Lets learn "About kube proxy in iptables mode"


In this tutorial, we'll learn about the Kube-proxy in iptables mode. Basically, we'll see how Kube-proxy create iptables that help in load balancing and service discovery. If you are not familiar with Linux IPTables I would recommend to check out my tutorial on IPTables here first and then come back to read this tutorial.

Kube-proxy

Kube-proxy when running in iptables mode basically watch kube-apiserver for new endpoints and create corresponding iptables rules and iptables are fully responsible for service discover and proper routing of traffic to corresponding pods. Kube-proxy needs to run on all k8s worker nodes.

Below is a small video describing the working of kube-proxy in iptables mode. 



Now that we know what Kube-proxy is and how it Kube-proxy works, let deep dive into the types of iptables Kube-proxy adds to the firewall.

Kube-proxy added IPTables

To learn this let's consider an example. Consider a k8s cluster with app FOO running (and listening on 9153 port )and 3 replicas of FOO is running in the cluster. So the 3 pods for app are as follows:

[root@worker1 ~]# kubectl get pods -o wide | grep FOO
FOO-7g26h               1/1     Running   2          3d13h   100.96.0.2    worker1.cluster.com     <none>      <none>
FOO-9r4mj                1/1     Running   2         3d13h   100.96.32.2     worker2.cluster.com   <none>     <none>
FOO-wjvrz                1/1     Running   2          3d13h   100.96.64.2     worker3.cluster.com   <none>     <none>

Let app FOO is exposed by a cluster IP service. And the virtual IP of the service is 100.96.128.2.

[root@worker1 ~]# kubectl get svc | grep FOO

NAME      TYPE        CLUSTER-IP     EXTERNAL-IP   PORT(S)                  AGE

FOO   ClusterIP   100.96.128.2   <none>        9153/TCP   46m


Since 100.96.128.2 is the virtual IP, IP tables should be added in a way that traffic to this VIP should be redirected of one of the pods IP 100.96.0.2, 100.96.32.2, and 100.96.64.2 )



Let's see the IPTables rules now.

>> iptables -t nat -L


Chain KUBE-SERVICES (2 references)

target     prot opt source               destination

  • KUBE-MARK-MASQ  tcp  -- !100.96.0.0/17        100.96.128.2         /* kube-system/FOO:foo cluster IP */ tcp dpt:9153

  • KUBE-SVC-QKJQYQZXY3DRLPVB  tcp  --  anywhere             100.96.128.2         /* kube-system/FOO:foo cluster IP */ tcp dpt:9153

  • KUBE-NODEPORTS  all  --  anywhere             anywhere             /* kubernetes service nodeports; NOTE: this must be the last rule in this chain */ ADDRTYPE match dst-type LOCAL


Above highlighted rules means if there is traffic destined to port 9153 will be redirected KUBE-SVC-QKJQYQZXY3DRLPVB chain. Let's see whats in this chain.

Chain KUBE-SVC-QKJQYQZXY3DRLPVB (1 references)

target     prot opt source               destination

KUBE-SEP-3UIFCWUMBYEVXRYP  all  --  anywhere             anywhere             statistic mode random probability 0.33333333349

KUBE-SEP-QSKKIZFW3PNDWYKJ  all  --  anywhere             anywhere             statistic mode random probability 0.50000000000

KUBE-SEP-PIHAV4BKXEANYKSM  all  --  anywhere             anywhere



The above rules state that if traffic comes to KUBE-SVC-QKJQYQZXY3DRLPVB chain there are three chain it can go KUBE-SEP-3UIFCWUMBYEVXRYP, KUBE-SEP-QSKKIZFW3PNDWYKJ or KUBE-SEP-PIHAV4BKXEANYKSM.

The probability of choosing any of the three chains is the same. Let's try to understand a bit about the probability values mentioned in the above rules.

  • As we know that IPTables rules are processed in order, Since there are three options when the control reaches the first rule since there are three options to chose the probability of choosing the first rule is 1/3 = 0.3333
  • When the control reaches the second rule, the choices remaining are 2, hence probability of choosing the second rule is 1/2 = 0.5000
  • And finally, when the control reaches 3rd rule, there are no more choices left so that is the only option. So the probability of choosing that at that point is 1.
Let dive into rules that are part of the above three chains

Chain KUBE-SEP-3UIFCWUMBYEVXRYP (1 references)

target     prot opt source               destination

KUBE-MARK-MASQ  all  --  100.96.0.2           anywhere

DNAT       udp  --  anywhere             anywhere             udp to:100.96.0.2:9153


Chain KUBE-SEP-QSKKIZFW3PNDWYKJ (1 references)

target     prot opt source               destination

KUBE-MARK-MASQ  all  --  100.96.32.2          anywhere

DNAT       udp  --  anywhere             anywhere             udp to:100.32.64.2:9153


Chain KUBE-SEP-PIHAV4BKXEANYKSM (1 references)

target     prot opt source               destination

KUBE-MARK-MASQ  all  --  100.96.64.2          anywhere

DNAT       udp  --  anywhere             anywhere             udp to:100.96.64.2:9153


finally, you must have understood each of the three chains contains a rule to redirect traffic to one of the pods.



HOPE YOU LIKED THE TUTORIAL. FEEL FREE TO COMMENT BELOW IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT. AND STAY TUNED FOR MORE TUTORIALS :)

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