Nutanix and Canonical Partner to Simplify Kubernetes Deployments with NKP and Ubuntu Pro

Built-In Ubuntu Pro Support Enhances Security Simplicity, and Flexibility for Kubernetes on NKP

Nutanix is excited to announce our new partnership with Canonical Ltd., the publisher of Ubuntu and provider of open source security, support and services. Through this partnership, Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) customers will have the option to choose a well-supported and secure Linux operating system for NKP to help simplify Kubernetes® installation and adoption—reitenforcing the engineering commitment at Nutanix to the Linux, Cloud-Native and Open-Source communities.

Kubernetes for All

With this partnership, Ubuntu Pro, one of the leading operating systems for AI workloads, will be available as a built-in option for NKP Pro and Ultimate. This integration makes it easy for organizations to deploy and manage Kubernetes clusters on a trusted, enterprise-ready Linux platform. In addition to 10+ years of security maintenance for Ubuntu and open source packages in the operating system’s trusted repositories, customers can now get enterprise class features like Linux kernel vulnerability patching without a system reboot with Canonical Livepatch, and the ability to run Linux FIPS 140 workloads. Learn more about the other differences in NKP license options here.

Security From Top to Bottom

Starting with this release, Nutanix will begin shipping the Ubuntu operating system with NKP as an additional option. NKP customers will benefit from the seamless, secure and stable images that Canonical is known for and with a reputation for rapid mitigation for critical and high CVEs.

With new vulnerabilities being discovered and exploited everyday, production systems need to be updated often to mitigate the risk. With NKP’s lifecycle management making patches easy to deploy, enterprises of all sizes can rest easy knowing that the underlying operating system is security-maintained and can readily be updated by the enterprise’s IT team. .

“We are excited to bring the Ubuntu experience, the cloud-native world’s favorite operating system, as an option to NKP customers”, said Mark Lewis, VP of Application Services at Canonical. “Combining the security, stability and long-term support of Ubuntu Pro, with the flexibility of NKP provides a winning choice for enterprises looking to rapidly innovate and iterate as they develop next-gen solutions on their infrastructure - whether on-prem, or in the cloud.”

Built for Choice and Flexibility

While this is an exciting new offering for NKP customers, we also realize that there is no one-size fits all solution, especially when it comes to cloud-native workloads. As such, NKP offers customers full flexibility in their infrastructure stack, including the underlying operating system. Customers can use other options or custom built operating systems as needed and NKP will adapt to meet their needs as well.

Ready to streamline your Kubernetes deployments with NKP?

Explore the benefits of this integration and see how Nutanix can help you simplify, secure, and scale your cloud-native operations. Learn more about NKP or try it for yourself with a Test Drive.

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