K0s

k0s is a Kubernetes distribution that packages all control plane and worker components into a single binary, enabling cluster deployment with no host dependencies beyond the Linux kernel. It supports a container-native runtime where controllers and workers run inside Docker containers using a single OCI image, and offers declarative YAML configuration for defining cluster topology, host roles, and SSH connection details. The distribution provides pre-built binaries for x86-64, ARM64, ARMv7, and RISC-V architectures, and uses cryptographically signed tokens for secure node enrollment.

The project distinguishes itself through pluggable backends for the datastore, Container Network Interface (CNI), and Container Runtime Interface (CRI), allowing selection among etcd, SQLite, MySQL, or PostgreSQL for state storage, and integration with any CNI or CRI plugin with sensible defaults provided. It supports air-gapped deployment by packaging all required container images and binaries into a single tarball for offline installation, and includes a dedicated CLI tool for automating cluster upgrades, backups, and restores.

The distribution covers cluster lifecycle management from bootstrap to scaling, supporting single-node, multi-node, highly-available, and Docker-based setups. It provides cluster access through kubeconfig retrieval and embedded kubectl, and manages service lifecycle with start and stop commands. The project also supports persistent storage through Container Storage Interface (CSI) integration and enables deployment across cloud, bare metal, edge, and IoT environments.

Features

Kubernetes Cluster Deployments - Creates a CNCF-certified Kubernetes cluster from a single binary with no host dependencies beyond the kernel.

Lightweight Kubernetes Distributions - A Kubernetes distribution that packs all control plane and worker components into one executable for simplified deployment and management.

Kubernetes Datastore Backends - Supports pluggable datastore backends including etcd, SQLite, MySQL, and PostgreSQL for cluster state.

Multi-Environment Deployments - Supports Kubernetes deployment across cloud, bare metal, edge, and IoT environments with flexible configurations.

Cluster Lifecycle Management - Automates cluster upgrades, backups, and restores using a dedicated CLI tool to reduce manual operational overhead.

Cluster Bootstrapping - Bootstraps a Kubernetes cluster by connecting to remote hosts over SSH and joining controllers and workers.

Declarative Cluster Configuration Generation - Generates declarative YAML configuration files defining cluster topology, host roles, and SSH details.

YAML Plan-Driven Topologies - Defines cluster topology, host roles, and SSH connection details in a single YAML file for reproducible deployments.

Custom CNI and CRI Integrations - Integrates any Container Network Interface or Container Runtime Interface plugin, with sensible defaults provided.

Pluggable CNI and CRI Frameworks - Integrates any Container Network Interface or Container Runtime Interface plugin with sensible defaults provided.

Declarative - Generates starter YAML templates with host roles and SSH details for editing before deployment.

Container-Native Node Runtimes - Runs cluster controllers and workers inside Docker containers using a single OCI image with no host dependencies beyond the kernel.

Virtual Cluster Docker Images - Packages a full Kubernetes cluster inside a single OCI image for Docker-based execution.

Container Network, Runtime, and Storage Plugin Customizations - Supports pluggable CNI, CRI, and CSI backends with sensible defaults for diverse infrastructure needs.

Air-Gapped Deployments - Installs clusters in environments without internet access using pre-packaged artifacts.

Binary-Based Installations - Downloads a single binary and installs it as a system service to create controller, worker, or single-node setups.

Air-Gapped Cluster Deployments - Packages all required container images and binaries into a single tarball for offline cluster installation.

Kubernetes Single-Node Installations - Downloads a single binary and installs it as a system service to create a combined controller-worker Kubernetes node.

Automated Node Joining - Automates the joining of worker nodes to a Kubernetes cluster using cryptographically signed tokens.

Token-Based Bootstrapping - Adds worker nodes to a Kubernetes cluster using cryptographically signed tokens for secure, automated joining.

Container Network and Runtime - Ships pluggable CNI and CRI backends with sensible defaults and support for custom replacements.

Container Network and Storage - Provides pluggable CNI and CSI backends with preconfigured options for Kube-Router and Calico.

Pluggable Cluster Metadata Stores - Supports etcd, SQLite, MySQL, or PostgreSQL as the cluster state store, selected based on deployment topology and scale.

Container Network, Runtime, and Storage Plugin Customizations - Supports pluggable CNI, CRI, and CSI backends with sensible defaults for diverse infrastructure needs.

Kubernetes Cluster Deployments - Provides a container-native runtime that runs the entire Kubernetes cluster inside Docker containers.

Kubernetes Operators - Operates Kubernetes controller and worker nodes inside Docker containers for isolated or ephemeral environments.

CRI Plugin Selections - Selects and configures a Container Runtime Interface plugin, with containerd as the default.

Capacity Scaling - Expands a cluster from a single node to a highly-available multi-node configuration with isolated control planes.

Unified Cluster Scaling - Runs clusters from a single node to highly available multi-node setups with isolated control planes.

CNI Plugins - Integrates a Container Network Interface plugin of choice, with Kube-Router as default and Calico as a preconfigured alternative.

CNI Plugin Selections - Selects and configures a CNI plugin, with Kube-Router as default and Calico as a preconfigured alternative.

CNI Provider Configurations - Configures the cluster's pod networking by choosing a CNI plugin such as Kube-Router or Calico.

Cluster Configuration Templates - Generates starter YAML files defining controller and worker hosts with SSH details for cluster setup.

Elastic Scaling Deployments - Grows from a single node to large, highly available clusters with control plane isolation as the default topology.

CRI Plugin Configurations - Configures the cluster's container runtime by choosing a CRI plugin such as containerd.

Kubernetes Cluster Deployments - Ships Docker Compose templates for deploying multi-node Kubernetes clusters with persistent storage and networking.

Kubernetes Compose Orchestrations - Defines and manages multi-node Kubernetes clusters using Docker Compose, including optional load balancers for high availability.

Kubernetes Controller Nodes - Ships a Docker image that runs a Kubernetes controller node for local cluster testing.

Container Runtime Integrations - Integrates a Container Runtime Interface plugin of choice, with containerd as the default runtime.

Container Storage Persistence - Attaches any CSI-compliant storage backend to provide persistent volumes for containerized workloads.

Containerized Kubernetes Nodes - Operates Kubernetes control plane and worker nodes inside Docker containers for isolated or ephemeral environments.

High Availability Cluster Deployments - Expands a cluster from one node to a multi-node setup with isolated control planes for fault tolerance.

High Availability Conversions - Grows a single-node setup into a multi-node, highly available cluster with control plane isolation.

Embedded kubectl Access - Bundles an embedded kubectl binary for direct cluster interaction without external dependencies.

Kubeconfig Generation - Outputs the admin kubeconfig for a deployed cluster so users can access it with kubectl.

Single-Node Kubernetes Clusters - Expands a cluster from a single node to a highly available multi-node setup with isolated control planes.

Multi-Architecture Deployments - Runs on x86-64, ARM64, ARMv7, and RISC-V hardware platforms without modification.

Container Network - Selects and configures a Container Network Interface plugin, with Kube-Router as the default and Calico as a preconfigured alternative.

Service Lifecycle Management - Manages the k0s system service lifecycle with start and stop commands for the Kubernetes cluster.

Kubernetes - Enables Kubernetes cluster deployment on resource-constrained devices with as little as 1 vCPU and 1 GB RAM.

Docker Worker Node Additions - Provides token-based enrollment to join Docker worker containers to an existing Kubernetes cluster.

Multi-Architecture Support - Delivers pre-built binaries for x86-64, ARM64, ARMv7, and RISC-V without requiring platform-specific modifications.

Kubernetes - Delivers pre-built binaries for x86-64, ARM64, ARMv7, and RISC-V architectures.

Kubernetes Multi-Architecture Cluster Support - Delivers pre-built binaries for x86-64, ARM64, ARMv7, and RISC-V architectures.

Cluster Credential Exports - Outputs a kubeconfig file that authenticates users to the deployed cluster for use with kubectl.

Service Management - Starts the installed k0s service and provides commands to check its status and logs.

Container Management - Minimal Kubernetes distribution.

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Features

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