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certctl/docs/reference/connectors/k8s.md
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shankar0123 ecb8896b1c docs: cleanup pre-existing broken links in connector pages
Phase 4 structural (commit 633e440) moved 6 connector files into the
new docs/reference/connectors/ subdirectory but didn't update all
inter-doc references for the new path layout. Phase 11 caught the
high-traffic ones; this sweep gets the rest, found by the Phase 4
follow-on verification pass.

Mappings applied (relative to docs/reference/connectors/):

  deployment-atomicity.md     → ../deployment-model.md
  deployment-vendor-matrix.md → ../vendor-matrix.md
  architecture.md             → ../architecture.md
  est.md                      → ../protocols/est.md
  scep-intune.md              → ../protocols/scep-intune.md
  async-polling.md            → ../protocols/async-ca-polling.md
  quickstart.md               → ../../getting-started/quickstart.md
  demo-advanced.md            → ../../getting-started/advanced-demo.md
  legacy-est-scep.md          → ../protocols/scep-server.md
  connectors.md               → index.md

Plus prose backtick references (`docs/architecture.md` etc.) updated
to the new subdirectory paths.

Files touched: apache, f5, iis, k8s, nginx, index. 33 line changes.
Full link-check across docs/reference/connectors/*.md is now clean
(0 broken inter-doc references).
2026-05-05 04:10:09 +00:00

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Markdown

# Kubernetes Secrets Connector — Operator Deep-Dive
> Last reviewed: 2026-05-05
>
> Per Phase 14 of the deploy-hardening II master bundle. For the
> connector-development context (interface contract, registry, atomic
> deploy primitive shared across all targets), see the
> [connector index](index.md).
## Overview
The K8s connector (`internal/connector/target/k8ssecret/`) deploys
TLS certs into `kubernetes.io/tls` Secrets. Atomic at the API
server level (Update is transactional); the post-deploy verify
SHA-256-compares the returned Secret data against deployed bytes
(defends against admission webhooks that modify cert data).
## Vendor versions tested
- **Kubernetes 1.28 LTS**
- **Kubernetes 1.30**
- **Kubernetes 1.31** (current stable)
## Per-quirk operator guidance
### Kubelet sync wait contract
`TestVendorEdge_K8s_KubeletSyncWaitContract_DefaultTimeout60s_E2E`
After Secret update, kubelet projects new cert bytes into
pod-mounted volumes. Default sync interval ~60s. The connector
waits up to `CERTCTL_K8S_DEPLOY_KUBELET_SYNC_TIMEOUT` (default
60s).
**Operator action:** for slow clusters (large pod count, slow
node DNS), tune the env var upward. For fast clusters, the
default is fine.
### Admission webhook mutation
`TestVendorEdge_K8s_AdmissionWebhookModifiesSecretData_DeployDetectsViaSHA256Compare_E2E`
Some admission webhooks (Vault Agent Injector, OPA Gatekeeper)
mutate Secret data on Update. The connector pulls the Secret
back after Update and SHA-256-compares against deployed bytes.
Mismatch surfaces as deploy failure.
### Multi-version API stability
`TestVendorEdge_K8s_K8s128LTS_vs_130_vs_131_SecretAPIContractStable_E2E`
`kubernetes.io/tls` Secret schema (data.tls.crt + data.tls.key)
is stable across 1.28-1.31. No per-version branch needed.
### Typed vs Opaque Secret
`TestVendorEdge_K8s_TypedKubernetesIOTLSVsUntypedOpaque_DeployRespectsType_E2E`
Connector preserves operator-supplied Secret type. Typed
`kubernetes.io/tls` is the canonical form; untyped `Opaque` is
preserved for operators with legacy automation that expects it.
### Cert-manager interop
`TestVendorEdge_K8s_CertManagerInterop_RawSecretVsCertificateCRD_E2E`
Connector targets raw Secrets, NOT cert-manager `Certificate` CRs.
Operators using cert-manager should NOT also point certctl at the
same Secret name (cert-manager will overwrite). Documented
coexistence: certctl handles non-cert-manager Secrets;
cert-manager handles its own.
### Multi-namespace
`TestVendorEdge_K8s_MultiNamespaceDeploy_DeployUpdatesCorrectNamespace_E2E`
Connector targets the configured `Namespace` only. Cross-namespace
deploys require multiple connector entries.
### RBAC errors
`TestVendorEdge_K8s_RBACInsufficientPermissions_DeployFailsWithActionableError_E2E`
Connector surfaces the K8s API's `forbidden: secrets is restricted`
error verbatim. Operator action: bind a Role with
`secrets: get,update,create` verbs to the agent's ServiceAccount.
### Labels + annotations preservation
`TestVendorEdge_K8s_LabelsAnnotationsPreserved_E2E`
Connector merges (not replaces) operator-supplied metadata. Custom
labels/annotations on the Secret survive cert rotation.
### Pod-mounted Secret rollover
`TestVendorEdge_K8s_PodMountedSecretRollover_E2E`
When a pod mounts the Secret as a volume, kubelet projects new
cert bytes into the pod's filesystem after sync. Pods watching
the file (via inotify or polling) pick up the new cert without
restart.
### Immutable Secret flag
`TestVendorEdge_K8s_ImmutableSecretFlag_E2E`
K8s Secrets can be marked `immutable: true` for performance.
Update fails with actionable error; operator must drop the flag,
update, then re-apply if desired.
## V3-Pro deferrals
- cert-manager `Certificate` CR interop as first-class deploy
target (V3-Pro: certctl as cert-manager external issuer).
- Multi-cluster federation (deploy a single cert across N
clusters with single connector entry).
## Related docs
- [Atomic deploy + post-verify + rollback](../deployment-model.md)
- [Vendor compatibility matrix](../vendor-matrix.md)