cni plugin not initialized on nodes created by Karpenter on EKS cluster with VPC-CNI add on

The error message you're encountering points to a problem with the Container Network Interface (CNI) plugin on the dynamically provisioned EKS node by Karpenter. This indicates that the network plugin necessary for container networking isn't initialized or ready.

To troubleshoot and resolve this issue, consider the following steps. First, ensure that there is a aws-node pod corresponding to each worker node, and that the pods are in a "Running" state. If any pods are in a different state or are missing, it could indicate an issue with the AWS VPC CNI addon on those nodes. This can provide insights into what might be causing the network initialization problem.

Additionally, ensure compatibility between the version of the VPC CNI addon and your EKS cluster version. AWS regularly updates services, and a newer EKS version may require an updated VPC CNI addon. Refer to AWS documentation for supported versions [1], and if necessary, update the VPC CNI addon to a version that aligns with your EKS cluster.

Review the configuration of Karpenter to ensure it aligns with your EKS cluster. Verify that Karpenter is configured with the correct networking settings and is aware of the VPC CNI. Karpenter utilizes a configuration file, typically named karpenter.yaml, to specify various settings, including cluster configuration. Confirm the presence and correctness of this configuration file.

By systematically examining CNI plugin logs, verifying VPC CNI addon compatibility, and reviewing Karpenter configuration, you can identify and address the issues contributing to the network plugin initialization problem on your dynamically provisioned EKS node.

Reference: [1] https://docs.aws.amazon.com/eks/latest/userguide/managing-vpc-cni.html