The connection to the server localhost:8080 was refused – did you specify the right host or port?

In this blog post, we’ll tackle a common problem that many face when using the kubectl get command in Kubernetes. It’s the error message that goes, “The connection to the server localhost:8080 was refused.” We’ll explore why this happens and how to solve it.

Have you ever encountered this error message while working with kubectl in Kubernetes?

$ kubectl get nodes

The connection to the server localhost:8080 was refused - did you specify the right host or  port?

Don’t worry; you’re not alone. This error is quite common and can be frustrating. It usually occurs when Kubernetes doesn’t have the right permissions to access your cluster.

The good news is that fixing this problem is relatively simple. In most cases, all it takes is moving the config file inside the kube folder. We’ll guide you through the steps to get your Kubernetes tasks back on track.

Check out: How To Setup A Three Node Kubernetes Cluster For CKA: Step By Step

Background of Error

The Kubernetes command-line tool, kubectl, allows you to run commands against Kubernetes clusters. You can use kubectl to deploy applications, inspect and manage cluster resources, and view logs. Kubectl commands are used to interact with and manage Kubernetes objects and the cluster. If kubectl does not have the correct credentials to access the cluster, this issue may be encountered.

Issue Encountered – Kubectl the connection to the server localhost:8080 was refused – did you specify the right host or port?

When you run a kubectl or a similar command in Kubernetes, you may encounter an error message like this: The connection to the server localhost:8080 was refused – did you specify the correct host or port?

Cause of Error

1.This problem can arise when you haven’t set the KUBECONFIG environment variable.

2. The .kube/config file is not present, or the appropriate user is not set up to use kubectl.

export KUBECONFIG=/etc/kubernetes/admin.conf 

(or)

export KUBECONFIG= $HOME/.kube/config

mkdir -p $HOME/.kube
sudo cp -i /etc/kubernetes/admin.conf $HOME/.kube/config
sudo chown $(id -u):$(id -g) $HOME/.kube/config

export KUBECONFIG=/etc/kubernetes/admin.conf

echo 'export KUBECONFIG=/etc/kubernetes/admin.conf' >> $HOME/.bashrc