Minikube allows you to run a local Kubernetes cluster for learning, development, and testing. It supports Docker, containerd, VirtualBox, and other drivers — but Docker is the simplest and most stable.

This guide gives the exact working steps without errors.

✅ 1️⃣ Install Required System Dependencies

These packages ensure your system can fetch and install Minikube components.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y curl wget apt-transport-https

✅ 2️⃣ Install Docker Driver

Minikube requires a “driver” to run Kubernetes containers.

✔ Recommended Driver: Docker

sudo apt install -y docker.io
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
newgrp docker

Verify Docker:

docker --version

✅ 3️⃣ Install kubectl (Kubernetes CLI)

Although Minikube includes kubectl internally, installing it globally is better.

curl -LO "https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/$(curl -s https://storage.googleapis.com/kubernetes-release/release/stable.txt)/bin/linux/amd64/kubectl"

chmod +x kubectl
sudo mv kubectl /usr/local/bin/

Verify:

kubectl version --client

✅ 4️⃣ Download & Install Minikube

curl -LO https://storage.googleapis.com/minikube/releases/latest/minikube-linux-amd64
sudo install minikube-linux-amd64 /usr/local/bin/minikube

Check installation:

minikube version

✅ 5️⃣ Start Minikube Cluster

Using Docker driver (best & easiest):

minikube start --driver=docker

This will:

✔ Download Kubernetes
✔ Start kubelet
✔ Configure networking
✔ Bring up control-plane components

✅ 6️⃣ Verify Your Kubernetes Cluster

Check node status:

kubectl get nodes

List all pods:

kubectl get pods -A

You should see something like:

NAME       STATUS   ROLES           AGE   VERSION
minikube   Ready    control-plane   1m    v1.xx.x

✅ 7️⃣ Enable Useful Minikube Addons

Minikube includes many pre-built addons.

Example: Enable Dashboard

minikube addons enable dashboard

Enable Ingress:

minikube addons enable ingress

Enable Metrics Server:

minikube addons enable metrics-server

Open Dashboard:

minikube dashboard

✅ 8️⃣ Useful Minikube Commands (Cheat Sheet)

🎉 You Have Successfully Installed Minikube!

You now have a fully working local Kubernetes environment.