Principle:Kubeflow Kubeflow Prerequisites Validation
| Knowledge Sources | |
|---|---|
| Domains | Kubeflow, Platform Deployment, Prerequisites |
| Last Updated | 2026-02-13 00:00 GMT |
Overview
Prerequisites validation is the process of confirming that all required CLI tools, cluster access, and environment configurations meet the minimum requirements before initiating a Kubeflow deployment.
Description
Before deploying Kubeflow to a Kubernetes cluster, operators must verify that their local workstation and target cluster satisfy a set of baseline requirements. This includes confirming that kubectl is installed and configured to communicate with a Kubernetes cluster running version 1.25 or later, and that kustomize is available at a compatible version for rendering Kubeflow manifests. Failure to validate prerequisites is one of the most common causes of deployment failures, resulting in obscure errors during manifest application that are difficult to diagnose retroactively.
Prerequisites validation sits at the very beginning of the Platform Deployment workflow. It acts as a gate: if validation fails, the operator should resolve the issue before proceeding to any subsequent deployment step. This principle applies regardless of whether the operator chooses the Kubeflow Manifests path or a packaged distribution.
Usage
Use prerequisites validation in the following situations:
- Before any fresh Kubeflow installation on a new cluster
- After upgrading local CLI tools (kubectl, kustomize) to confirm continued compatibility
- When onboarding a new team member to an existing Kubeflow deployment workflow
- Before upgrading an existing Kubeflow installation to a newer release
- When switching the target Kubernetes cluster (e.g., from staging to production)
Theoretical Basis
The validation process follows a sequential check pattern:
Step 1: Verify kubectl client version
- Confirm the kubectl binary is installed and accessible on the system PATH
- Extract the client version and confirm it is 1.25 or higher
- If the version is too old, halt and prompt the operator to upgrade
Step 2: Verify cluster connectivity
- Confirm that kubectl can reach the target Kubernetes API server
- Extract the server version and confirm it is 1.25 or higher
- If the cluster is unreachable, halt and prompt the operator to check kubeconfig
Step 3: Verify kustomize version
- Confirm the kustomize binary is installed and accessible on the system PATH
- Extract the version and confirm it is compatible with the Kubeflow manifests release being deployed
- If kustomize is missing or incompatible, halt and prompt the operator to install or upgrade
Step 4: Verify cluster permissions
- Confirm the operator has sufficient RBAC permissions to create namespaces, CRDs, and cluster-scoped resources
- If permissions are insufficient, halt and prompt the operator to obtain cluster-admin or equivalent access
Decision Gate:
- If all checks pass, proceed to Installation Method Selection
- If any check fails, resolve the issue before continuing