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What is K2s?

K2s is a Kubernetes distribution which packages different open-source components into one small and easy to use solution focusing on running mixed Windows-based & Linux-based workloads in Kubernetes.

This solution is installable on Windows hosts.

The name K2s comes from the fact that we start with the default setting of 2 Kubernetes nodes (Windows & Linux) and it relates to K8s as synonym for Kubernetes.

Why K2s?

The problems that K2s solves are the following:

  • It provides the option to construct a K8s cluster by reusing the Windows host as a node. This eliminates the need for an extra Windows license in the case of a mixed Windows & Linux cluster.
  • Offline support is available for all use cases, eliminating the requirement for an internet connection.
  • It offers an easy path for migrating bare metal Windows applications to K8s workloads.
  • It maintains a low footprint by utilizing a single virtual machine for Linux workloads (Hyper-V or WSL).
  • It is built 100% on open-source technology, requiring no additional licenses.

Who uses K2s?

K2s started as an internal project of Siemens Healthineers AG under a different name and is now used across different business units.

Siemens Healthineers AG Logo
Siemens Healthineers AG

See also Siemens Healthineers on GitHub.

Quick Start

Get started here.

Features

K2s includes the following features:

  • Support of mixed Windows and Linux Kubernetes workloads
  • Support for multiple Windows versions (e.g. 10, 11 and Server OS versions, see Supported OS Versions)
  • Multiple network cards support, including support for LAN and WI-FI network interfaces
  • Offline support by being able to operate the K8s cluster and workloads without internet connectivity
  • Building a Container Image for building and testing Windows and Linux containers
  • Rich Set of Addons which can be used optionally for additional functionality
  • K2s supports different Hosting Variants
  • Template-based setup of the different variants through configuration files
  • Main configuration through central configuration file
  • HTTP proxy support in entire functionality
  • Debugging helpers for analyzing network connectivity
  • Status information on cluster availability
  • Helpers for setting up the K8s cluster for on-premises bare metal nodes and in the cloud using Azure Kubernetes Service
  • Improved overall DNS support and extension possibilities with custom DNS servers
  • Overall HTTP(S) extension support for intranet resources or custom locations
  • Acceptance tests for ensuring full functionality of the cluster

Security

Reporting a Vulnerability

The K2s project treats security vulnerabilities seriously, so we strive to take action quickly when required.

The project requests that security issues be disclosed in a responsible manner to allow adequate time to respond. If a security issue or vulnerability has been found, please disclose the details to our dedicated email address:
dieter.krotz@siemens-healthineers.com

Please include as much information as possible with the report. The following details assist with analysis efforts:

  • Description of the vulnerability
  • Affected component (version, commit, branch, etc.)
  • Affected code (file path, line numbers, etc.)
  • Exploit code

Security Team

The security team currently consists of the K2s maintainers.