Unlocking HTTPS Wonders: A Step-by-Step Guide to Attaching an SSL Certificate to an ALB for Kong Ingress Controller in EKS

Are you ready to take your Kubernetes cluster to the next level by securing your application with SSL/TLS encryption? Look no further! In this article, we’ll navigate the process of attaching an SSL certificate to an Application Load Balancer (ALB) for Kong Ingress Controller in Amazon Elastic Container Service for Kubernetes (EKS). Buckle up, and let’s dive into the world of HTTPS!

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following:

• A running EKS cluster with Kong Ingress Controller installed.
• An SSL/TLS certificate issued by a trusted certificate authority (CA) or self-signed for testing purposes.
• Access to the AWS Management Console.
• Familiarity with AWS CLI or an equivalent tool.

Step 1: Create an SSL Certificate in AWS Certificate Manager (ACM)

First, we need to create an SSL certificate in AWS Certificate Manager (ACM). If you already have a certificate, skip to the next step. Otherwise, follow these steps:

1. Log in to the AWS Management Console and navigate to the ACM dashboard.
2. Click on “Import a certificate” and select “Request a certificate.”
3. Choose “Request a public certificate” and provide the required information.
4. Validate your domain ownership and wait for the certificate to be issued.

Once the certificate is issued, make a note of the certificate ARN, which will be used later.

Step 2: Create an IAM Role for the ALB

We need to create an IAM role that grants the ALB permission to assume the role and access the SSL certificate. Follow these steps:

1. Go to the IAM console and click on “Roles” on the left-hand menu.
2. Click “Create role” and select “Custom role.”
3. Choose “EC2” as the service that will use the role and attach the policy “AmazonElasticLoadBalancingServiceRolePolicy.”
4. Name the role, e.g., “alb-ssl-role” and create it.

Step 3: Create an Application Load Balancer (ALB)

Now, let’s create an ALB that will use the SSL certificate:

1. Go to the EC2 console and navigate to the “Load Balancers” tab.
2. Click “Create Load Balancer” and select “Application Load Balancer.”
3. Choose “Internet-facing” and select the VPC and Subnets for your EKS cluster.
4. Configure the security group and select the IAM role created in Step 2.
5. Name the ALB, e.g., “kong-alb” and create it.

Step 4: Attach the SSL Certificate to the ALB

It’s time to attach the SSL certificate to the ALB:

1. Go to the EC2 console and select the ALB created in Step 3.
2. Click on the “Listeners” tab and click “Add listener.”
3. Choose ” HTTPS” as the protocol and select the SSL certificate created in Step 1.
4. Configure the default action and save the listener.

Step 5: Update the Kong Ingress Controller Configuration

We need to update the Kong Ingress Controller configuration to use the ALB:

1. Connect to your EKS cluster using kubectl.
2. Update the Kong Ingress Controller configuration using the following command:

   kubectl patch ingressclass kong -p='{"spec":{"config":{"alb": {"enabled": true, "defaultCertificate": {"arn": ""}}}}}'
   

   Replace with the ARN of the SSL certificate created in Step 1.

Step 6: Test Your HTTPS Connection

Finally, let’s test our HTTPS connection:

1. Get the DNS name of the ALB using the following command:

   aws elbv2 describe-load-balancers --load-balancer-arns  --query 'LoadBalancers[0].DNSName'
   

   Replace with the ARN of the ALB created in Step 3.

2. Use a tool like curl to test the HTTPS connection:

   curl -v https://<alb-dns-name>
   

   Replace with the DNS name obtained in Step 6.1.

What to Expect	Result
HTTPS Connection Established	* SSL connection established
Certificate Verification	* certificate verified OK

Conclusion

Voilà! You’ve successfully attached an SSL certificate to an ALB for Kong Ingress Controller in EKS. Your application is now secured with HTTPS, providing an additional layer of protection for your users. Remember to monitor your SSL certificate expiration and renew it accordingly to avoid any security vulnerabilities.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter issues, check the following:

• Verify the SSL certificate ARN and ensure it’s correct.
• Check the IAM role and policies to ensure the ALB has the necessary permissions.
• Verify the Kong Ingress Controller configuration and ensure the ALB is properly referenced.
• Check the EKS cluster and Kong Ingress Controller logs for any errors or warnings.

By following this guide, you’ve taken a significant step towards securing your application with HTTPS. Keep exploring and stay ahead of the curve in the world of cloud-native security!

Happy securing!

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