Ingress NGINX Controller

​

Coverage Matrix

​

Ingress NGINX Controller Overview

Ingress NGINX Controller provides a production-ready reverse proxy for Kubernetes Ingress resources, built on the NGINX web server. It dynamically configures routes based on Ingress objects, supporting host, path, and TLS-based routing. Platform teams rely on it to centralize external access, implement custom traffic rules, and perform SSL termination. This controller is known for high performance, flexibility through annotations, and seamless integration with Kubernetes networking. Its active community ensures timely updates and consistent feature enhancements.

​

Chkk Coverage

​

Curated Release Notes

Chkk filters official release notes to highlight only critical changes like deprecated annotations, default behavior shifts, and new configuration flags. This saves time by consolidating key operational details into a concise summary. It flags changes like stricter path validation rules or security improvements that might require advanced planning. Platform teams can quickly see which features are relevant and how they impact existing setups. By focusing on actionable insights, Chkk helps avoid risks when new versions are adopted.

​

Preflight & Postflight Checks

Preflight checks confirm that your Kubernetes version, CRDs, and Ingress configurations remain compatible with the upcoming NGINX release. Chkk identifies any deprecations or upgrades that risk causing downtime. Postflight checks verify whether the new controller is healthy and all Ingress routes function as expected. It detects misconfigurations by examining controller logs, readiness endpoints, and resource usage. This proactive approach avoids rollout failures and quickly flags any lingering issues.

​

Version Recommendations

Chkk evaluates each Ingress NGINX release against your cluster’s Kubernetes version and usage patterns. It warns when your current version is nearing or past community support, and provides guidance on stable upgrade targets. If a new version introduces security fixes or performance benefits, Chkk highlights these improvements for informed decision-making. It also accounts for real-world feedback on known bugs or regressions. By monitoring EOL dates and new features, Chkk ensures you’re on a safe, reliable version.

​

Upgrade Templates

Chkk publishes step-by-step procedures for both in-place and blue-green upgrades of the controller. In-place upgrades guide you through a safe rolling update, while blue-green approaches spin up a parallel controller revision for canary testing. These templates include clear rollback steps and recommended monitoring checkpoints. They align with community best practices to minimize disruption. By systematically walking through each stage, platform teams reduce the chance of downtime.

​

Preverification

Preverification simulates the entire Ingress NGINX upgrade in a dedicated test environment mirroring production. It evaluates whether older Ingress rules, annotations, or resource constraints clash with the new release. Chkk exposes any issues—like invalid config or broken CRDs—before traffic is impacted. This rehearsal approach gives teams the confidence to fix problems early. It’s particularly valuable when introducing major changes or toggling advanced NGINX features.

​

Supported Packages

Chkk recognizes Ingress NGINX whether deployed via Helm charts, Kustomize overlays, or plain YAML. It aligns checks and upgrades with your specific packaging method, ensuring minimal friction. Custom images or private registries are fully supported, including specialized vendor builds. Chkk also tracks Helm chart versions to verify compatibility with corresponding controller releases. This broad support lets platform teams maintain their preferred deployment strategy without losing coverage.

​

Common Operational Considerations

• Performance and Scalability: Tune worker processes, keepalive settings, and concurrency limits for high-traffic environments. Scale horizontally with multiple controller replicas and ensure node-level resources support peak throughput.
• Security and TLS Configuration: Enforce strong TLS ciphers and upgrade regularly for security fixes. Integrate with cert-manager or external certificate automation to eliminate expired cert risks.
• Advanced Routing and Configuration: Use separate IngressClasses for distinct traffic patterns, and carefully handle regex paths and rewrites. Combine custom annotations, ConfigMap overrides, or carefully managed snippets for specialized NGINX settings.
• Monitoring and Troubleshooting: Scrape ingress-nginx metrics for real-time insights and set up meaningful alerts. Consult logs for 4xx/5xx error patterns, keep track of pod restarts, and ensure readiness/liveness endpoints are functioning.
• Multiple Ingress Controllers or Canary Testing: Split public vs. private traffic across separate controllers for tighter security boundaries. Leverage canary deployments to test new versions or features on a subset of routes before a full rollout.

​

Additional Resources

• Ingress NGINX Controller Documentation
• Ingress NGINX Releases