--- assignees: - brendandburns - erictune - mikedanese title: Picking the Right Solution redirect_from: - "/docs/getting-started-guides/index/" - "/docs/getting-started-guides/index.html" --- Kubernetes can run on a range of platforms, from your laptop, to VMs on a cloud provider, to rack of bare metal servers. The effort required to set up a cluster varies from running a single command to crafting your own customized cluster. We'll guide you in picking a solution that fits for your needs. If you just want to "kick the tires" on Kubernetes, we recommend the [local Docker-based solution using MiniKube](#local-machine-solutions). When you are ready to scale up to more machines and higher availability, a [Hosted](#hosted-solutions) solution is the easiest to create and maintain. [Turn-key cloud solutions](#turn-key-cloud-solutions) require only a few commands to create and cover a wider range of cloud providers. If you already have a way to configure hosting resources, you can use [kubeadm](/docs/getting-started-guides/kubeadm/) to easily bring up a cluster with a single command per machine. [Custom solutions](#custom-solutions) require more effort to setup but cover and even they vary from step-by-step instructions to general advice for setting up a Kubernetes cluster from scratch. * TOC {:toc} ### Local-machine Solutions [Minikube](/docs/getting-started-guides/minikube/) is the recommended method for you to create a single node kubernetes cluster locally for purposes of development and testing. Setup is completely automated and doesn't require a cloud provider account. Use the [Minikube getting started guide](/docs/getting-started-guides/minikube/) to try it out. [Ubuntu on LXD](/docs/getting-started-guides/ubuntu/local) - Ubuntu supports a 9-instance deployment on localhost via LXD. ### Hosted Solutions [Google Container Engine](https://cloud.google.com/container-engine) offers managed Kubernetes clusters. [Azure Container Service](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/container-service/) can easily deploy Kubernetes clusters. [Stackpoint.io](https://stackpoint.io) provides Kubernetes infrastructure automation and management for multiple public clouds. [AppsCode.com](https://appscode.com/products/cloud-deployment/) provides managed Kubernetes clusters for various public clouds (including AWS and Google Cloud Platform). [KCluster.io](https://kcluster.io) provides highly available and scalable managed Kubernetes clusters for AWS. [KUBE2GO.io](https://kube2go.io) get started with highly available Kubernetes clusters on multiple public clouds along with useful tools for development, debugging, monitoring. [Madcore.Ai](https://madcore.ai) CLI tool to deploy Kubernetes infrastructure in AWS with focus on devops. Master, auto-scaling-group nodes with spot-instances, ingress-ssl-lego, Heapster, Grafana. Based on latest containers. [Platform9](https://platform9.com/products/kubernetes/) offers managed Kubernetes on-premises or any public cloud, and provides 24/7 health monitoring and alerting. [OpenShift Dedicated](https://www.openshift.com/dedicated/) offers managed Kubernetes clusters powered by OpenShift and [OpenShift Online](https://www.openshift.com/features/) provides free hosted access for Kubernetes applications. [IBM Bluemix Container Service](https://console.ng.bluemix.net/docs/containers/container_index.html) offers managed Kubernetes clusters (currently in beta). ### Turn-key Cloud Solutions These solutions allow you to create Kubernetes clusters on a range of Cloud IaaS providers with only a few commands, and have active community support. - [GCE](/docs/getting-started-guides/gce) - [AWS](/docs/getting-started-guides/aws) - [Azure](/docs/getting-started-guides/azure) - [Tectonic by CoreOS](https://coreos.com/tectonic) - [CenturyLink Cloud](/docs/getting-started-guides/clc) - [IBM Bluemix](https://github.com/patrocinio/kubernetes-softlayer) - [Stackpoint.io](/docs/getting-started-guides/stackpoint/) - [KUBE2GO.io](https://kube2go.io/) - [Madcore.Ai](https://madcore.ai/) ### Custom Solutions Kubernetes can run on a wide range of Cloud providers and bare-metal environments, and with many base operating systems. If you can find a guide below that matches your needs, use it. It may be a little out of date, but it will be easier than starting from scratch. If you do want to start from scratch because you have special requirements or just because you want to understand what is underneath a Kubernetes cluster, try the [Getting Started from Scratch](/docs/getting-started-guides/scratch) guide. If you are interested in supporting Kubernetes on a new platform, check out our [advice for writing a new solution](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/tree/{{page.githubbranch}}/docs/devel/writing-a-getting-started-guide.md). #### Universal If you already have a way to configure hosting resources, you can use [kubeadm](/docs/getting-started-guides/kubeadm/) to easily bring up a cluster with a single command per machine. #### Cloud These solutions are combinations of cloud provider and OS not covered by the above solutions. - [AWS + CoreOS](/docs/getting-started-guides/coreos) - [GCE + CoreOS](/docs/getting-started-guides/coreos) - [Ubuntu + AWS/GCE/Rackspace/Joyent](/docs/getting-started-guides/ubuntu/) - [Rackspace + CoreOS](/docs/getting-started-guides/rackspace) #### On-Premises VMs - [Vagrant](/docs/getting-started-guides/coreos) (uses CoreOS and flannel) - [CloudStack](/docs/getting-started-guides/cloudstack) (uses Ansible, CoreOS and flannel) - [Vmware vSphere](/docs/getting-started-guides/vsphere) (uses Debian) - [Vmware Photon Controller](/docs/getting-started-guides/photon-controller) (uses Debian) - [Vmware vSphere, OpenStack, or Bare Metal](/docs/getting-started-guides/ubuntu/) (uses Juju, Ubuntu and flannel) - [Vmware](/docs/getting-started-guides/coreos) (uses CoreOS and flannel) - [libvirt-coreos](/docs/getting-started-guides/libvirt-coreos) (uses CoreOS) - [oVirt](/docs/getting-started-guides/ovirt) - [OpenStack Heat](/docs/getting-started-guides/openstack-heat) (uses CentOS and flannel) - [libvirt](/docs/getting-started-guides/fedora/flannel_multi_node_cluster) (uses Fedora and flannel) - [KVM](/docs/getting-started-guides/fedora/flannel_multi_node_cluster) (uses Fedora and flannel) #### Bare Metal - [Offline](/docs/getting-started-guides/coreos/bare_metal_offline) (no internet required. Uses CoreOS and Flannel) - [fedora/fedora_ansible_config](/docs/getting-started-guides/fedora/fedora_ansible_config) - [Fedora single node](/docs/getting-started-guides/fedora/fedora_manual_config) - [Fedora multi node](/docs/getting-started-guides/fedora/flannel_multi_node_cluster) - [Centos](/docs/getting-started-guides/centos/centos_manual_config) - [Bare Metal with Ubuntu](/docs/getting-started-guides/ubuntu/) - [Ubuntu Manual](/docs/getting-started-guides/ubuntu/manual) - [CoreOS](/docs/getting-started-guides/coreos) #### Integrations These solutions provide integration with 3rd party schedulers, resource managers, and/or lower level platforms. - [Kubernetes on Mesos](/docs/getting-started-guides/mesos) - Instructions specify GCE, but are generic enough to be adapted to most existing Mesos clusters - [Kubernetes on DCOS](/docs/getting-started-guides/dcos) - Community Edition DCOS uses AWS - Enterprise Edition DCOS supports cloud hosting, on-premise VMs, and bare metal ## Table of Solutions Here are all the solutions mentioned above in table form. IaaS Provider | Config. Mgmt | OS | Networking | Docs | Support Level -------------------- | ------------ | ------ | ---------- | --------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------- any | any | multi-support | any CNI | [docs](https://kubernetes.io/docs/getting-started-guides/kubeadm/) | Project ([SIG-cluster-lifecycle](https://github.com/kubernetes/community/tree/master/sig-cluster-lifecycle)) GKE | | | GCE | [docs](https://cloud.google.com/container-engine) | Commercial Stackpoint.io | | multi-support | multi-support | [docs](http://www.stackpointcloud.com) | Commercial AppsCode.com | Saltstack | Debian | multi-support | [docs](https://appscode.com/products/cloud-deployment/) | Commercial KCluster.io | | multi-support | multi-support | [docs](https://kcluster.io) | Commercial KUBE2GO.io | | multi-support | multi-support | [docs](https://kube2go.io) | Commercial Madcore.Ai | Jenkins DSL | Ubuntu | flannel | [docs](https://madcore.ai) | Community ([@madcore-ai](https://github.com/madcore-ai)) Platform9 | | multi-support | multi-support | [docs](https://platform9.com/products/kubernetes/) | Commercial GCE | Saltstack | Debian | GCE | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/gce) | Project Azure Container Service | | Ubuntu | Azure | [docs](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/container-service/) | Commercial Azure (IaaS) | | Ubuntu | Azure | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/azure) | [Community (Microsoft)](https://github.com/Azure/acs-engine) Bare-metal | Ansible | Fedora | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/fedora/fedora_ansible_config) | Project Bare-metal | custom | Fedora | _none_ | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/fedora/fedora_manual_config) | Project Bare-metal | custom | Fedora | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/fedora/flannel_multi_node_cluster) | Community ([@aveshagarwal](https://github.com/aveshagarwal)) libvirt | custom | Fedora | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/fedora/flannel_multi_node_cluster) | Community ([@aveshagarwal](https://github.com/aveshagarwal)) KVM | custom | Fedora | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/fedora/flannel_multi_node_cluster) | Community ([@aveshagarwal](https://github.com/aveshagarwal)) Mesos/Docker | custom | Ubuntu | Docker | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/mesos-docker) | Community ([Kubernetes-Mesos Authors](https://github.com/mesosphere/kubernetes-mesos/blob/master/AUTHORS.md)) Mesos/GCE | | | | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/mesos) | Community ([Kubernetes-Mesos Authors](https://github.com/mesosphere/kubernetes-mesos/blob/master/AUTHORS.md)) DCOS | Marathon | CoreOS/Alpine | custom | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/dcos) | Community ([Kubernetes-Mesos Authors](https://github.com/mesosphere/kubernetes-mesos/blob/master/AUTHORS.md)) AWS | CoreOS | CoreOS | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/aws) | Community GCE | CoreOS | CoreOS | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/coreos) | Community ([@pires](https://github.com/pires)) Vagrant | CoreOS | CoreOS | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/coreos) | Community ([@pires](https://github.com/pires), [@AntonioMeireles](https://github.com/AntonioMeireles)) Bare-metal (Offline) | CoreOS | CoreOS | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/coreos/bare_metal_offline) | Community ([@jeffbean](https://github.com/jeffbean)) CloudStack | Ansible | CoreOS | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/cloudstack) | Community ([@runseb](https://github.com/runseb)) Vmware vSphere | Saltstack | Debian | OVS | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/vsphere) | Community ([@imkin](https://github.com/imkin)) Vmware Photon | Saltstack | Debian | OVS | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/photon-controller) | Community ([@alainroy](https://github.com/alainroy)) Bare-metal | custom | CentOS | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/centos/centos_manual_config) | Community ([@coolsvap](https://github.com/coolsvap)) AWS | Juju | Ubuntu | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/ubuntu/) | [Commercial](http://www.ubuntu.com/cloud/kubernetes) and [Community](https://github.com/juju-solutions/bundle-canonical-kubernetes) ( [@matt](https://github.com/mbruzek), [@chuck](https://github.com/chuckbutler) ) GCE | Juju | Ubuntu | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/ubuntu/) | [Commercial](http://www.ubuntu.com/cloud/kubernetes) and [Community](https://github.com/juju-solutions/bundle-canonical-kubernetes) ( [@matt](https://github.com/mbruzek), [@chuck](https://github.com/chuckbutler) ) Bare Metal | Juju | Ubuntu | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/ubuntu/) | [Commercial](http://www.ubuntu.com/cloud/kubernetes) and [Community](https://github.com/juju-solutions/bundle-canonical-kubernetes) ( [@matt](https://github.com/mbruzek), [@chuck](https://github.com/chuckbutler) ) Rackspace | Juju | Ubuntu | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/ubuntu/) | [Commercial](http://www.ubuntu.com/cloud/kubernetes) and [Community](https://github.com/juju-solutions/bundle-canonical-kubernetes) ( [@matt](https://github.com/mbruzek), [@chuck](https://github.com/chuckbutler) ) Vmware vSphere | Juju | Ubuntu | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/ubuntu/) | [Commercial](http://www.ubuntu.com/cloud/kubernetes) and [Community](https://github.com/juju-solutions/bundle-canonical-kubernetes) ( [@matt](https://github.com/mbruzek), [@chuck](https://github.com/chuckbutler) ) AWS | Saltstack | Debian | AWS | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/aws) | Community ([@justinsb](https://github.com/justinsb)) AWS | kops | Debian | AWS | [docs](https://github.com/kubernetes/kops) | Community ([@justinsb](https://github.com/justinsb)) Bare-metal | custom | Ubuntu | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/ubuntu) | Community ([@resouer](https://github.com/resouer), [@WIZARD-CXY](https://github.com/WIZARD-CXY)) libvirt/KVM | CoreOS | CoreOS | libvirt/KVM | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/libvirt-coreos) | Community ([@lhuard1A](https://github.com/lhuard1A)) oVirt | | | | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/ovirt) | Community ([@simon3z](https://github.com/simon3z)) OpenStack Heat | Saltstack | CentOS | Neutron + flannel hostgw | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/openstack-heat) | Community ([@FujitsuEnablingSoftwareTechnologyGmbH](https://github.com/FujitsuEnablingSoftwareTechnologyGmbH)) Rackspace | CoreOS | CoreOS | flannel | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/rackspace) | Community ([@doublerr](https://github.com/doublerr)) any | any | any | any | [docs](/docs/getting-started-guides/scratch) | Community ([@erictune](https://github.com/erictune)) *Note*: The above table is ordered by version test/used in notes followed by support level. Definition of columns - **IaaS Provider** is who/what provides the virtual or physical machines (nodes) that Kubernetes runs on. - **OS** is the base operating system of the nodes. - **Config. Mgmt** is the configuration management system that helps install and maintain Kubernetes software on the nodes. - **Networking** is what implements the [networking model](/docs/admin/networking). Those with networking type _none_ may not support more than one node, or may support multiple VM nodes only in the same physical node. - **Conformance** indicates whether a cluster created with this configuration has passed the project's conformance tests for supporting the API and base features of Kubernetes v1.0.0. - Support Levels - **Project**: Kubernetes Committers regularly use this configuration, so it usually works with the latest release of Kubernetes. - **Commercial**: A commercial offering with its own support arrangements. - **Community**: Actively supported by community contributions. May not work with more recent releases of Kubernetes. - **Inactive**: No active maintainer. Not recommended for first-time Kubernetes users, and may be deleted soon. - **Notes** is relevant information such as the version of Kubernetes used. [1]: https://gist.github.com/erictune/4cabc010906afbcc5061 [2]: https://gist.github.com/derekwaynecarr/505e56036cdf010bf6b6 [3]: https://gist.github.com/erictune/2f39b22f72565365e59b