Practical overview
When it fits
Use it for repeatable Bee cluster operations and API-based checks, including local development or integration testing. Static Bee endpoints are supported for checks that do not use Kubernetes.
Who it is for
- Developers testing changes to Bee or building Bee integration workflows
- Operators coordinating Bee nodes in Kubernetes or checking nodes through static endpoints
Documented uses
- Create and delete Bee clusters in Kubernetes
- Run network checks such as pingpong and pushsync against Bee nodes
- Exercise Bee APIs through configurable scenarios
- Automate funding Bee nodes with ETH and BZZ
Requirements & limits
- The tool is a Go command-line application, built from source with
make binary. - The README lists Kubernetes v1.31+ and a Geth Swap node as requirements.
- Static endpoint checks can run without Kubernetes, while Kubernetes-based cluster management uses Kubernetes configuration.
- Configuration can be read locally or from a Git repository.
Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.
Build Beekeeper from source
Prepare the Beekeeper command-line binary from its repository.
Before you start
- A Go development environment
- The Beekeeper repository
Steps
Clone the Beekeeper repository.
Change into the beekeeper directory.
Run the command below.
make binary
Expected outcome
A Beekeeper binary is built in the `dist/` directory.
Guide limitations
- This covers building the tool, not configuring Bee nodes or running cluster operations.
Prepare and check a local Bee cluster
Follow the documented local-development sequence to create a Bee cluster and run its CI ping-pong check.
Before you start
- Docker, kubectl, make and Go
- The Beekeeper and Bee repositories
- A local setup using K3s and k3d
- A Kubernetes cluster (v1.31+) and Geth Swap node
Steps
Clone Beekeeper and build it with the command below.
make binaryClone Bee and prepare the local K3s cluster and Geth node with the command below.
make beelocal ACTION=prepare SETUP_CONTRACT_IMAGE_TAG=0.9.2 OPTS='skip-vet'Return to the Beekeeper directory and run
./dist/beekeeper create bee-cluster --cluster-name=local-dns.Run
./dist/beekeeper check --cluster-name=local-dns --checks=ci-pingpong.
Expected outcome
The documented workflow creates a local Bee cluster and invokes the `ci-pingpong` check.
Guide limitations
- The README says the
SETUP_CONTRACT_IMAGE_TAG=0.9.2value must match exactly. - The sequence requires the separate Bee repository and local Kubernetes-related setup.
Sources & review
Source record details
- Source availability
- Active
- Sources checked
- 13 October 2026
- Original website title
- ethersphere/beekeeper · Official homepage title · retained in its source language

