Helm is a package manager for Kubernetes that lets you define, install, and update applications using reusable packages called charts. Use the Alibaba Cloud Container Compute Service (ACS) console to deploy and update applications with Helm.
Key concepts
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| Chart | A Helm package that bundles all Kubernetes resource definitions needed to run an application — similar to a Homebrew formula or an APT package. |
| Release | A running instance of a chart in a Kubernetes cluster. Installing the same chart multiple times creates separate releases. |
| App Catalog | The ACS application marketplace, integrated from Container Service for Kubernetes (ACK). It provides charts customized or optimized by ACS based on open source versions, with details on each chart's introduction, installation procedure, parameters, and considerations. Charts include container images, dependencies, and custom resource definitions (CRDs). |
Prerequisites
Before you begin, make sure you have:
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An ACS cluster. To create one, see the ACS getting started documentation.
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Access to the ACS console.
Deploy an application
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Log on to the ACS console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Clusters.
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On the Clusters page, click the ID of the cluster you want to manage. In the left-side navigation pane of the cluster details page, choose Applications > Helm.
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In the upper-left corner of the Helm page, click Deploy.
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In the Deploy panel, enter an application name, select a namespace, and select a chart. Click Next, then click Yes in the confirmation dialog.
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In the Parameters step, select a chart version, configure the required parameters, and click OK.
Update an application
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Log on to the ACS console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Clusters.
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On the Clusters page, click the ID of the cluster you want to manage. In the left-side navigation pane of the cluster details page, choose Applications > Helm.
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On the Helm page, click Update in the Actions column for the chart you want to modify.
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In the Update Release panel, select a version, modify the parameters, and click OK.
What's next
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To learn more about managing charts in App Catalog, see Use Helm to simplify application deployment.
Legal disclaimer
Some charts in App Catalog are developed or optimized based on open source versions to better adapt to ACS. Alibaba Cloud provides technical support for these charts in App Catalog. However, Alibaba Cloud does not provide compensation or reimbursement for damages caused by defects of the open source charts you use.