Bootstrapping Kubernetes in restricted or offline environments can be challenging, especially when working with limited infrastructure. In this lightning talk, I’ll demonstrate how to set up an RKE2 cluster on a Podman VM using Cilium for networking and MetalLB for load balancing.

The session focuses on practical implementation, including handling image management, configuring networking in constrained setups, and avoiding common bootstrap failures. I’ll also share key lessons learned from building a reproducible lab environment and the trade-offs involved in design choices.

Attendees will gain a simple, actionable approach to building lightweight Kubernetes clusters using open-source tools in real-world scenarios.