Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Documentation

Upgrading the Kubernetes Version on Control Plane Nodes in a Cluster

Find out how to upgrade the version of Kubernetes running on the control plane nodes of clusters that you create using Kubernetes Engine (OKE).

When Kubernetes Engine supports a newer version of Kubernetes than the version currently running on the control plane nodes in a cluster, you can upgrade the Kubernetes version running on the control plane nodes.

To upgrade the Kubernetes version running on the control plane nodes in a cluster, all the worker nodes must be in a READY state. If the upgrade fails, review the failed CLUSTER_UPDATE work request for more information. See Viewing Work Requests.

Note that when you upgrade the Kubernetes version running on control plane nodes, the virtual nodes in every virtual node pool in the cluster are also automatically upgraded to that Kubernetes version. For more information about virtual node upgrade, see Upgrading Virtual Nodes to a Newer Kubernetes Version.

Important

After you upgrade control plane nodes to a newer Kubernetes version, you can't downgrade the control plane nodes to an earlier Kubernetes version. So, before you upgrade the Kubernetes version running on the control plane nodes, test that applications deployed on the cluster are compatible with the new Kubernetes version.

    1. On the Clusters list page, locate the cluster for which you want to upgrade the Kubernetes version running on the control plane nodes. If you need help finding the list page or the cluster, see Listing Clusters.

      Where Kubernetes Engine supports a newer Kubernetes version than the version currently running on the control plane nodes of a cluster:

      • An Upgrade recommended label appears beside the cluster if the Kubernetes version currently running on the control plane is not the most recent version that Kubernetes Engine supports, but the version is still supported by Kubernetes Engine. In this case, an Upgrade available option is shown on the Actions menu (three dots) on the Clusters list page.
      • An Upgrade strongly recommended label appears beside the cluster if the Kubernetes version currently running on the control plane is no longer supported by Kubernetes Engine. In this case, an Upgrade recommended option is shown on the Actions menu (three dots) menu on the Clusters list page.

      In both cases, an equivalent option (New Kubernetes version available) is also shown on the Actions menu on the cluster details page.

    2. On the Clusters list page, select Upgrade available or Upgrade recommended (as appropriate) from the Actions menu (three dots).
    3. In the Upgrade cluster control plane dialog box, select the Kubernetes version to which to upgrade the control plane nodes, and select Upgrade.

    The Kubernetes version running on the control plane nodes is upgraded. The new Kubernetes version appears as an option when you're defining new node pools for the cluster.

  • Use the ce cluster update command and required parameters to upgrade control plane nodes:

    oci ce cluster update --cluster-id <cluster-ocid> --kubernetes-version <kubernetes-version-number>  [OPTIONS]

    For example: 

    oci ce cluster update --cluster-id ocid1.cluster.oc1.iad.aaaaaaaaaf______jrd --kubernetes-version v1.24.1

    For a complete list of parameters and values for CLI commands, see the CLI Command Reference.

  • Run the UpdateCluster operation to upgrade the version of Kubernetes running on the control plane nodes.