need and start experimenting or deploying in minutes.