# Overview

[Google's Kubernetes Engine (GKE)](https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine) is a fully managed Kubernetes service provided by [Google Cloud](https://cloud.google.com/).

Users can use the controller to **provision** and **operate** GKE clusters on GCP.

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## GKE Lifecycle Management [¶](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/overview/#gke-lifecycle-management "Permanent link")

Users can leverage the controller's native integration with GCP to

- Provision and manage the lifecycle of GKE Clusters in all supported GCP regions.
- Create and maintain version controlled, declarative cluster specifications in their Git Repositories
- Use declarative, cluster specifications to provision GKE clusters in minutes with a high level of automation.

Did you know ?

GKE Cluster Lifecycle can be managed through various methods:

- [UI](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/provisioning/)
- [CLI](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/cli/)
- [GitOps](https://docs.rafay.co/gitops/stages/system_sync/)
- [API](https://docs.rafay.co/automation/api/apis/)
- [Terraform](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/RafaySystems/rafay/latest/docs/resources/gke_cluster)

## Automation Options [¶](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/overview/#automation-options "Permanent link")

The below matrix presents a breakdown of actions like creation, updating, deletion, publish/unpublish Kubernetes Namespaces across multiple deployment methods: Interactive UI, Declarative RCTL commands, API-driven automation, and Terraform.

| Resources   | Deployment Type | Create                                                          | Upgrade/Scale                                               | Delete                                                           |
|-------------|------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Cluster     | UI               | [Yes](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/provisioning/#create-cluster) | [Yes](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/upgrade/#upgrade-steps) | [Yes](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/deprovision/)         |
|             | CLI              | [Yes](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/cli/#create-cluster-via-rctl) | [Yes](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/cli/#create-cluster-via-rctl) | [Yes](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/cli/#delete-cluster)   |
|             | API Automation    | No                                                              | No                                                           | No                                                               |
|             | Terraform        | No                                                              | No                                                           | No                                                               |
|             | GitOps           | [Yes](https://docs.rafay.co/gitops/stages/system_sync/)        | [Yes](https://docs.rafay.co/gitops/stages/system_sync/)      | [Yes](https://docs.rafay.co/gitops/stages/system_sync/)        |
| Node pool   | UI               | [Yes](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/scale/#add-node-pool) | [Yes](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/day-2-ops/)       | [Yes](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/scale/#remove-node-pool) |
|             | CLI              | [Yes](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/cli/#node-pool-management) | [Yes](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/cli/#node-pool-management) | [Yes](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/cli/#node-pool-management) |
|             | API Automation    | No                                                              | No                                                           | No                                                               |
|             | Terraform        | No                                                              | No                                                           | No                                                               |

Important

Users that use an alternate approach for GKE cluster provisioning such as Terraform etc can **import** these clusters for visibility, monitoring and workload operations.

## Getting Started [¶](https://docs.rafay.co/clusters/gke/overview/#getting-started "Permanent link")

We have quick start exercise to explore the platform's capabilities for "Lifecycle Management" of GKE Cluster.

[Step by Step Guide](https://docs.rafay.co/learn/quickstart/gke/clusterlifecycle/overview/)