I want to build a small Kubernetes cluster to experiment with workflows and different use cases, but I need infrastructure that is free or very inexpensive. I tried using Oracle Cloud's always-free ARM resources, which advertise up to 24 GB of RAM and 8 vCPUs, but I repeatedly receive "out of capacity" errors. I'm located in France, where only one availability domain seems to be available. Are there any reliable alternatives, or ways to improve my chances of getting those resources?
2 Answers
You don’t necessarily need a large cluster to learn Kubernetes. A local setup using lightweight VMs or tools such as k3s, kind, or Minikube can run on an existing computer. If you need more nodes, several inexpensive used mini PCs are usually easier to find than free cloud instances. Cloud resources can be useful, but they aren’t always the most practical definition of a home lab.
One thing worth checking with Oracle Cloud is whether the account has been upgraded to pay-as-you-go with a payment card attached, rather than remaining on an initial free-trial subscription. The resources can still stay within the always-free limits, but upgraded accounts may have fewer capacity restrictions. Set a very low budget alert so you’ll know immediately if something accidentally exceeds the free allowance. That said, capacity can still be difficult in regions with only one availability domain.
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