The Ultimate Guide to Installing Kong Gateway on Docker, Kubernetes, and Linux

What is Kong Gateway ? Kong Gateway is a robust, scalable API Gateway and Microservices Management Layer designed to simplify the process of managing APIs. It provides features such as load balancing, traffic control, monitoring, and security—all in one place. With its flexible deployment options, Kong can be installed on a range of platforms, including Docker, Kubernetes, and various Linux distributions. Why Use Kong Gateway ? Kong is favored for its: Scalability: With support for Kubernetes and Docker, Kong can handle high traffic loads. High Availability: Its clustering feature ensures your API Gateway remains operational even during heavy traffic or node failures. Security: Kong provides features like rate-limiting, authentication, and access control to keep your APIs secure. Performance: Designed for microservices architecture, Kong is built for speed, allowing efficient API traffic routing. Kong Gateway Installation on Docker Prerequisites Before you begin the installation, ensure that you have: Docker installed on your system. A basic understanding of Docker and containers. Step-by-Step Installation Guide To install Kong Gateway on Docker, follow these steps: 1. Pull the Kong Image First, you need to pull the official Kong Gateway image from Docker Hub: docker pull kong/kong-gateway:latest 2. Run Kong Container Now, run the Kong Gateway container. The following command will run Kong in detached mode, bind it to a host port, and set an environment variable for the database: docker run -d --name kong \ -e "KONG_DATABASE=off" \ -e "KONG_DECLARATIVE_CONFIG=/kong/kong.yml" \ -e "KONG_PROXY_ACCESS_LOG=/dev/stdout" \ -e "KONG_ADMIN_ACCESS_LOG=/dev/stdout" \ -e "KONG_ADMIN_ERROR_LOG=/dev/stderr" \ -e "KONG_PORT_MAPS=8000:8000" \ -e "KONG_PORT=8000" \ -v /path/to/your/kong.yml:/kong/kong.yml \ -p 8000:8000 \ kong/kong-gateway:latest 3. Check Kong Gateway After the container is running, you can check Kong’s status by sending a request to its Admin API: curl -i http://localhost:8001 Verifying the Installation To ensure that Kong Gateway is running correctly, you can check the logs: docker logs kong If everything is working, you should see Kong logs indicating it’s up and running. Kong Gateway Installation on Kubernetes Prerequisites Before installing Kong on Kubernetes, ensure the following: A Kubernetes cluster (using Minikube, GKE, or any other provider). kubectl command-line tool configured to communicate with your Kubernetes cluster. Step-by-Step Installation Guide Kong can be installed in Kubernetes using Helm, a package manager for Kubernetes. 1. Install Helm If you don’t have Helm installed, use the following command: curl https://get.helm.sh/helm-v3.7.1-linux-amd64.tar.gz -o helm-v3.7.1-linux-amd64.tar.gz tar -xvzf helm-v3.7.1-linux-amd64.tar.gz sudo mv linux-amd64/helm /usr/local/bin/helm 2. Add Kong’s Helm Repository Add the official Kong Helm repository: helm repo add kong https://charts.konghq.com helm repo update 3. Install Kong Gateway Use Helm to install Kong into your Kubernetes cluster: helm install kong kong/kong-gateway --set ingressController.enabled=true 4. Verify Installation After installation, check if Kong pods are running with: kubectl get pods -n kong This command will list the pods, and you should see kong-ingress-controller running. Verifying the Installation Test the Kong Gateway by making a request to the Kong proxy: _curl -i http://:8000_ If you see a response, then Kong is successfully deployed on Kubernetes. Kong Gateway Installation on Linux Now, let’s look at how to install Kong Gateway on different Linux distri__butions. Installing on Debian 1. Add Kong Repository Add the Kong APT repository to your system: curl -fsSL https://konghq.com/install-deb | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kong.list 2. Install Kong Install Kong with the following command: sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install kong 3. Verify Installation Check Kong’s version: kong version Installing on Ubuntu The installation process for Ubuntu is the same as Debian, since Ubuntu is based on Debian. 1. Add Kong Repository Add the Kong APT repository: curl -fsSL https://konghq.com/install-deb | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kong.list 2. Install Kong Install Kong with: sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install kong 3. Verify Installation Confirm the installation by checking Kong’s version: kong version Installing on RedHat 1. Add Kong Repository Add the Kong repository for RedHat: sudo curl -fsSL https://konghq.com/install-rpm | sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/kong.repo 2. Install Kong Install Kong using YUM: sudo yum install kong 3. Verify Installation Verify that Kong is installed by checking its version: kong version Installing on Amazon Linux 2 1. Add Kong Repository Add the Kong repository for Amazon Linux 2: sudo curl -fsSL https://konghq.com/install-rpm | sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/kong.repo 2.

Apr 26, 2025 - 14:20

The Ultimate Guide to Installing Kong Gateway on Docker, Kubernetes, and Linux

What is Kong Gateway ?

Kong Gateway is a robust, scalable API Gateway and Microservices Management Layer designed to simplify the process of managing APIs. It provides features such as load balancing, traffic control, monitoring, and security—all in one place. With its flexible deployment options, Kong can be installed on a range of platforms, including Docker, Kubernetes, and various Linux distributions.

Why Use Kong Gateway ?

Kong is favored for its:

Scalability: With support for Kubernetes and Docker, Kong can handle high traffic loads.
High Availability: Its clustering feature ensures your API Gateway remains operational even during heavy traffic or node failures.
Security: Kong provides features like rate-limiting, authentication, and access control to keep your APIs secure.
Performance: Designed for microservices architecture, Kong is built for speed, allowing efficient API traffic routing.

Kong Gateway Installation on Docker

Prerequisites

Before you begin the installation, ensure that you have:

Docker installed on your system.
A basic understanding of Docker and containers.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

To install Kong Gateway on Docker, follow these steps:

1. Pull the Kong Image

First, you need to pull the official Kong Gateway image from Docker Hub:

docker pull kong/kong-gateway:latest

2. Run Kong Container

Now, run the Kong Gateway container. The following command will run Kong in detached mode, bind it to a host port, and set an environment variable for the database:

docker run -d --name kong \ -e "KONG_DATABASE=off" \ -e "KONG_DECLARATIVE_CONFIG=/kong/kong.yml" \ -e "KONG_PROXY_ACCESS_LOG=/dev/stdout" \ -e "KONG_ADMIN_ACCESS_LOG=/dev/stdout" \ -e "KONG_ADMIN_ERROR_LOG=/dev/stderr" \ -e "KONG_PORT_MAPS=8000:8000" \ -e "KONG_PORT=8000" \ -v /path/to/your/kong.yml:/kong/kong.yml \ -p 8000:8000 \ kong/kong-gateway:latest

3. Check Kong Gateway

After the container is running, you can check Kong’s status by sending a request to its Admin API:

curl -i http://localhost:8001

Verifying the Installation

To ensure that Kong Gateway is running correctly, you can check the logs:

docker logs kong

If everything is working, you should see Kong logs indicating it’s up and running.

Kong Gateway Installation on Kubernetes

Prerequisites

Before installing Kong on Kubernetes, ensure the following:

A Kubernetes cluster (using Minikube, GKE, or any other provider).
kubectl command-line tool configured to communicate with your Kubernetes cluster.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Kong can be installed in Kubernetes using Helm, a package manager for Kubernetes.

1. Install Helm

If you don’t have Helm installed, use the following command:

curl https://get.helm.sh/helm-v3.7.1-linux-amd64.tar.gz -o helm-v3.7.1-linux-amd64.tar.gz tar -xvzf helm-v3.7.1-linux-amd64.tar.gz sudo mv linux-amd64/helm /usr/local/bin/helm

2. Add Kong’s Helm Repository

Add the official Kong Helm repository:

helm repo add kong https://charts.konghq.com helm repo update

3. Install Kong Gateway

Use Helm to install Kong into your Kubernetes cluster:

helm install kong kong/kong-gateway --set ingressController.enabled=true

4. Verify Installation

After installation, check if Kong pods are running with:

kubectl get pods -n kong

This command will list the pods, and you should see kong-ingress-controller running.

Verifying the Installation

Test the Kong Gateway by making a request to the Kong proxy:

_curl -i http://:8000_

If you see a response, then Kong is successfully deployed on Kubernetes.

Kong Gateway Installation on Linux

Now, let’s look at how to install Kong Gateway on different Linux distri__butions.

Installing on Debian

1. Add Kong Repository

Add the Kong APT repository to your system:

curl -fsSL https://konghq.com/install-deb | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kong.list

2. Install Kong

Install Kong with the following command:

sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install kong

3. Verify Installation

Check Kong’s version:

kong version

Installing on Ubuntu

The installation process for Ubuntu is the same as Debian, since Ubuntu is based on Debian.

1. Add Kong Repository

Add the Kong APT repository:

curl -fsSL https://konghq.com/install-deb | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kong.list

2. Install Kong

Install Kong with:

sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install kong

3. Verify Installation

Confirm the installation by checking Kong’s version:

kong version

Installing on RedHat

1. Add Kong Repository

Add the Kong repository for RedHat:

sudo curl -fsSL https://konghq.com/install-rpm | sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/kong.repo

2. Install Kong

Install Kong using YUM:

sudo yum install kong

3. Verify Installation

Verify that Kong is installed by checking its version:

kong version

Installing on Amazon Linux 2

1. Add Kong Repository

Add the Kong repository for Amazon Linux 2:

sudo curl -fsSL https://konghq.com/install-rpm | sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/kong.repo

2. Install Kong

Install Kong using YUM:

sudo yum install kong

3. Verify Installation

Confirm Kong is installed:

kong version

Verifying the Installation

For any Linux distribution, after installation, verify the Kong service is running by checking its status:

sudo systemctl status kong

Conclusion

Kong Gateway provides powerful API management capabilities, whether you're deploying on Docker, Kubernetes, or Linux. With just a few simple steps, you can install Kong on any of these platforms and start using its features for managing your microservices and APIs.

This guide covers the installation for each of the popular platforms, and you can always refer to the official documentation for further customization and configuration.

For more detailed information and advanced configurations, visit the official Kong Gateway Installation Documentation.

Ready to get started with Kong Gateway? Happy installing!