gkectl docs confusion

[tekeliata]

Reference: GKE on VMware downloads 

gkectl

Normally there is no reason for your to download the gkectl command-line tool.

Why the docs explained it like that while to use the similar command in AWS and Azure, we have to install eksctl and aksctl respectively

[garisingh · Accepted solution]

Great question and agree the docs are a bit confusing.  The TL;DR is that when you use the gkeadm tool (which you do need to download), it actually downloads gkectl for you.

[garisingh · Accepted solution]

Great question and agree the docs are a bit confusing.  The TL;DR is that when you use the gkeadm tool (which you do need to download), it actually downloads gkectl for you.

[devenes · Accepted solution]

Hey @tekeliata 

Let me explain the statement in the official document.

To manage cluster-level operations from the admin workstation server, you need use the gkectl command line tool. Some of these tasks are: Verifying cluster configuration, creating cluster, upgrading and updating cluster.

Normally there is no reason to download the gkectl command line tool. Because when you create the admin workstation using gkeadm, gkectl automatically comes with the admin workstation. And its version matches gkeadm as your Anthos cluster version. The gke-on-prem-admin-appliance bundle includes gkectl by default, eliminating the need for manual downloading.

There may be situations where you want to install it on another machine for specific needs (e.g. troubleshooting) or to have access from a different location. In such cases, manual downloading is required.