> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://developer.harness.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://developer.harness.io/continuous-delivery/use-continuous-delivery/deploy-services-on-different-platforms/kubernetes/kubernetes-executions/scale-kubernetes-replicas.md).

# Scale Kubernetes pods

This topic describes how to update the number of Kubernetes pods running.

When you deploy a Kubernetes workload using Harness, the number of pods you want is set in your manifests and in the deployment steps.

With the **Scale** step, you can scale this number of running pods up or down by count or percentage.

### Before you begin <a href="#before-you-begin" id="before-you-begin"></a>

* [Kubernetes CD Quickstart](/continuous-delivery/use-continuous-delivery/deploy-services-on-different-platforms/kubernetes/kubernetes-cd-quickstart.md)

### Add Scale step <a href="#add-scale-step" id="add-scale-step"></a>

In your Harness stage, in Execution, click **Add Step**, and select **K8s** **Scale**. The **K8s Scale** settings appear.

![](/files/oskbVgPhez2kvHyTHouF)

Name the step and then provide the scaling strategy, described below.

### Pick count or percentage <a href="#pick-count-or-percentage" id="pick-count-or-percentage"></a>

The **K8s Scale** step updates the number of instances running, either by count or percentage.

In **Instances**, select **Instance Count** or **% Percentage**.

* **Instance Count**: The number is simply the number of pods.
* **Percentage**: A percentage of the pods defined in your Harness Service **Manifests** files.

### Set the number of pods <a href="#set-the-number-of-pods" id="set-the-number-of-pods"></a>

In **Instances**, enter the number of pods to scale up or down compared to the number of instances specified *before* the **K8s Scale** step.

The number may come from the manifest in Service or a previous step, whichever set the number of pods right before the **K8s Scale** step.

For example, in you have `replicas: 4` in a manifest, and you enter **50** **PERCENT** in **Instances**, then 2 pods are deployed in this step.

If you have an odd number of instances, such as 3 instances, and then enter 50% in **K8s Scale**, the number of instances is scaled down to 2.### Step 4: Specify Resources to Scale

In **Workload**, enter the name of the resource in the format `[namespace/]Kind/Name`, with `namespace` optional. For example:

`my-namespace/Deployment/harness-example-deployment-canary`

You can scale Deployment, or DaemonSet.

You can only enter one resource in **Workload**. To scale another resource, add another **K8s Scale** step.

In **Workload**, you can use a Harness expression for the output of another step, like the **K8s Canary** step, in **Workload**.

For example, here is a deployed Canary step where you can copy the workload expression:

![](/files/b9oQZdygp60VE0sQSl3Y)

The expression will look something like this:

`<+pipeline.stages.Canary.spec.execution.steps.canaryDepoyment.steps.canaryDeployment.output.canaryWorkload>`

Enter that expression in **Workload** and Harness will scale that workload.

### Notes <a href="#notes" id="notes"></a>

* You can scale down to **0** to remove all instances.

### Next Steps <a href="#next-steps" id="next-steps"></a>

* [Delete Kubernetes Resources](/continuous-delivery/use-continuous-delivery/deploy-services-on-different-platforms/kubernetes/kubernetes-executions/delete-kubernetes-resources.md)
* [Canary Delete Step](/continuous-delivery/use-continuous-delivery/deploy-services-on-different-platforms/kubernetes/cd-k8s-ref/kubernetes-canary-delete-step.md)