[SOLVED] Kubernetes service external IP address remains pending with IBM Cloud (earlier called as Bluemix)

Kubernetes service external IP address remains pending with IBM Cloud (earlier called as Bluemix)

I'm following an example from Kubernetes in Action to run a simple docker image in kubernetes:

$ bx login --apikey @apiKey.json -a  https://api.eu-de.bluemix.net
$ bx cs cluster-config my_kubernetes
$ export KUBECONFIG=..my_kubernetes.yml

Next, run the container:

$ kubectl run kubia --image=luksa/kubia --port=8080 --generator=run/v1
$ kubectl expose rc kubia --type=LoadBalancer --name kubia-http
$ kubectl get service
$ kubectl get svc

NAME         CLUSTER-IP    EXTERNAL-IP   PORT(S)          AGE
kubernetes   10.10.10.1    <none>        443/TCP          20h
kubia-http   10.10.10.12   <pending>     8080:32373/TCP   0m

Fifteen minutes later ...

NAME         CLUSTER-IP    EXTERNAL-IP   PORT(S)          AGE
kubernetes   10.10.10.1    <none>        443/TCP          20h
kubia-http   10.10.10.12   <pending>     8080:32373/TCP   15m

I don't have anything else running on the Kubernetes cluster.

Solution

Thanks to Chris Rosen's answer, I was able to find a workaround:

$ bx cs workers my_kubernetes
OK
ID                 Public IP  Private IP  Machine Type State    Status
kube-par01-xxxxx   1.2.3.4    6.7.8.9     free         normal   Ready

Note the Public IP address: 1.2.3.4

Expose the service with NodePort:

$ kubectl expose rc kubia --type=NodePort --name kubia-http2

Check the NodePort details:

$ kubectl get svc
NAME          CLUSTER-IP     EXTERNAL-IP   PORT(S)          AGE
kubernetes    10.10.10.1     <none>        443/TCP          21h
kubia-http2   10.10.10.193   <nodes>       8080:31247/TCP   10s

Access the service using the exposed port on the worker Public IP address:

$ curl http://1.2.3.4:31247/
You've hit kubia-bjb59