DEMO Install Image Automation Controller

In this guide, you’ll upgrade an existing Flux CD installation to include both the Image Reflector Controller and the Image Automation Controller. By the end, you’ll verify new deployments, CRDs, and see the updated Git manifests.

1. Verify Existing Flux Controllers

Ensure you’re working in the flux-system namespace and list deployed controllers:

kubectl -n flux-system get deployment

Expected output:

NAME                    READY   UP-TO-DATE   AVAILABLE   AGE
helm-controller         1/1     1            1           18h
kustomize-controller    1/1     1            1           18h
notification-controller 1/1     1            1           18h
source-controller       1/1     1            1           18h

No image controllers appear yet. You’ll add them in Step 3.

2. List All Flux Sources

Check which source types are defined in your cluster:

flux get sources all

Sample output:

NAME                                           SUSPENDED  READY  MESSAGE
ocirepository/7-demo-source-oci-bb-app         False      True   stored artifact
bucket/4-demo-source-minio-s3-bucket-bb-app    False      False  bucket not found
gitrepository/2-demo-source-git-bb-app         False      True   stored artifact
gitrepository/3-demo-source-git-bb-app         False      True   stored artifact
gitrepository/5-demo-source-git-helm-bb-app    False      True   stored artifact
gitrepository/flux-system                      False      True   stored artifact
gitrepository/infra-source-git                 False      True   stored artifact
helmrepository/6-demo-source-helm-bb-app       False      True   stored artifact

This confirms you have all standard source types: Git, Helm, OCI, and Bucket.

3. Upgrade Flux to Include Image Controllers

Re-run the Flux bootstrap command with the --components-extra flag:

flux bootstrap github \
  --owner=sidd-harth-2 \
  --repository=block-buster \
  --path=flux-clusters/dev-cluster \
  --personal=true \
  --private=false \
  --components-extra="image-reflector-controller,image-automation-controller"

When prompted, paste your GitHub Personal Access Token.
Never share your token publicly or commit it to Git.

Flux will detect existing components and automatically upgrade to add the image controllers.

4. Confirm New Deployments and CRDs

4.1 Check Pods & Deployments

kubectl -n flux-system get pod,deploy

Expected snippet:

pod/image-automation-controller-xxxxx    1/1   Running   0   30s
pod/image-reflector-controller-xxxxx     1/1   Running   0   30s
...
deployment.apps/image-automation-controller  1/1  1  1  30s
deployment.apps/image-reflector-controller  1/1  1  1  30s

4.2 List Image CRDs

kubectl get crds | grep image

imagepolicies.image.toolkit.fluxcd.io
imagerepositories.image.toolkit.fluxcd.io
imageupdateautomations.images.toolkit.fluxcd.io

CRD	Description
imagepolicies.image.toolkit.fluxcd.io	Define rules for selecting new images
imagerepositories.image.toolkit.fluxcd.io	Specify external container registries
imageupdateautomations.images.toolkit.fluxcd.io	Automate updates based on policies

5. Review the Updated Flux Component Manifest

Open the generated manifest at flux-clusters/dev-cluster/flux-components.yaml and confirm the new controllers are included:

# This manifest was generated by flux. DO NOT EDIT.
# Flux Version: v0.41.2
# Components: source-controller,kustomize-controller,helm-controller,notification-controller,image-reflector-controller,image-automation-controller
apiVersion: v1
kind: Namespace
metadata:
  name: flux-system
  labels:
    app.kubernetes.io/instance: flux-system
    app.kubernetes.io/part-of: flux
    app.kubernetes.io/version: v0.41.2
...

6. Sync & Review Git Changes

Pull the latest commits to see the diff:

git pull

Sample output:

Updating 9b16147..03b28c3
Fast-forward
 flux-clusters/dev-cluster/flux-components.yaml       | 1389 +++++...
 flux-clusters/dev-cluster/flux-system/gotk-sync.yaml |    4 +-
 2 files changed, 1390 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

Great work! You’ve successfully upgraded Flux with the Image Reflector and Image Automation Controllers.

GitOps Overview

Flux Overview

Source and Kustomize Controller

Helm Controller and OCI Registry

Image Automation Controller

Secret Management & Sign Verification

Notification Controller

Monitoring & User Interface

DEMO Install Image Automation Controller

1. Verify Existing Flux Controllers

2. List All Flux Sources

3. Upgrade Flux to Include Image Controllers

4. Confirm New Deployments and CRDs

4.1 Check Pods & Deployments

4.2 List Image CRDs

5. Review the Updated Flux Component Manifest

6. Sync & Review Git Changes

Links and References

Watch Video

​1. Verify Existing Flux Controllers

​2. List All Flux Sources

​3. Upgrade Flux to Include Image Controllers

​4. Confirm New Deployments and CRDs

​4.1 Check Pods & Deployments

​4.2 List Image CRDs

​5. Review the Updated Flux Component Manifest

​6. Sync & Review Git Changes

​Links and References

Watch Video

1. Verify Existing Flux Controllers

2. List All Flux Sources

3. Upgrade Flux to Include Image Controllers

4. Confirm New Deployments and CRDs

4.1 Check Pods & Deployments

4.2 List Image CRDs

5. Review the Updated Flux Component Manifest

6. Sync & Review Git Changes

Links and References