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Merge "introduction" into the get started landing page
Signed-off-by: Nic Cope <nicc@rk0n.org>
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‎content/v2.0-preview/_index.md‎

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# Get started
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* [Install Crossplane]({{<ref "get-started/install">}}) in your Kubernetes cluster
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* Learn more about how Crossplane works in the
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[Crossplane introduction]({{<ref "get-started/introduction" >}})
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[Crossplane introduction]({{<ref "get-started" >}})
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* Join the [Crossplane Slack](https://slack.crossplane.io/) and start a
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conversation with a community of over 7,000 operators.
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‎content/v2.0-preview/get-started/_index.md‎

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weight: 4
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description: Get started with Crossplane.
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---
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Crossplane connects your Kubernetes cluster to external,
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non-Kubernetes resources, and allows platform teams to build custom Kubernetes
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APIs to consume those resources.
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<!-- vale gitlab.SentenceLength = NO -->
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Crossplane creates Kubernetes
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[Custom Resource Definitions](https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/extend-kubernetes/custom-resources/custom-resource-definitions/)
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(`CRDs`) to represent the external resources as native
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[Kubernetes objects](https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/overview/working-with-objects/kubernetes-objects/).
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As native Kubernetes objects, you can use standard commands like `kubectl create`
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and `kubectl describe`. The full
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[Kubernetes API](https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/using-api/) is available
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for every Crossplane resource.
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<!-- vale gitlab.SentenceLength = YES -->
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Crossplane also acts as a
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[Kubernetes Controller](https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/architecture/controller/)
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to watch the state of the external resources and provide state enforcement. If
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something modifies or deletes a resource outside of Kubernetes, Crossplane reverses
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the change or recreates the deleted resource.
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{{<img src="/media/crossplane-intro-diagram.png" alt="Diagram showing a user communicating to Kubernetes. Crossplane connected to Kubernetes and Crossplane communicating with AWS, Azure and GCP" align="center">}}
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With Crossplane installed in a Kubernetes cluster, users only communicate with
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Kubernetes. Crossplane manages the communication to external resources like AWS,
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Azure or Google Cloud.
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Crossplane also allows the creation of custom Kubernetes APIs. Platform teams can
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combine external resources and simplify or customize the APIs presented to the
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platform consumers.
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## Crossplane components overview
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This table provides a summary of Crossplane components and their roles.
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{{< table "table table-hover table-sm">}}
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| Component | Abbreviation | Scope | Summary |
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| --- | --- | --- | ---- |
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| [Provider]({{<ref "#providers">}}) | | cluster | Creates new Kubernetes Custom Resource Definitions for an external service. |
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| [ProviderConfig]({{<ref "#provider-configurations">}}) | `PC` | cluster | Applies settings for a _Provider_. |
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| [Managed Resource]({{<ref "#managed-resources">}}) | `MR` | cluster | A Provider resource created and managed by Crossplane inside the Kubernetes cluster. |
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| [Composition]({{<ref "#compositions">}}) | | cluster | A template for creating multiple _managed resources_ at once. |
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| [Composite Resources]({{<ref "#composite-resources" >}}) | `XR` | cluster | Uses a _Composition_ template to create multiple _managed resources_ as a single Kubernetes object. |
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| [CompositeResourceDefinitions]({{<ref "#composite-resource-definitions" >}}) | `XRD` | cluster | Defines the API schema for _Composite Resources_ |
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{{< /table >}}
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## The Crossplane Pod
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When installed in a Kubernetes cluster Crossplane creates an initial set of
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Custom Resource Definitions (`CRDs`) of the core Crossplane components.
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{{< expand "View the initial Crossplane CRDs" >}}
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After installing Crossplane use `kubectl get crds` to view the Crossplane
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installed CRDs.
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```shell
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❯ kubectl get crd
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NAME
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compositeresourcedefinitions.apiextensions.crossplane.io
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compositionrevisions.apiextensions.crossplane.io
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compositions.apiextensions.crossplane.io
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configurationrevisions.pkg.crossplane.io
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configurations.pkg.crossplane.io
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deploymentruntimeconfigs.pkg.crossplane.io
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environmentconfigs.apiextensions.crossplane.io
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functionrevisions.pkg.crossplane.io
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functions.pkg.crossplane.io
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locks.pkg.crossplane.io
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providerrevisions.pkg.crossplane.io
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providers.pkg.crossplane.io
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storeconfigs.secrets.crossplane.io
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usages.apiextensions.crossplane.io
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```
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{{< /expand >}}
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The following sections describe the functions of some of these CRDs.
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<!-- vale Google.Headings = NO -->
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<!-- allow "Providers" -->
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## Providers
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<!-- vale Google.Headings = YES -->
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A Crossplane _Provider_ creates a second set of CRDs that define how Crossplane
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connects to a non-Kubernetes service. Each external service relies on its own
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Provider. For example,
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[AWS](https://github.com/crossplane-contrib/provider-upjet-aws),
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[Azure](https://github.com/crossplane-contrib/provider-upjet-azure)
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and [GCP](https://github.com/crossplane-contrib/provider-upjet-gcp)
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are different providers for each cloud service.
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{{< hint "tip" >}}
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Most Providers are for cloud services but Crossplane can use a Provider to
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connect to any service with an API.
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{{< /hint >}}
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For example, an AWS Provider defines Kubernetes CRDs for AWS resources like EC2
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compute instances or S3 storage buckets.
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The Provider defines the Kubernetes API definition for the external resource.
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For example,
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[provider-upjet-aws](https://github.com/crossplane-contrib/provider-upjet-aws)
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defines a
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[`bucket`](https://github.com/crossplane-contrib/provider-upjet-aws/blob/release-1.20/package/crds/s3.aws.upbound.io_buckets.yaml)
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resource for creating and managing AWS S3 storage buckets.
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In the `bucket` CRD is a
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[`spec.forProvider.region`](https://github.com/crossplane-contrib/provider-upjet-aws/blob/release-1.20/package/crds/s3.aws.upbound.io_buckets.yaml#L91)
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value that defines which AWS region to deploy the bucket in.
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Crossplane's [public package registries](https://www.crossplane.io/registries) contain a large
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collection of Crossplane Providers.
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More providers are available in the [Crossplane Contrib repository](https://github.com/crossplane-contrib/).
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Providers are cluster scoped and available to all cluster namespaces.
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View all installed Providers with the command `kubectl get providers`.
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## Provider configurations
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Providers have _ProviderConfigs_. _ProviderConfigs_ configure settings
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related to the Provider like authentication or global defaults for the
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Provider.
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The API endpoints for ProviderConfigs are unique to each Provider.
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_ProviderConfigs_ are cluster scoped and available to all cluster namespaces.
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View all installed ProviderConfigs with the command `kubectl get providerconfig`.
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## Managed resources
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A Provider's CRDs map to individual _resources_ inside the provider. When
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Crossplane creates and monitors a resource it's a _Managed Resource_.
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Using a Provider's CRD creates a unique _Managed Resource_. For example,
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using the Provider AWS's `bucket` CRD, Crossplane creates a `bucket` _Managed Resource_
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inside the Kubernetes cluster that's connected to an AWS S3 storage bucket.
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The Crossplane controller provides state enforcement for _Managed Resources_.
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Crossplane enforces the settings and existence of _Managed Resources_. This
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"Controller Pattern" is like how the Kubernetes
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[kube-controller-manager](https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/command-line-tools-reference/kube-controller-manager/)
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enforces state for pods.
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_Managed Resources_ are cluster scoped and available to all cluster namespaces.
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Use `kubectl get managed` to view all _managed resources_.
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{{<hint "warning" >}}
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The `kubectl get managed` creates a lot of Kubernetes API queries.
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Both the `kubectl` client and kube-apiserver throttle the API queries.
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Depending on the size of the API server and number of managed resources, this
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command may take minutes to return or may timeout.
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For more information, read
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[Kubernetes issue #111880](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/111880)
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and
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[Crossplane issue #3459](https://github.com/crossplane/crossplane/issues/3459).
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{{< /hint >}}
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## Compositions
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A _Composition_ is a template for a collection of _managed resource_. _Compositions_
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allow platform teams to define a set of _managed resources_ as a
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single object.
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For example, a compute _managed resource_ may require the creation of a storage
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resource and a virtual network as well. A single _Composition_ can define all three
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resources in a single _Composition_ object.
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Using _Compositions_ simplifies the deployment of infrastructure made up of
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multiple _managed resources_. _Compositions_ also enforce standards and settings
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across deployments.
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Platform teams can define fixed or default settings for each _managed resource_ inside a
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_Composition_ or define fields and settings that users may change.
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Using the previous example, the platform team may set a compute resource size
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and virtual network settings. But the platform team allows users to define the
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storage resource size.
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Creating a _Composition_ Crossplane doesn't create any managed
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resources. The _Composition_ is only a template for a collection of _managed
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resources_ and their settings. A _Composite Resource_ creates the specific resources.
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{{< hint "note" >}}
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The [_Composite Resources_]({{<ref "#composite-resources">}}) section discusses
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_Composite Resources_.
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{{< /hint >}}
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_Compositions_ are cluster scoped and available to all cluster namespaces.
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Use `kubectl get compositions` to view all _compositions_.
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## Composite Resources
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A _Composite Resource_ (`XR`) is a set of provisioned _managed resources_. A
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_Composite Resource_ uses the template defined by a _Composition_ and applies
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any user defined settings.
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Multiple unique _Composite Resource_ objects can use the same _Composition_. For
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example, a _Composition_ template can create a compute, storage and networking
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set of _managed resources_. Crossplane uses the same _Composition_ template
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every time a user requests this set of resources.
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If a _Composition_ allows a user to define resource settings, users apply them
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in a _Composite Resource_.
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{{< hint "tip" >}}
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_Compositions_ are templates for a set of _managed resources_.
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_Composite Resources_ fill out the template and create _managed resources_.
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Deleting a _Composite Resource_ deletes all the _managed resources_ it created.
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{{< /hint >}}
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_Composite Resources_ are cluster scoped and available to all cluster namespaces.
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Use `kubectl get composite` to view all _Composite Resources_.
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## Composite Resource Definitions
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_Composite Resource Definitions_ (`XRDs`) create custom Kubernetes APIs used by
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_Composite Resources_.
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Platform teams define the custom APIs.
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These APIs can define specific values
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like storage space in gigabytes, generic settings like `small` or `large`,
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deployment options like `cloud` or `onprem`. Crossplane doesn't limit the API definitions.
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The _Composite Resource Definition's_ `kind` is from Crossplane.
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```yaml
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apiVersion: apiextensions.crossplane.io/v1
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kind: CompositeResourceDefinition
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```
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The `spec` of a _Composite Resource Definition_ creates the `apiVersion`,
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`kind` and `spec` of a _Composite Resource_.
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{{< hint "tip" >}}
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The _Composite Resource Definition_ defines the parameters for a _Composite
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Resource_.
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{{< /hint >}}
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A _Composite Resource Definition_ has four main `spec` parameters:
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* A {{<hover label="specGroup" line="3" >}}group{{< /hover >}}
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to define the
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{{< hover label="xr2" line="2" >}}apiVersion{{</hover >}}
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in a _Composite Resource_ .
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* The {{< hover label="specGroup" line="7" >}}versions.name{{</hover >}}
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that defines the version used in a _Composite Resource_.
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* A {{< hover label="specGroup" line="5" >}}names.kind{{</hover >}}
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to define the _Composite Resource_
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{{< hover label="xr2" line="3" >}}kind{{</hover>}}.
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* A {{< hover label="specGroup" line="8" >}}versions.schema{{</hover>}} section
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to define the _Composite Resource_ {{<hover label="xr2" line="6" >}}spec{{</hover >}}.
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```yaml {label="specGroup"}
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# Composite Resource Definition (XRD)
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spec:
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group: test.example.org
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names:
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kind: MyComputeResource
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versions:
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- name: v1alpha1
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schema:
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# Removed for brevity
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```
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A _Composite Resource_ based on this _Composite Resource Definition_ looks like this:
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```yaml {label="xr2"}
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# Composite Resource (XR)
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apiVersion: test.example.org/v1alpha1
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kind: MyComputeResource
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metadata:
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name: my-resource
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spec:
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storage: "large"
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```
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A _Composite Resource Definition_ {{< hover label="specGroup" line="8" >}}schema{{</hover >}} defines the _Composite Resource_
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{{<hover label="xr2" line="6" >}}spec{{</hover >}} parameters.
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These parameters are the new, custom APIs, that developers can use.
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For example, creating a compute _managed resource_ requires knowledge of a
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cloud provider's compute class names like AWS's `m6in.large` or GCP's
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`e2-standard-2`.
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A _Composite Resource Definition_ can limit the choices to `small` or `large`.
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A _Composite Resource_ uses those options and the _Composition_ maps them
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to specific cloud provider settings.
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The following _Composite Resource Definition_ defines a {{<hover label="specVersions" line="17" >}}storage{{< /hover >}}
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parameter. The storage is a
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{{<hover label="specVersions" line="18">}}string{{< /hover >}}
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and the OpenAPI
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{{<hover label="specVersions" line="19" >}}oneOf{{< /hover >}} requires the
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options to be either {{<hover label="specVersions" line="20" >}}small{{< /hover >}}
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or {{<hover label="specVersions" line="21" >}}large{{< /hover >}}.
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```yaml {label="specVersions"}
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# Composite Resource Definition (XRD)
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spec:
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group: test.example.org
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names:
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kind: MyComputeResource
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versions:
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- name: v1alpha1
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served: true
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referenceable: true
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schema:
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openAPIV3Schema:
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type: object
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properties:
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spec:
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type: object
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properties:
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storage:
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type: string
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oneOf:
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- pattern: '^small$'
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- pattern: '^large$'
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required:
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- storage
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```
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A _Composite Resource Definition_ can define a wide variety of settings and options.
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Creating a _Composite Resource Definition_ enables the creation of _Composite
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Resources_.
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## Next steps
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Build your own Crossplane platform using one of the quickstart guides.

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