Install Lens on Windows 11 and Connect to a Self-Managed kubeadm Kubernetes Cluster (HA API + Traefik)

Lens is a desktop Kubernetes IDE that connects directly to the Kubernetes API server. The key to a stable setup is importing a kubeconfig that points to a high-availability API endpoint (VIP / HAProxy / load balancer), not a single control-plane node IP.

This post is based on the following posts:

What you’ll do

• Verify Windows can reach the Kubernetes API endpoint
• Install Lens on Windows 11
• Import kubeconfig into Lens using Copy/Paste

Lab Context (Bare Metal)

• Nodes:
  • k8s-1.maksonlee.com → 192.168.0.99
  • k8s-2.maksonlee.com → 192.168.0.100
  • k8s-3.maksonlee.com → 192.168.0.101
• Kubernetes: kubeadm (v1.34.x)
• API VIP (kube-vip):
  • k8s.maksonlee.com → 192.168.0.97:6443
• Ingress (Traefik via MetalLB):
  • 192.168.0.98 (not used by Lens)

Prerequisites (Windows 11)

DNS + network reachability to the API VIP

From Windows PowerShell:

Resolve-DnsName k8s.maksonlee.com
Test-NetConnection k8s.maksonlee.com -Port 6443

Both must work.

1. Install Lens on Windows 11

• Download the Lens Windows installer (for example, Lens Setup 2025.12.101934-latest.exe) from the official Lens download page.
• Run the installer.
• Launch Lens.

2. Import kubeconfig via Copy/Paste

Lens supports importing kubeconfigs via UI:

• Kubernetes Clusters → Local Kubeconfigs → Add kubeconfigs → Paste

This avoids copying files from Linux to Windows.

Important: kubeconfig must use the kube-vip VIP

The kubeconfig should contain:

server: https://k8s.maksonlee.com:6443

If it points to a single control-plane node IP (for example https://192.168.0.99:6443), Lens will break when that node is down.

Lens UI Screenshots

Cluster Overview:

Cluster Nodes: