Cluster API
Declarative APIs for creating, configuring, and managing Kubernetes clusters.
Overview
Cluster API (CAPI) is not a GitOps application delivery tool, but a foundational technology for multi-cluster GitOps. It uses a declarative, Kubernetes-style API to manage the lifecycle of other Kubernetes clusters. You can define a cluster's configuration (node size, count, K8s version) in a YAML file and apply it to a management cluster. CAPI then works with infrastructure providers (like AWS, Azure, vSphere) to provision the cluster. This allows you to manage your cluster fleet via GitOps, by storing cluster definitions in Git and using a tool like Flux or Argo CD to reconcile them.
✨ Key Features
- Declarative cluster lifecycle management
- Manages multiple Kubernetes clusters from a single management cluster
- Extensible provider model for different infrastructures (AWS, Azure, GCP, vSphere, etc.)
- Enables GitOps for cluster infrastructure
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Uses Kubernetes-native declarative APIs
- Manages clusters as custom resources within a management cluster
- Enables a powerful GitOps workflow for infrastructure
Unique Value: Allows you to manage Kubernetes clusters in the same declarative, GitOps-driven way you manage your applications.
🎯 Use Cases (4)
✅ Best For
- Using Git to declaratively define and manage the entire lifecycle of a fleet of Kubernetes clusters on any infrastructure.
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Deploying applications to existing clusters (it provisions the clusters themselves).
- Users looking for a simple, UI-based tool.
🏆 Alternatives
Provides a Kubernetes-native approach compared to general IaC tools like Terraform. Many higher-level platforms like D2iQ's DKP are built on top of Cluster API.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
🛟 Support Options
- ✓ Live Chat
- ✓ Dedicated Support (Community (Slack) tier)
💰 Pricing
Free tier: Open source, self-hosted, no limits.
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