---
title: "Helm"
description: "Kubernetes installation using Helm charts for Pangolin and Newt."
---

Helm is the recommended method for standard Kubernetes installations of Pangolin and Newt.

Use Helm when you want a chart-based workflow for installing, upgrading, rolling back, and removing releases from your cluster.

## Helm repository setup

Add the Fossorial Helm chart repository:

```bash
helm repo add fossorial https://charts.fossorial.io
helm repo update fossorial
```

Search for available charts:

```bash
helm search repo fossorial
```

The classic Helm repository flow is the default path for most installations:

```bash
helm install my-newt fossorial/newt
helm install my-pangolin fossorial/pangolin
```

## Installation overview

A typical Helm installation flow looks like this:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create namespace and labels">
    Create the namespace manually and apply required labels or annotations.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Prepare values files">
    Create a `values.yaml` file for each release (`values-pangolin.yaml`, `values-newt.yaml`).
  </Step>
  <Step title="Install with Helm">
    Install with `helm upgrade --install` to support first install and future updates with the same command.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Verify release and resources">
    Confirm Helm release status and Kubernetes resources after deployment.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
It is recommended to create the namespace explicitly before installation. This allows you to apply Pod Security Admission labels, policy labels, annotations, or other cluster-specific metadata before the chart creates workloads.
</Info>

For detailed installation steps, see:

* [Pangolin Helm Quick-Start](/self-host/manual/kubernetes/pangolin/helm) — Install Pangolin

## Install command patterns

<CodeGroup>
```bash Classic Helm repository
helm upgrade --install pangolin fossorial/pangolin \
  --namespace pangolin \
  --values values-pangolin.yaml

helm upgrade --install newt fossorial/newt \
  --namespace pangolin \
  --values values-newt.yaml
```

```bash OCI (GHCR)
helm upgrade --install pangolin oci://ghcr.io/fosrl/helm-charts/pangolin \
  --version 0.1.0-alpha.0 \
  --namespace pangolin \
  --values values-pangolin.yaml

helm upgrade --install newt oci://ghcr.io/fosrl/helm-charts/newt \
  --version 1.4.0 \
  --namespace pangolin \
  --values values-newt.yaml
```
</CodeGroup>

## Namespace preparation

Create the namespace before installing the chart:

```bash
kubectl create namespace pangolin
```

If your cluster uses Pod Security Admission or namespace-based policies, apply the required labels before installation.

Example:

```bash
kubectl label namespace pangolin \
  pod-security.kubernetes.io/enforce=baseline \
  pod-security.kubernetes.io/audit=restricted \
  pod-security.kubernetes.io/warn=restricted
```

<Warning>
Pangolin deployments that include Gerbil require permissions that are not compatible with a restricted namespace profile, because Gerbil manages WireGuard and requires capabilities such as `NET_ADMIN`.
</Warning>

For more details, see [Prerequisites](/self-host/manual/kubernetes/prerequisites).

## Install with a values file

Both charts use values files for configuration.

Pangolin example:

```bash
helm upgrade --install pangolin fossorial/pangolin \
  --namespace pangolin \
  --values values-pangolin.yaml
```

Newt example:

```bash
helm upgrade --install newt fossorial/newt \
  --namespace pangolin \
  --values values-newt.yaml
```

Using `helm upgrade --install` keeps the command usable for both the first installation and later configuration changes.

<Note>
Do not use `--create-namespace` if you need custom namespace labels or annotations. Create the namespace first and then run Helm against that namespace.
</Note>

## Values and configuration

Keep reusable configuration in a values file:

```bash
helm upgrade --install pangolin fossorial/pangolin \
  --namespace pangolin \
  --values values-pangolin.yaml
```

Use `--set` only for small tests or temporary overrides:

```bash
helm upgrade --install pangolin fossorial/pangolin \
  --namespace pangolin \
  --set example.key=value
```

Common value sources:

* `values-pangolin.yaml` for Pangolin.
* `values-newt.yaml` for Newt.
* Kubernetes Secrets for credentials.
* Existing cluster resources such as TLS secrets, StorageClasses, or ingress controllers.

Full configuration options are documented here:

* [Pangolin Configuration](/self-host/manual/kubernetes/pangolin/configuration)

## Artifact Hub and chart discovery

The Fossorial charts can be installed from the Fossorial Helm repository:

```bash
helm repo add fossorial https://charts.fossorial.io
helm repo update fossorial
helm search repo fossorial
```

Artifact Hub can also be used to discover published chart metadata, available versions, install commands, and repository information.

<Note>
Always verify the chart name, chart version, and repository URL before copying install commands into production.
</Note>

## OCI-based charts

OCI is not a separate installation method. It only changes where Helm pulls the chart from.

For Pangolin and Newt, OCI chart publishing is available in GHCR:

* Newt: `oci://ghcr.io/fosrl/helm-charts/newt`
* Pangolin: `oci://ghcr.io/fosrl/helm-charts/pangolin`

You still use Helm in the same way: choose a chart, select a version, provide values, and install the release.

### Pull OCI charts

Newt example:

```bash
helm pull oci://ghcr.io/fosrl/helm-charts/newt \
  --version 1.4.0
```

Pangolin example:

```bash
helm pull oci://ghcr.io/fosrl/helm-charts/pangolin \
  --version 0.1.0-alpha.0
```

### Install from OCI

Newt example:

```bash
helm upgrade --install newt oci://ghcr.io/fosrl/helm-charts/newt \
  --version 1.4.0 \
  --namespace pangolin \
  --values values-newt.yaml
```

Pangolin example:

```bash
helm upgrade --install pangolin oci://ghcr.io/fosrl/helm-charts/pangolin \
  --version 0.1.0-alpha.0 \
  --namespace pangolin \
  --values values-pangolin.yaml
```

<Info>
Use the classic Helm repository when you want the normal `helm repo add` and `helm search repo` workflow. Use OCI when you want to pull charts directly from GHCR or when your deployment tooling expects OCI chart references.
</Info>

## Upgrade and maintenance

### Update the classic Helm repository

```bash
helm repo update fossorial
```

This step is only needed when using the classic Helm repository. OCI installs pull the chart by OCI reference and version.

### Upgrade Pangolin

Classic Helm repository:

```bash
helm upgrade pangolin fossorial/pangolin \
  --namespace pangolin \
  --values values-pangolin.yaml
```

OCI:

```bash
helm upgrade pangolin oci://ghcr.io/fosrl/helm-charts/pangolin \
  --version 0.1.0-alpha.0 \
  --namespace pangolin \
  --values values-pangolin.yaml
```

### Upgrade Newt

Classic Helm repository:

```bash
helm upgrade newt fossorial/newt \
  --namespace pangolin \
  --values values-newt.yaml
```

OCI:

```bash
helm upgrade newt oci://ghcr.io/fosrl/helm-charts/newt \
  --version 1.4.0 \
  --namespace pangolin \
  --values values-newt.yaml
```

### Check release status

```bash
helm status pangolin --namespace pangolin
helm history pangolin --namespace pangolin
```

```bash
helm status newt --namespace pangolin
helm history newt --namespace pangolin
```

### View rendered manifests

```bash
helm get manifest pangolin --namespace pangolin
```

```bash
helm get manifest newt --namespace pangolin
```

### View applied values

```bash
helm get values pangolin --namespace pangolin
```

```bash
helm get values newt --namespace pangolin
```

### Roll back a release

```bash
helm rollback pangolin <revision> --namespace pangolin
```

```bash
helm rollback newt <revision> --namespace pangolin
```

### Uninstall a release

```bash
helm uninstall pangolin --namespace pangolin
```

```bash
helm uninstall newt --namespace pangolin
```

<Warning>
Uninstalling a Helm release does not always remove persistent volumes, externally managed secrets, DNS records, certificates, or cloud load balancers. Review the namespace and related cluster resources before deleting data.
</Warning>

## Troubleshooting

* [Pangolin Troubleshooting](/self-host/manual/kubernetes/pangolin/troubleshooting)

Useful Helm commands:

```bash
helm list --all-namespaces
helm status <release-name> --namespace <namespace>
helm history <release-name> --namespace <namespace>
helm get values <release-name> --namespace <namespace>
helm get manifest <release-name> --namespace <namespace>
```

Useful Kubernetes commands:

```bash
kubectl get pods -n pangolin
kubectl get events -n pangolin --sort-by=.lastTimestamp
kubectl describe pod <pod-name> -n pangolin
kubectl logs <pod-name> -n pangolin
```

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
	<Card title="Pangolin Helm Install" href="/self-host/manual/kubernetes/pangolin/helm" icon="server">
		Install Pangolin with the Helm chart.
	</Card>
	<Card title="Pangolin Configuration" href="/self-host/manual/kubernetes/pangolin/configuration" icon="sliders">
		Configure Pangolin chart values for your cluster.
	</Card>
	<Card title="Argo CD" href="/self-host/manual/kubernetes/gitops/argocd" icon="code-branch">
		Deploy the charts with Argo CD.
	</Card>
	<Card title="Flux" href="/self-host/manual/kubernetes/gitops/flux" icon="code-branch">
		Deploy the charts with Flux.
	</Card>
</CardGroup>