What is Canonical Kubernetes?

At its core, Canonical Kubernetes is a full implementation of upstream Kubernetes delivered in a compact, secure, reliable snap package. As the upstream Kubernetes services are not all that is required for a fully functional cluster, additional services and features are built in. You can deploy the snap and have a single-node cluster up and running in minutes.

Why a snap?

Snaps are self-contained, simple to install, secure, cross-platform, and dependency-free. They can be installed on any Linux system which supports the snapd service (see the snapd documentation for more information). Security and robustness are their key features, alongside being easy to install, easy to maintain and easy to upgrade.

What else comes with it?

In addition to the upstream Kubernetes services, Canonical Kubernetes also includes:

  • a DNS service for the node

  • a CNI for the node/cluster

  • a simple storage provider

  • an ingress provider

  • a load-balancer

  • a gateway API controller

  • a metrics server

Where can I install it?

The Canonical Kubernetes snap can be installed on a Linux OS, wherever it may be: run it in several local containers or VMs for example, or use it on public/private cloud instances. For deploying with Juju, a machine charm to deploy the snap is also available. For deployment using Cluster API, a Bootstrap and Control-plane provider have also been created.

Can I use it to make a cluster?

Yes. Canonical Kubernetes is designed to be eminently scalable. You can start with a single node and add more as and when the need arises. Scale up or down at any time. Systems with more than three nodes will automatically become Highly Available.

Does it come with support?

Each and every user will be supported by the community. For a more detailed look at what that entails, please see our Community page. If you need a greater level of support, Canonical provides Ubuntu Pro, a comprehensive subscription for your open-source software stack. For more support options, visit the Ubuntu support page.

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