Convert Figma logo to code with AI

siderolabs logotalos

Talos Linux is a modern Linux distribution built for Kubernetes.

6,413
513
6,413
272
View on GitHub

Top Related Projects

rancher's avatar

k3os

3,502

Purpose-built OS for Kubernetes, fully managed by Kubernetes.

bottlerocket-os's avatar

bottlerocket

8,584

An operating system designed for hosting containers

Quick Overview

Talos is a modern, minimal, and secure Linux distribution designed for running Kubernetes. It's purpose-built for containerized workloads, focusing on security, immutability, and ease of management. Talos aims to simplify Kubernetes deployments and provide a robust foundation for cloud-native environments.

Pros

  • Immutable and minimal design, reducing attack surface and improving security
  • Built-in support for Kubernetes, simplifying cluster setup and management
  • Automated updates and self-healing capabilities
  • Designed for scalability and high performance in distributed systems

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for users unfamiliar with Kubernetes or immutable infrastructure
  • Limited flexibility compared to general-purpose Linux distributions
  • May require changes to existing workflows or tooling
  • Relatively new project, still evolving and gaining adoption

Getting Started

To get started with Talos, follow these steps:

  1. Download the Talos ISO or VM image from the official releases page.
  2. Create a configuration file for your Talos node:
version: v1alpha1
machine:
  type: init
  token: your-token-here
  ca:
    crt: <base64-encoded-ca-cert>
    key: <base64-encoded-ca-key>
cluster:
  name: talos-cluster
  controlPlane:
    endpoint: https://1.2.3.4:6443
  1. Boot the Talos image and apply the configuration.
  2. Use the talosctl CLI tool to interact with your Talos node:
talosctl config endpoint <node-ip>
talosctl config node <node-ip>
talosctl kubeconfig
  1. Access your Kubernetes cluster using kubectl:
export KUBECONFIG=$HOME/.kube/config
kubectl get nodes

For more detailed instructions and advanced configurations, refer to the official Talos documentation.

Competitor Comparisons

rancher logo

k3os

3,502

Purpose-built OS for Kubernetes, fully managed by Kubernetes.

Pros of k3os

  • Lightweight and optimized for edge and IoT deployments
  • Integrated with k3s for easy Kubernetes setup
  • User-friendly configuration and management

Cons of k3os

  • Less focus on security hardening compared to Talos
  • Limited customization options for advanced users
  • Smaller community and ecosystem

Code Comparison

k3os configuration example:

ssh_authorized_keys:
  - ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAADAQABAAABAQ...
k3os:
  data_sources:
    - cdrom
    - aws
    - gcp

Talos configuration example:

machine:
  type: controlplane
  certSANs:
    - 10.0.0.10
    - cluster.local
cluster:
  controlPlane:
    endpoint: https://10.0.0.10:6443

Both projects aim to provide lightweight, Kubernetes-focused operating systems, but they differ in their approach and target use cases. k3os is more geared towards simplicity and edge computing, while Talos focuses on security, immutability, and enterprise-grade features. The code examples show the different configuration styles, with k3os using a simpler structure and Talos offering more detailed control over the system setup.

bottlerocket-os logo

bottlerocket

8,584

An operating system designed for hosting containers

Pros of Bottlerocket

  • Backed by Amazon, potentially offering better integration with AWS services
  • Designed with a focus on security, featuring a read-only file system and automatic updates
  • Includes a web-based admin container for easier management

Cons of Bottlerocket

  • Less flexible than Talos, with a more opinionated design
  • Limited to container workloads, while Talos supports broader use cases
  • Smaller community and ecosystem compared to Talos

Code Comparison

Talos configuration example:

machine:
  type: worker
  install:
    disk: /dev/sda
  kubelet:
    extraArgs:
      feature-gates: ServerSideApply=true

Bottlerocket configuration example:

[settings.kubernetes]
api-server = "https://example.com"
cluster-name = "bottlerocket-cluster"
[settings.host-containers.admin]
enabled = true

Both projects aim to provide secure, minimal operating systems for running containers, but they differ in their approach and target use cases. Talos offers a more flexible and customizable platform, while Bottlerocket focuses on simplicity and tight integration with AWS services. The choice between them depends on specific requirements and infrastructure preferences.

Convert Figma logo designs to code with AI

Visual Copilot

Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.

Try Visual Copilot

README

Talos Linux

A modern OS for Kubernetes.

Release Pre-release

Talos is a modern OS for running Kubernetes: secure, immutable, and minimal. Talos is fully open source, production-ready, and supported by the people at Sidero Labs All system management is done via an API - there is no shell or interactive console. Benefits include:

  • Security: Talos reduces your attack surface: It's minimal, hardened, and immutable. All API access is secured with mutual TLS (mTLS) authentication.
  • Predictability: Talos eliminates configuration drift, reduces unknown factors by employing immutable infrastructure ideology, and delivers atomic updates.
  • Evolvability: Talos simplifies your architecture, increases your agility, and always delivers current stable Kubernetes and Linux versions.

Documentation

For instructions on deploying and managing Talos, see the Documentation.

Community

If you're interested in this project and would like to help in engineering efforts or have general usage questions, we are happy to have you! We hold a weekly meeting that all audiences are welcome to attend.

We would appreciate your feedback so that we can make Talos even better! To do so, you can take our survey.

Office Hours

  • When: Second Monday of every month at 16:30 UTC.
  • Where: Google Meet.

You can subscribe to this meeting by joining the community forum above.

Note: You can convert the meeting hours to your local time.

Contributing

Contributions are welcomed and appreciated! See Contributing for our guidelines.

License

GitHub

Some software we distribute is under the General Public License family of licenses or other licenses that require we provide you with the source code. If you would like a copy of the source code for this software, please contact us via email: info at SideroLabs.com.