Fix: VPCEndpointServiceConfiguration Tags Not Propagating

Oct 26, 2025 by SLV Team 58 views

Hey everyone, let's dive into a common head-scratcher when you're dealing with VPCEndpointServiceConfiguration in AWS and Kubernetes using aws-controllers-k8s (ACK). Specifically, we're talking about why your tags aren't showing up where they should. If you've set tags on your VPCEndpointServiceConfiguration hoping to see them reflected in both Kubernetes and AWS, you're in the right place. We'll explore the issue, how to reproduce it, the expected outcomes, and most importantly, what might be causing the problem. This guide focuses on helping you troubleshoot and potentially resolve this tag propagation issue.

The Bug: Tags That Vanish

So, the core problem? Tags applied to your VPCEndpointServiceConfiguration resources aren't making their way to the actual AWS resources. You create a configuration, add your tags, and then... nothing. When you run kubectl get ... to inspect your Kubernetes resources, the tags aren't there. Worse yet, when you check the AWS console, the same story unfolds. This is a real bummer, because tags are super important for organization, cost allocation, and generally keeping your cloud environment tidy.

Steps to Reproduce the Issue

Reproducing this is pretty straightforward, which is good for figuring out what's going on:

Create a VPCEndpointServiceConfiguration: This is your starting point. You'll define the service configuration in Kubernetes using ACK. Make sure to specify the necessary settings, like the acceptance required, and the network load balancer ARNs.

Add Tags: Within your VPCEndpointServiceConfiguration definition, include the tags section. This is where you specify the key-value pairs that you want to apply to your AWS resource. For example:

apiVersion: ec2.services.k8s.aws/v1alpha1
kind: VPCEndpointServiceConfiguration
metadata:
  name: example-service-config
spec:
  acceptanceRequired: false
  networkLoadBalancerARNs:
    - arn:aws:elasticloadbalancing:us-east-1:123456789012:loadbalancer/net/my-nlb/1234567890abcdef
  tags:
    - key: "Environment"
      value: "Production"
    - key: "Team"
      value: "DevOps"

Deploy and Observe: Deploy your VPCEndpointServiceConfiguration to your Kubernetes cluster. After deployment, use kubectl get vpceserviceconfiguration <your-config-name> -o yaml to check the resource definition and whether the tags appear here. Then, check the AWS console, to verify whether the tags have been successfully added to the VPC Endpoint Service configuration created in AWS.

Expected Outcome

The expected outcome is pretty clear: the tags you define in your Kubernetes resource should be reflected in both the Kubernetes resource definition and the corresponding AWS resource. When you run kubectl get vpceserviceconfiguration ..., the output should include the tags you specified. Also, in the AWS console, navigating to your VPC Endpoint Service Configuration should show the same tags listed.

However, in this case, the tags are not showing up where they are expected. This leads us to the investigation to find the bug fix to solve this issue. The tags not propagating issue is something that needs a solution.

The Culprit: A Code Snippet

Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty and see what might be causing this issue. There's a particular commit in the ec2-controller repository that looks like the prime suspect. Specifically, this commit seems to have nullified the tags.

Diving into the Code

The code snippet in question is located in pkg/resource/vpc_endpoint_service_configuration/hooks.go. If you look at line 167, you'll see something that might catch your eye. It's the part of the code that handles setting the tags. The issue is that the tags are being set to nothing.

// This is a simplified example, the actual code might be more complex.
func (rm *resourceManager) Update(ctx context.Context, desired *svcapitypes.VPCEndpointServiceConfiguration, existing *svcapitypes.VPCEndpointServiceConfiguration) (ackreconciler.ResourceStatus, error) {
    // ... other code ...

    // Problematic line: It sets tags to nothing.
    if !apiequality.Semantic.DeepEqual(desired.Spec.Tags, existing.Spec.Tags) {
        // This code block is supposed to set the tags.
        // However, if the tags are not set correctly, this is where the issue comes from.
        // ... logic to update tags (which might be missing)
    }
    // ... other code ...
}

This code is a crucial part of the process where the tags should be set when the VPCEndpointServiceConfiguration is updated. However, due to the logic in this specific code, the tags aren't being set as expected. This explains why your tags are not propagating from Kubernetes to AWS.

The Environment: EKS and More

To better understand the context, let's talk about the environment where this issue appears. This typically involves several key components:

Kubernetes Version: The Kubernetes version you're running is important. Different versions of Kubernetes can interact differently with ACK and the AWS services. Make sure your Kubernetes version is compatible with the ACK controller you're using.
EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service): If you're using EKS, specify the version. EKS provides a managed Kubernetes service on AWS. The EKS version, along with the ACK controller version, plays a role in how AWS resources are managed.
ACK Controller: This is the AWS Controllers for Kubernetes (ACK) controller for the EC2 service. The version of the controller you're using is crucial because it includes the code that interacts directly with AWS APIs to create and manage the resources.
AWS Service Targeted: In this case, it's the VPC Endpoint Service. This AWS service is used to create and manage endpoint service configurations. If there are any issues with this service, it can affect the tag propagation.

Understanding your environment helps in diagnosing and troubleshooting the issue, as well as finding solutions or workarounds. It's also important to ensure all the components work well together. The versions of Kubernetes, EKS, and the ACK controller, can impact the behavior.

Why These Details Matter

Knowing these details is critical for a couple of reasons:

Compatibility: Different versions of Kubernetes, EKS, and the ACK controller have their own compatibility matrices. Mismatched versions can lead to unexpected behavior and issues, such as tags not being propagated.
Debugging: When you report an issue, providing this information helps others understand your setup and reproduce the problem. This can speed up the debugging process.
Workarounds: In some cases, there might be workarounds or specific configurations needed depending on your environment. Having this information helps you implement these workarounds effectively.

Potential Solutions and Workarounds

Now, let's explore some solutions and workarounds. These are steps you can take to mitigate the issue. Consider these options:

Review the Code: Take a close look at the code mentioned above in hooks.go. Check the implementation, and see if there are any specific conditions that might be preventing the tags from being set correctly. Ensure that the logic correctly sets the tags based on your desired configuration.
Update the ACK Controller: If possible, consider updating the ACK controller to the latest version or a version where the tag propagation issue has been addressed. Sometimes, the latest updates include fixes for issues like this.
Manual Tagging: If you need to have the tags immediately, you might need to tag the AWS resources manually using the AWS console, CLI, or SDKs, as a temporary workaround. You can write a script or use a tool to ensure that your tags are consistently applied until a permanent fix is available.
Check for Permissions: Make sure the IAM role used by the ACK controller has the necessary permissions to manage tags on the VPCEndpointServiceConfiguration resources. Insufficient permissions can prevent the controller from setting the tags.
Submit a Bug Report or Contribute: If you can confirm the cause of the issue, consider reporting the bug to the ACK community or even contributing a fix. Open an issue on the ACK repository, providing detailed steps to reproduce the issue, the versions you're using, and any relevant logs or error messages. This helps the developers to understand and address the issue efficiently. If you have the skills, you can fork the repository, make the necessary changes to the code, and submit a pull request.

Detailed Steps for Workaround: Manual Tagging

Here's how to manually tag your resources using the AWS CLI as a workaround:

Get the Service Configuration ID: First, you need to find the ID of your VPCEndpointServiceConfiguration in AWS. You can get this from the Kubernetes resource or the AWS console.

Use the AWS CLI: With the ID in hand, use the aws ec2 CLI to add the tags. The command looks something like this:

aws ec2 create-tags \
    --resources <your-service-configuration-id> \
    --tags Key=Environment,Value=Production Key=Team,Value=DevOps

Automate (Optional): You can automate this process by writing a script that runs after the VPCEndpointServiceConfiguration is created. This ensures the tags are always applied.

Conclusion

So, there you have it, folks! The tag propagation issue for VPCEndpointServiceConfiguration resources can be a real pain. We've explored the bug, looked at the code that might be causing the issue, and discussed various ways to troubleshoot and work around the problem. Hopefully, this helps you to understand, diagnose, and solve the issue with tags not propagating.

Remember to stay updated with the latest versions of Kubernetes, EKS, and ACK. And don't hesitate to engage with the community if you run into any other problems. Happy tagging, and let me know if you have any questions!