Repolode
Submit
k0sproject

k0sproject/k0s

k0s is a single-binary, all-inclusive Kubernetes distribution that aims to make cluster setup and upgrades simple on any Linux host.

View on GitHubWebsite
Stars
6,539
Forks
534
Open issues
247
Last commit
11 hours ago

What is it?

k0s is an open source Kubernetes distribution packaged as a single binary with no host OS dependencies beyond the Linux kernel. It bundles the components needed to build a cluster, including a container runtime, networking, CoreDNS, Konnectivity and Metrics Server, so a working cluster can be bootstrapped with one command on a single node or across many.

The project targets cloud instances, bare metal, and edge or IoT devices, and advertises modest requirements of 1 vCPU and 1 GB RAM. It supports multiple installation methods, including single-node, multi-node with k0sctl, airgap, and Docker, along with upgrade and backup/restore workflows. Control plane isolation is the default, and clusters can scale from one node to highly available setups.

k0s supports pluggable CNI and CRI components, with Kube-Router as the default network plugin and containerd as the default runtime. Datastores include etcd, SQLite, MySQL and PostgreSQL, and the binary runs on x86-64, ARM64, ARMv7 and RISC-V.

Key features

  • 01Single binary with no host OS dependencies beyond the kernel
  • 02Certified, upstream Kubernetes with multiple install methods including k0sctl and airgap
  • 03Automated upgrades and backup/restore via k0sctl
  • 04Pluggable CNI and CRI, with Kube-Router and containerd as defaults
  • 05Supports etcd, SQLite, MySQL and PostgreSQL datastores
  • 06Runs on x86-64, ARM64, ARMv7 and RISC-V

Use cases

  • Bootstrapping a Kubernetes cluster on bare metal or VMs with minimal setup
  • Running Kubernetes on resource-constrained edge or IoT devices
  • Deploying clusters in air-gapped environments
  • Operating multi-node clusters with automated upgrades

Quick start

  1. 1

    Follow the Quick Start Guide to create a single-node cluster

  2. 2

    Build the k0s binary from source (requires Docker)

    make
  3. 3

    Run the basic smoke test after building (requires a local Go installation)

    make check-basic

Things to know

  • The license is not clearly identified in the metadata, so check the repository's license terms before use.
  • Building from source requires Docker, and the smoke tests require a local Go installation.

Topics

#kubernetes#container-orchestration#edge-computing#devops#cluster-management#containerd

FAQ

What is k0s?
k0s is a single-binary, all-inclusive Kubernetes distribution that aims to make cluster setup and upgrades simple on any Linux host. k0s is an open source Kubernetes distribution packaged as a single binary with no host OS dependencies beyond the Linux kernel. It bundles the components needed to build a cluster, including a container runtime, networking, CoreDNS, Konnectivity and Metrics Server, so a working cluster can be bootstrapped with one command on a single node or across many.
Is k0s free to use? What license does it have?
k0s is open source under the Other license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is k0s still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to k0s was on Oct 19, 2026.
What can I use k0s for?
Bootstrapping a Kubernetes cluster on bare metal or VMs with minimal setup Running Kubernetes on resource-constrained edge or IoT devices Deploying clusters in air-gapped environments Operating multi-node clusters with automated upgrades
How do I install k0s?
Follow the Quick Start Guide to create a single-node cluster Build the k0s binary from source (requires Docker): make Run the basic smoke test after building (requires a local Go installation): make check-basic
Where can I get k0s?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

Related projects