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Generate Access Token for Kubernetes Dashboard

To securely log in to the Kubernetes Dashboard, you need to authenticate using a bearer token. This guide walks you through generating an access token using a service account with the appropriate permissions.

👤 Step 1: SSH into the Controller Node​

Use your private SSH key and connect to the controller node via the Virtual Router:

ssh -i <ssh-private.key> -p 2222 cloud@<Public-IP-of-Virtual-Router>

🔧 Step 2: Create a Service Account​

Run the following command to create a new service account in the kubernetes-dashboard namespace:

kubectl create serviceaccount admin-user -n kubernetes-dashboard

🔐 Step 3: Bind the Service Account to Cluster Admin​

This grants full access to the dashboard:

kubectl create clusterrolebinding admin-user-binding \
  --clusterrole=cluster-admin \
  --serviceaccount=kubernetes-dashboard:admin-user

🧪 Step 4: Generate the Access Token​

You can now retrieve the token to use for dashboard login:

kubectl -n kubernetes-dashboard create token admin-user
tip

📌 Copy the output token and use it to authenticate via the “Token” option on the Kubernetes Dashboard login screen.

✅ Login Using the Token​

  • Open the dashboard URL in your browser:
https://<Public-IP-of-Virtual-Router>:30001
  • Select Token as the login method.
  • Paste the copied token into the input field and click Sign In.

🔒 Best Practices​

  • Do not share tokens publicly.
  • Revoke tokens when no longer needed by deleting the service account.
  • Use role-based access (RBAC) to define more granular access policies for production environments.