ArgoCD on QBO - Future-Proofing CI/CD with QBO & ArgoCD

In today’s rapidly evolving cloud-native landscape, flexibility and scalability are non-negotiable. ArgoCD, a declarative GitOps continuous delivery tool, is a game-changer for Kubernetes. But when combined with QBO, an innovative Kubernetes platform that bridges the gap between on-prem, private, and public cloud environments—including air-gapped deployments—it becomes a powerhouse for modern CI/CD workflows.

In this demo, we’ll explore how QBO enhances ArgoCD by providing multi-architecture support (arm64 & amd64), seamless portability, and optimized performance on bare-metal infrastructures. Let’s dive in!

Why QBO and ArgoCD Make a Perfect Match

Deploying applications consistently across different infrastructures is a challenge. Whether you’re running on-prem, in a private cloud, a public cloud, or an air-gapped environment, QBO ensures that ArgoCD operates flawlessly. Here’s why QBO stands out:

  • Effortless Cluster Management: QBO simplifies the Kubernetes lifecycle, making it easy to create, manage, and scale clusters.
  • True Portability: Deploy anywhere—on-prem, in private and public clouds, or air-gapped environments—without reconfiguration headaches.
  • Optimized Performance for Metal: With bare-metal optimizations, QBO delivers maximum efficiency with minimal overhead.
  • Multi-Architecture Support: Native support for both arm64 and amd64, ensuring flexibility across hardware platforms.
  • Seamless CI/CD Integration: QBO enhances ArgoCD by offering automated, secure, and scalable deployments.

Now, let’s walk through a hands-on demo of ArgoCD on QBO to unlock these benefits.

Hands-On: Deploying ArgoCD on QBO

Step 1: Verify Your QBO Version

qbo version | jq .version[]?

Step 2: Create a Kubernetes Cluster on QBO

qbo add cluster $(basename "$PWD") -i hub.docker.com/kindest/node:v1.32.0 | jq

Step 3: Fetch Cluster Nodes

qbo get nodes $(basename "$PWD") | jq .nodes[]?

Step 4: Configure Kubernetes Context

qbo get cluster $(basename "$PWD") -k | jq -r '.output[]?.kubeconfig | select( . != null)' > $HOME/.qbo/$(basename "$PWD").conf
export KUBECONFIG=$HOME/.qbo/$(basename "$PWD").conf

Step 5: Verify Kubernetes Nodes

kubectl get nodes

Step 6: Deploy ArgoCD

kubectl create namespace argocd
kubectl apply -n argocd -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/argoproj/argo-cd/stable/manifests/install.yaml

Step 7: Expose ArgoCD via LoadBalancer

kubectl patch svc argocd-server -n argocd -p '{"spec": {"type": "LoadBalancer"}}'

Step 8: Install the ArgoCD CLI

cd ~
curl -sSL -o argocd-linux-$(uname -m) https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/latest/download/argocd-linux-$(uname -m)
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
sudo install -m 555 argocd-linux-$(uname -m) ~/.local/bin/argocd
export PATH="~/.local/bin:$PATH"

Step 9: Retrieve ArgoCD Credentials

ARGOCD_PASSWORD=$(kubectl get secret -n argocd argocd-initial-admin-secret -o jsonpath="{.data.password}" | base64 --decode)

Step 10: Log in to ArgoCD

LB=$(kubectl get svc argocd-server -n argocd --ignore-not-found -o json | jq -r '.spec.externalIPs[0] | select ( . != null)')
argocd login $LB --username admin --password $ARGOCD_PASSWORD --insecure
Screenshot From 2025-01-29 16-41-39.png

Step 11: Register Your Kubernetes Cluster with ArgoCD

CONTEXT=$(kubectl config get-contexts -o name)
argocd cluster add $CONTEXT

Step 12: Deploy an Example Application

argocd app create guestbook --repo https://github.com/argoproj/argocd-example-apps.git --path guestbook --dest-server https://kubernetes.default.svc --dest-namespace default
argocd app sync guestbook

Step 13: Expose the Guestbook UI

kubectl patch svc guestbook-ui -n default -p '{"spec": {"type": "LoadBalancer"}}'
LB=$(kubectl get svc guestbook-ui -n default --ignore-not-found -o json | jq -r '.spec.externalIPs[0] | select ( . != null)')

Step 14: Access Your Deployed Application

printf "\033[1m%-8s\033[0m %-22s\n" "URL" "http://$LB"
Screenshot From 2025-01-29 16-44-00.png

Final Notes

Deploying ArgoCD on QBO is a game-changer for organizations looking for scalability, security, and true multi-platform portability. Whether you’re operating on-prem, in hybrid clouds, air-gapped environments, or on metal-optimized systems, QBO ensures that your GitOps workflows remain consistent and efficient.

With native support for arm64 and amd64 architectures, seamless CI/CD integration, and performance optimizations tailored for bare-metal deployments, QBO is an ideal platform for ArgoCD-based continuous delivery. It removes infrastructure complexity so developers can focus on innovation.

Ready to take your deployments to the next level? Start leveraging QBO and ArgoCD today for a future-proof Kubernetes experience!