How to fix CrashLoopBackOff error for frontend deployment in AKS

Question

I'm using Github Actions to deploy a microservice app (with Frontend, API-Gateway, and Post-service) to AKS. The API-Gateway and Post-Service workflows deploy fine, but sometimes the Frontend workflow throws an error during "Checking manifest stability," saying error: deployment "frontend" exceeded its progress deadline.

When it does deploy successfully, the Azure workload pod shows a CrashLoopBackOff error with a readiness status of 0/1. It's odd because deploying all apps using kubectl apply -f from my local terminal with Azure CLI works, including the frontend. So it seems the issue might be with the workflow file.

The structure of the Frontend workflow is the same as the API-Gateway and Post-Service workflows, which work fine without errors.

Additionally, when testing the API-Gateway when it's deployed through Github Actions, I can't access the endpoint using the external URL, but I can when deploying locally through Azure CLI.

Eventhough the services are shown under Workloads and Services and Ingresses tabs, when running kubectl get pods, it doesn't show anything.

Any ideas on what could be causing these issues?

Answer 1

Hello Ata,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A and thank you for posting your questions here.

Problem statement

I understand that you are facing challenges despite successful deployments of API Gateway and Post-Service, the frontend deployment faces intermittent issues during GitHub Actions deployment, leading to a CrashLoopBackOff error. In addition, there are difficulties accessing the API Gateway endpoint after deployment via GitHub Actions, although local deployments work fine. Also, anomalies in pod creation or readiness are observed, with pods not being visible via kubectl get pods.

The major error

CrashLoopBackOff error: This error typically indicates that the container in your pod is crashing repeatedly. There could be various reasons for this, such as misconfiguration, missing dependencies, or errors in your application code.

Solution

To solve the problems and address the questions raised regarding the frontend deployment to AKS using GitHub Actions in your kind scenarios, you will need to follow these steps:

Troubleshooting CrashLoopBackOff Error for Frontend Deployment

Step 1: Review Deployment Configuration:

Check the frontend deployment YAML file (frontend.yaml or similar) to ensure all necessary configurations are present, including correct container image name, ports, and resource requests/limits.

Step 2: Analyze Logs:

Use kubectl logs <pod_name> to inspect the logs of the frontend pod to identify any specific errors or issues causing the container to crash.

Step 3: Adjust Readiness and Liveness Probes:

Modify the readiness and liveness probe settings in the deployment YAML file to ensure they accurately reflect the health of the container. Adjust probe timeouts and thresholds if necessary.

Step 4: Check GitHub Actions Workflow:

Review the GitHub Actions workflow file responsible for frontend deployment (frontend.yml or similar) to ensure it's correctly configured, including any timeouts or limitations.

Step 5: Test Deployment:

Make incremental changes based on the identified issues and re-run the GitHub Actions workflow to deploy the frontend, monitoring for improvements and resolving any remaining errors.

Resolving Inability to Access API Gateway Endpoint

Step 1: Verify Ingress Configuration:

Double-check the Ingress configuration in your Kubernetes cluster to ensure it correctly routes traffic to the API Gateway service. Verify hostnames, paths, and backend service references.

Step 2: Test Connectivity:

Use kubectl port-forward to forward traffic from a local port to the API Gateway service and test access using curl or a web browser. This helps verify that the service is reachable within the cluster.

Step 3: Check DNS and Networking:

Ensure that external DNS resolution is correctly configured to point to the Ingress controller's external IP address. Check network policies and firewall rules to ensure traffic is allowed to reach the cluster.

Addressing Anomalies in Pod Visibility and Readiness

Step 1: Investigate Pod Creation Issues:

Review cluster events and logs to identify any errors or warnings related to pod creation. Check for resource constraints or scheduling issues that may prevent pods from starting.

Step 2: Monitor Readiness States:

Continuously monitor the readiness states of pods using kubectl get pods and kubectl describe pod <pod_name> to identify any pods stuck in a non-ready state. Address any underlying issues affecting pod readiness.

Step 3: Troubleshoot Networking:

Verify network connectivity within the cluster and ensure that pods can communicate with each other and external services. Check for any network overlays or plugins that may interfere with pod networking.

I hope this is helpful! Do not hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions, try to provide log details might be more helpful to identify error fast.

Please remember to "Accept Answer" if answer helped, so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution.

Best Regards,

Sina Salam