POC Troubleshooting

Common Issues and Solutions

Deployment Issues

Cluster Creation Fails

Problem: Terraform fails to create cluster

Solutions:

1. Check quotas:

   gcloud compute project-info describe --project=$PROJECT_ID

2. Verify APIs enabled:

   gcloud services enable container.googleapis.com compute.googleapis.com

3. Check permissions:

   gcloud projects get-iam-policy $PROJECT_ID

Cluster Takes Too Long

Problem: Cluster creation exceeds expected time

Solutions:

• This is normal (5-10 minutes)
• Use smaller cluster (1 node, e2-small)
• Consider using Kind for local POC

Application Issues

Argo Workflows Not Starting

Problem: Argo Workflows pods not running

Solutions:

1. Check pod status:

   kubectl get pods -n argo
   kubectl describe pod <pod-name> -n argo

2. Check logs:

   kubectl logs <pod-name> -n argo

3. Verify Helm installation:

   helm list -n argo
   helm status argo-workflows -n argo

Workflows Fail to Execute

Problem: Workflows submit but don't run

Solutions:

1. Check workflow status:

   kubectl get workflows -n argo
   kubectl describe workflow <workflow-name> -n argo

2. Check node resources:

   kubectl top nodes
   kubectl describe node <node-name>

3. Check image pull:

   kubectl describe pod <workflow-pod> -n argo | grep -i image

Demo Issues

UI Not Accessible

Problem: Can't access Argo Workflows UI

Solutions:

1. Check service:

   kubectl get svc -n argo

2. Port forward:

   kubectl port-forward -n argo svc/argo-workflows-server 2746:2746

3. Check firewall rules:

   gcloud compute firewall-rules list

Demo Workflows Not Working

Problem: Demo workflows fail or don't appear

Solutions:

1. Verify workflows deployed:

   kubectl get workflows -n argo

2. Check workflow YAML:

   kubectl get workflow <name> -n argo -o yaml

3. Submit manually:

   kubectl apply -f manifests/demo-workflow-simple.yaml

Time Management Issues

POC Running Behind Schedule

Problem: Not meeting timeline

Solutions:

1. Assess scope:

   • Can anything be deferred?
   • Are all objectives critical?

2. Communicate early:

   • Inform stakeholders
   • Discuss options
   • Adjust if needed

3. Focus on core:

   • Prioritize must-have criteria
   • Defer nice-to-have

Scope Creep

Problem: POC expanding beyond original scope

Solutions:

1. Refer to scope document:

   • Remind stakeholders of agreed scope
   • Document new requests separately

2. Assess impact:

   • Will it affect timeline?
   • Is it critical for decision?

3. Get approval:

   • Document scope change
   • Get stakeholder sign-off
   • Adjust timeline if needed

Communication Issues

Stakeholder Misalignment

Problem: Different expectations

Solutions:

1. Review scope document:

   • Ensure everyone has same understanding
   • Clarify any confusion

2. Regular updates:

   • Daily standups
   • Weekly status reports
   • Immediate issue communication

3. Document decisions:

   • Write down all decisions
   • Share with stakeholders

Getting Help

Internal Resources

• Team members
• Technical leads
• Project managers
• Documentation

External Resources

• Vendor support
• Community forums
• Documentation sites
• Stack Overflow

When to Escalate

• Critical blockers
• Timeline at risk
• Scope significantly changing
• Stakeholder concerns

Prevention Tips

1. Test Everything First - Don't demo untested workflows
2. Have Backup Plan - Always ready for failures
3. Document Issues - Track problems and solutions
4. Communicate Early - Don't wait for problems to escalate
5. Stay Focused - Resist scope creep
6. Manage Time - Regular check-ins on progress

Additional Resources

• Scoping Guide
• Demo Guide
• Common Questions