> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ankra.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

> Provision, import, and operate Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) clusters with Ankra - network plugins, SKU tiers, private clusters, node pools, upgrades, GitOps, and AI-assisted operations.

[Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/kubernetes-service) is Microsoft Azure's managed Kubernetes service. Azure runs the control plane; Ankra provisions the cluster, then manages everything on top - node pools, Kubernetes upgrades, addons, stacks, GitOps, and AI-assisted operations.

This page covers AKS specifically. For the shared concepts across all managed providers - live options, discovery/import, and day-2 API patterns - see [Managed Kubernetes](/guides/managed-kubernetes).

## Why AKS with Ankra

* **Network plugin and SKU tier** - choose `azure` or `kubenet` networking and the control-plane SKU tier that fits your uptime needs.
* **Private clusters** - provision a private API endpoint when required.
* **Live pricing and options** - locations, Kubernetes versions, and VM sizes are fetched live with your service principal, including spot and autoscaling where available.

## Prerequisites

An **Azure service principal** stored in Ankra with **Contributor** on the target subscription. See [Azure Credentials](/platform/credentials/azure).

GitOps is optional: connect a repository at creation and Ankra commits the cluster's stack definitions to Git.

## Creating an AKS cluster

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Portal">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Create Cluster">
        Go to **Clusters** → **Create Cluster** and pick Azure's **Cloud Managed** action.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Credential & Location">
        Select the Azure credential and a location (for example `westeurope`). Locations load live from Azure.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Node Pools">
        Define one or more worker pools: name, VM size (with live pricing), count, labels, and autoscaling bounds.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Kubernetes & Network">
        Pick a Kubernetes version or keep the default, choose the network plugin (`azure` or `kubenet`), the SKU tier (`Free`, `Standard`, or `Premium`), and whether the cluster is private.
      </Step>

      <Step title="GitOps (optional) & Create">
        Optionally connect a Git repository, then create. Ankra runs AKS preflight checks, provisions the cluster, retrieves the kubeconfig, and installs the Ankra Agent.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI">
    ```bash theme={null}
    ankra cluster managed create \
      --provider aks \
      --name my-aks-cluster \
      --credential-id <azure-credential-id> \
      --location westeurope \
      --node-pool-name workers \
      --node-pool-size Standard_D2s_v5 \
      --node-pool-count 2
    ```

    Network plugin, SKU tier, private-cluster, resource group, and node-pool autoscaling bounds are set from the portal or the API.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="API">
    ```bash theme={null}
    curl -X POST https://platform.ankra.app/org/clusters/managed/aks \
      -H "Authorization: Bearer $ANKRA_API_TOKEN" \
      -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
      -d '{
        "name": "my-aks-cluster",
        "credential_id": "<azure-credential-id>",
        "location": "westeurope",
        "kubernetes_version": "1.32.3",
        "node_pools": [
          {
            "name": "workers",
            "size": "Standard_D2s_v5",
            "count": 2,
            "autoscaling": {"enabled": true, "min_count": 2, "max_count": 5}
          }
        ],
        "aks": {"network_plugin": "azure", "sku_tier": "Standard"}
      }'
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### AKS options

| Field                 | Description                      |
| --------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| `aks.resource_group`  | Target resource group            |
| `aks.network_plugin`  | `azure` or `kubenet`             |
| `aks.private_cluster` | Provision a private API endpoint |
| `aks.sku_tier`        | `Free`, `Standard`, or `Premium` |

<Note>
  AKS node-pool names are lowercase alphanumeric and at most 12 characters; cluster names are at most 63 characters.
</Note>

## Day-2 operations

Node pools, upgrades, and deletion work from the CLI, portal, or API. The CLI examples use `--provider aks`:

```bash theme={null}
# scale a pool to a fixed count
ankra cluster managed node-pool scale <cluster_id> workers --provider aks --count 5

# upgrade the cluster
ankra cluster managed upgrade <cluster_id> --provider aks --version 1.32.3

# delete the cluster
ankra cluster managed delete <cluster_id> --provider aks
```

Autoscaling bounds are set from the portal or the `PATCH .../node-pools/{name}` endpoint. See [Managed Kubernetes - day-2 operations](/guides/managed-kubernetes#day-2-operations) for the shared mechanics.

## Importing an existing AKS cluster

Already running AKS? Discover clusters in your subscription and adopt them into Ankra without touching them. Discovery and import run from the portal or API - see [Managed Kubernetes - importing existing clusters](/guides/managed-kubernetes#importing-existing-clusters).

## Related

* [Managed Kubernetes overview](/guides/managed-kubernetes)
* [Azure Credentials](/platform/credentials/azure)
* [Cluster settings](/platform/cluster-settings)