Talos Linux for Kubernetes:
Forget everything you know about Linux

Yeah, there's a learning curve..

No Bash. No SSH. No Systemd.

This is not your typical Linux distro.
Talos Linux is Linux reimagined for Kubernetes. Why is it worth learning a completely new way to administer Linux? .

Managed by API, making operations easily automated, scalable and simple.
Declarative configuration of the operating system by a YAML file that fully defines the machine configuration. No configuration drift. GitOps ready.
Deployments are fast. Create, upgrade, or redeploy an entire cluster in minutes.
No SSH, no patching, no package manager. No configuration management tools. No errors and outages.
Upgrades are simple and atomic, using a dual disk image scheme with roll back.

Simplicity

Easier management from a single, consistent, API-driven platform

"Talos is by far the easiest to use Kubernetes OS. I just love being able to declaratively configure the entire operating system with a single file. No more hacky scripts!"

Gerard de Leeuw

Craftsmen BV

Kubernetes bring manageability to applications. Talos Linux brings the same principles to Linux and Kubernetes itself.

Easier updates, simpler scale. Manage hundreds of systems like you’re managing one, whether on public cloud, virtualized platforms, bare metal or at the edge. The same API-driven tools, everywhere you deploy.

A single platform. Simpler management.

automatically installs hardened Kubernetes.
Automates common time consuming and error prone management tasks.
Supports all platforms: major public cloud providers, virtualization platforms, and bare metal, including ARM technology.
Kubernetes on the edge: Talos Linux supports edge clusters, edge workers, and even Kubernetes on Raspberry Pi and other Single Board Computers.
Development-to-Production Workflow: ideal for developer workstations, supporting QEMU, Firecracker micro VMs and Docker containers. This allows the same OS through the entire app lifecycle from dev to prod
Full support for GPUs

Security

IT infrastructure designed with security at the core

Built with security enabled by default, Talos Linux is ideal for highly regulated environments where compliance is critical.

Talos is hardened by design and configuration. Everything not needed to support Kubernetes is removed, resulting in a smaller, secure, more stable operating system:

Built with the Kernel Self Protection Project configuration recommendations.
API secured with Mutual TLS and RBAC.
Minimal attack surface: No console, shell or SSH, and only 9 binaries in the OS.
CIS Kubernetes guidelines applied by default. A Talos Linux CIS Benchmark is available, but is very brief, as security is enabled by default.
Includes the latest stable versions of Kubernetes and Linux, ensuring stability and security issues are addressed.
Runs from a read-only SquashFS filesystem running from RAM. Bad actors cannot tamper with your hosts, even if they gain access.
Supports TPM based disk encryption and Secureboot.

Supported

Open Source Code, Enterprise grade support

Talos Linux is 100% open source code. Use it for free, work with an engaged community, and contribute back if you wish. However, if you want the assurance of expert Kubernetes support, 24 x 7 response, professional services and training, Sidero’s team of professionals can help.

A support contract from Sidero Labs lets you focus on building value for your business, with confidence in your Kubernetes infrastructure.

Trusted By Leading Companies

Talos takes the complexity out of running Kubernetes so I can spend more time building software and less time operating it

John Simon

Application Developer

READY? GET STARTED TODAY!

Want to try Talos Linux out by yourself? We recommend the following:

For the simplest experience, try Omni, the SaaS for Kubernetes, and you can have a fully production ready Kubernetes cluster on bare metal in minutes.

But if you want to explore Talos Linux with a manual deployment:

Try locally

Install Talos Linux on your local machine in Docker, using the Quickstart guide. This will give you a full Kubernetes cluster powered by an API managed operating system, all running locally in containers.
Join our community on Slack or Matrix to ask questions.
Get support at GitHub Discussions.

Deploy on Bare Metal, Cloud, Hypervisors or SBCs:

Once you are ready to deploy Kubernetes on “real” infrastructure:

Read the Getting Started guide, as well as:
The documentation specific to your virtualization platform, bare metal platform, cloud platform, or SBC.

If you run into any issues, reach out via Slack or Matrix, or contact us, and we can setup a call to work through any problems.

Talos Linux for Kubernetes: Forget everything you know about Linux