---
layout: docs
page_title: Cluster Peering on Kubernetes
description: >-
  If you use Consul on Kubernetes, learn how to enable cluster peering, create peering CRDs, and then manage peering connections in consul-k8s.
---

# Cluster Peering on Kubernetes

~> **Cluster peering is currently in beta:** Functionality associated
with cluster peering is subject to change. You should never use the beta release in secure environments or production scenarios. Features in
beta may have performance issues, scaling issues, and limited support.<br/><br/>Cluster peering is not currently available in the HCP Consul offering.

To establish a cluster peering connection on Kubernetes, you need to enable the feature in the Helm chart and create custom resource definitions (CRDs) for each side of the peering.

The following CRDs are used to create and manage a peering connection:

- `PeeringAcceptor`: Generates a peering token and accepts an incoming peering connection.
- `PeeringDialer`: Uses a peering token to make an outbound peering connection with the cluster that generated the token.

As of Consul v1.14, you can also [implement service failovers and redirects to control traffic](/consul/docs/connect/l7-traffic) between peers.

> To learn how to peer clusters and connect services across peers in AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) environments, complete the [Consul Cluster Peering on Kubernetes tutorial](https://learn.hashicorp.com/tutorials/consul/cluster-peering-aws?utm_source=docs).

## Prerequisites

You must implement the following requirements to create and use cluster peering connections with Kubernetes:

- Consul v1.13.1 or later
- At least two Kubernetes clusters
- The installation must be running on Consul on Kubernetes version 0.47.1 or later

### Prepare for installation

Complete the following procedure after you have provisioned a Kubernetes cluster and set up your kubeconfig file to manage access to multiple Kubernetes clusters. 

1. Use the `kubectl` command to export the Kubernetes context names and then set them to variables for future use. For more information on how to use kubeconfig and contexts, refer to the [Kubernetes docs on configuring access to multiple clusters](https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/access-application-cluster/configure-access-multiple-clusters/).

    You can use the following methods to get the context names for your clusters:
  
    - Use the `kubectl config current-context` command to get the context for the cluster you are currently in.
    - Use the `kubectl config get-contexts` command to get all configured contexts in your kubeconfig file.  
    
    ```shell-session
    $ export CLUSTER1_CONTEXT=<CONTEXT for first Kubernetes cluster>
    $ export CLUSTER2_CONTEXT=<CONTEXT for second Kubernetes cluster>
    ```

1. To establish cluster peering through Kubernetes, create a `values.yaml` file with the following Helm values.

    <CodeBlockConfig filename="values.yaml">

    ```yaml
    global:
      name: consul
      image: "hashicorp/consul:1.13.1"
      peering:
        enabled: true
    connectInject:
      enabled: true
    dns:
      enabled: true
      enableRedirection: true
    server:
      exposeService:
        enabled: true
    controller:
      enabled: true
    meshGateway:
      enabled: true
      replicas: 1
    ```

    </CodeBlockConfig>

    These Helm values configure the servers in each cluster so that they expose ports over a Kubernetes load balancer service. For additional configuration options, refer to [`server.exposeService`](/docs/k8s/helm#v-server-exposeservice).

    When generating a peering token from one of the clusters, Consul includes a load balancer address in the token so that the peering stream goes through the load balancer in front of the servers. For additional configuration options, refer to [`global.peering.tokenGeneration`](/docs/k8s/helm#v-global-peering-tokengeneration).
  
### Install Consul on Kubernetes

Install Consul on Kubernetes by using the CLI to apply `values.yaml` to each cluster.
  
  1. In `cluster-01`, run the following commands:
  
      ```shell-session
      $ export HELM_RELEASE_NAME=cluster-01
      ```

      ```shell-session
    $ helm install ${HELM_RELEASE_NAME} hashicorp/consul --create-namespace --namespace consul --version "0.47.1" --values values.yaml --kube-context $CLUSTER1_CONTEXT
      ```

  1. In `cluster-02`, run the following commands:
  
      ```shell-session
      $ export HELM_RELEASE_NAME=cluster-02
      ```

     ```shell-session
    $ helm install ${HELM_RELEASE_NAME} hashicorp/consul --create-namespace --namespace consul --version "0.47.1" --values values.yaml --kube-context $CLUSTER2_CONTEXT
     ```

## Create a peering connection for Consul on Kubernetes

To peer Kubernetes clusters running Consul, you need to create a peering token and share it with the other cluster. Complete the following steps to create the peer connection.

### Create a peering token

Peers identify each other using the `metadata.name` values you establish when creating the `PeeringAcceptor` and `PeeringDialer` CRDs.

1. In `cluster-01`, create the `PeeringAcceptor` custom resource.

    <CodeBlockConfig filename="acceptor.yaml">

    ```yaml
    apiVersion: consul.hashicorp.com/v1alpha1
    kind: PeeringAcceptor
    metadata:
      name: cluster-02 ## The name of the peer you want to connect to
    spec:
      peer:
        secret:
          name: "peering-token"
          key: "data"
          backend: "kubernetes"
    ```

    </CodeBlockConfig>

1. Apply the `PeeringAcceptor` resource to the first cluster.

    ```shell-session
    $ kubectl --context $CLUSTER1_CONTEXT apply --filename acceptor.yaml
    ````

1. Save your peering token so that you can export it to the other cluster.

    ```shell-session
    $ kubectl --context $CLUSTER1_CONTEXT get secret peering-token --output yaml > peering-token.yaml
    ```

### Establish a peering connection between clusters

1. Apply the peering token to the second cluster.

    ```shell-session
    $ kubectl --context $CLUSTER2_CONTEXT apply --filename peering-token.yaml
    ```

1. In `cluster-02`, create the `PeeringDialer` custom resource.

    <CodeBlockConfig filename="dialer.yaml">

    ```yaml
    apiVersion: consul.hashicorp.com/v1alpha1
    kind: PeeringDialer
    metadata:
      name: cluster-01 ## The name of the peer you want to connect to
    spec:
      peer:
        secret:
          name: "peering-token"
          key: "data"
          backend: "kubernetes"
    ```

    </CodeBlockConfig>

1. Apply the `PeeringDialer` resource to the second cluster.

    ```shell-session
    $ kubectl --context $CLUSTER2_CONTEXT apply --filename dialer.yaml 
    ```

### Export services between clusters

The examples described in this section demonstrate how to export a service named `backend`. You should change instances of `backend` in the example code to the name of the service you want to export.

1. For the service in `cluster-02` that you want to export, add the `"consul.hashicorp.com/connect-inject": "true"` annotation to your service's pods prior to deploying. The annotation allows the workload to join the mesh. It is highlighted in the following example: 

    <CodeBlockConfig filename="backend.yaml" highlight="37">

    ```yaml
    # Service to expose backend
    apiVersion: v1
    kind: Service
    metadata:
      name: backend
    spec:
      selector:
        app: backend
      ports:
      - name: http
        protocol: TCP
        port: 80
        targetPort: 9090
    ---
    apiVersion: v1
    kind: ServiceAccount
    metadata:
      name: backend
    ---
    # Deployment for backend
    apiVersion: apps/v1
    kind: Deployment
    metadata:
      name: backend
      labels:
        app: backend
    spec:
      replicas: 1
      selector:
        matchLabels:
          app: backend
      template:
        metadata:
          labels:
            app: backend
          annotations:
            "consul.hashicorp.com/connect-inject": "true"
        spec:
          serviceAccountName: backend
          containers:
          - name: backend
            image: nicholasjackson/fake-service:v0.22.4
            ports:
            - containerPort: 9090
            env:
            - name: "LISTEN_ADDR"
              value: "0.0.0.0:9090"
            - name: "NAME"
              value: "backend"
            - name: "MESSAGE"
              value: "Response from backend"
    ```

    </CodeBlockConfig>

1. In `cluster-02`, create an `ExportedServices` custom resource.

    <CodeBlockConfig filename="exportedsvc.yaml">

    ```yaml
    apiVersion: consul.hashicorp.com/v1alpha1
    kind: ExportedServices
    metadata:
      name: default ## The name of the partition containing the service
    spec:
      services:
        - name: backend ## The name of the service you want to export
          consumers:
          - peer: cluster-01 ## The name of the peer that receives the service
    ```

    </CodeBlockConfig>

1. Apply the service file and the `ExportedServices` resource to the second cluster.

    ```shell-session
    $ kubectl apply --context $CLUSTER2_CONTEXT --filename backend.yaml --filename exportedsvc.yaml
    ```

### Authorize services for peers

1. Create service intentions for the second cluster.

    <CodeBlockConfig filename="intention.yml">

    ```yaml
    apiVersion: consul.hashicorp.com/v1alpha1
    kind: ServiceIntentions
    metadata:
      name: backend-deny
    spec:
      destination:
        name: backend
      sources:
       - name: "*"
         action: deny
       - name: frontend
         action: allow
    ```

    </CodeBlockConfig>

1. Apply the intentions to the second cluster.

    ```shell-session
    $ kubectl --context $CLUSTER2_CONTEXT apply --filename intention.yml
    ```

1. Add the `"consul.hashicorp.com/connect-inject": "true"` annotation to your service's pods before deploying the workload so that the services in `cluster-01` can dial `backend` in `cluster-02`. To dial the upstream service from an application, configure the application so that that requests are sent to the correct DNS name as specified in [Service Virtual IP Lookups](/docs/discovery/dns#service-virtual-ip-lookups). In the following example, the annotation that allows the workload to join the mesh and the configuration provided to the workload that enables the workload to dial the upstream service using the correct DNS name is highlighted. 

    <CodeBlockConfig filename="frontend.yaml" highlight="36,51">

    ```yaml
    # Service to expose frontend
    apiVersion: v1
    kind: Service
    metadata:
      name: frontend
    spec:
      selector:
        app: frontend
      ports:
      - name: http
        protocol: TCP
        port: 9090
        targetPort: 9090
    ---
    apiVersion: v1
    kind: ServiceAccount
    metadata:
      name: frontend
    ---
    apiVersion: apps/v1
    kind: Deployment
    metadata:
      name: frontend
      labels:
        app: frontend
    spec:
      replicas: 1
      selector:
        matchLabels:
          app: frontend
      template:
        metadata:
          labels:
            app: frontend
          annotations:
            "consul.hashicorp.com/connect-inject": "true"
        spec:
          serviceAccountName: frontend
          containers:
          - name: frontend
            image: nicholasjackson/fake-service:v0.22.4
            securityContext:
              capabilities:
                add: ["NET_ADMIN"]
            ports:
            - containerPort: 9090
            env:
            - name: "LISTEN_ADDR"
              value: "0.0.0.0:9090"
            - name: "UPSTREAM_URIS"
              value: "http://backend.virtual.cluster-02.consul"
            - name: "NAME"
              value: "frontend"
            - name: "MESSAGE"
              value: "Hello World"
            - name: "HTTP_CLIENT_KEEP_ALIVES"
              value: "false"
    ```

    </CodeBlockConfig>

1. Apply the service file to the first cluster.

    ```shell-session
    $ kubectl --context $CLUSTER1_CONTEXT apply --filename frontend.yaml
    ```

1. Run the following command in `frontend` and then check the output to confirm that you peered your clusters successfully.

    ```shell-session
    $ kubectl --context $CLUSTER1_CONTEXT exec -it $(kubectl --context $CLUSTER1_CONTEXT get pod -l app=frontend -o name) -- curl localhost:9090
    
    {
      "name": "frontend",
      "uri": "/",
      "type": "HTTP",
      "ip_addresses": [
        "10.16.2.11"
      ],
      "start_time": "2022-08-26T23:40:01.167199",
      "end_time": "2022-08-26T23:40:01.226951",
      "duration": "59.752279ms",
      "body": "Hello World",
      "upstream_calls": {
        "http://backend.virtual.cluster-02.consul": {
          "name": "backend",
          "uri": "http://backend.virtual.cluster-02.consul",
          "type": "HTTP",
          "ip_addresses": [
            "10.32.2.10"
          ],
          "start_time": "2022-08-26T23:40:01.223503",
          "end_time": "2022-08-26T23:40:01.224653",
          "duration": "1.149666ms",
          "headers": {
            "Content-Length": "266",
            "Content-Type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8",
            "Date": "Fri, 26 Aug 2022 23:40:01 GMT"
          },
          "body": "Response from backend",
          "code": 200
        }
      },
      "code": 200
    }
    ```

## End a peering connection

To end a peering connection, delete both the `PeeringAcceptor` and `PeeringDialer` resources.
 
1. Delete the `PeeringDialer` resource from the second cluster.

  ```shell-session
  $ kubectl --context $CLUSTER2_CONTEXT delete --filename dialer.yaml 
  ```

1. Delete the `PeeringAcceptor` resource from the first cluster.

  ```shell-session
  $ kubectl --context $CLUSTER1_CONTEXT delete --filename acceptor.yaml
  ````

1. Confirm that you deleted your peering connection in `cluster-01` by querying the the `/health` HTTP endpoint. The peered services should no longer appear.

    1. Exec into the server pod for the first cluster. 
  
      ```shell-session
      $ kubectl exec -it consul-server-0 -- /bin/sh
      ```
  
    1. Export an ACL token to access the `/health` HTP endpoint for services. The bootstrap token may be used if an ACL token is not already provisioned. 
  
      ```shell-session
      $ export CONSUL_HTTP_TOKEN=<INSERT BOOTSTRAP ACL TOKEN> 
      ```
  
    1. Query the the `/health` HTTP endpoint. The peered services should no longer appear.
 
     ```shell-session
      $ curl "localhost:8500/v1/health/connect/backend?peer=cluster-02"
      ```

## Recreate or reset a peering connection

To recreate or reset the peering connection, you need to generate a new peering token from the cluster where you created the `PeeringAcceptor`. 

1. In the `PeeringAcceptor` CRD, add the annotation `consul.hashicorp.com/peering-version`. If the annotation already exists, update its value to a higher version.

    <CodeBlockConfig filename="acceptor.yml" highlight="6" hideClipboard>

    ```yaml
    apiVersion: consul.hashicorp.com/v1alpha1
    kind: PeeringAcceptor
    metadata:
      name: cluster-02
      annotations:
        consul.hashicorp.com/peering-version: 1 ## The peering version you want to set.
    spec:
      peer:
        secret:
          name: "peering-token"
          key: "data"
          backend: "kubernetes"
    ```

    </CodeBlockConfig>

1. After updating `PeeringAcceptor`, repeat the following steps to create a peering connection:
      1. [Create a peering token](#create-a-peering-token)
      1. [Establish a peering connection between clusters](#establish-a-peering-connection-between-clusters)
      1. [Export services between clusters](#export-services-between-clusters)
      1. [Authorize services for peers](#authorize-services-for-peers)
      
      Your peering connection is re-established with the updated token.

~> **Note:** The only way to create or set a new peering token is to manually adjust the value of the annotation `consul.hashicorp.com/peering-version`. Creating a new token causes the previous token to expire.

## Traffic management between peers

As of Consul v1.14, you can use [dynamic traffic management](/consul/docs/connect/l7-traffic) to configure your service mesh so that services automatically failover and redirect between peers.

To configure automatic service failovers and redirect, edit the `ServiceResolver` CRD so that traffic resolves to a backup service instance on a peer. The following example updates the `ServiceResolver` CRD in `cluster-01` so that Consul redirects traffic intended for the `frontend` service to a backup instance in `cluster-02` when it detects multiple connection failures to the primary instance.

<CodeBlockConfig filename="service-resolver.yaml" hideClipboard>

```yaml
apiVersion: consul.hashicorp.com/v1alpha1
kind: ServiceResolver
metadata:
  name: frontend
spec:
  connectTimeout: 15s
  failover:
    '*':
      targets:
        - peer: 'cluster-02'
          service: 'backup'
          namespace: 'default'
```

</CodeBlockConfig>