What is Talos Linux?

What it is

On most Linux servers an administrator logs in, installs packages, and changes settings by hand. Talos Linux ships only what Kubernetes needs, has no shell to log in to, and is managed entirely through an API and configuration files.

Talos Linux is open source and developed by Sidero Labs. Its system files are read-only, so a node cannot drift from its intended setup over time. Changing a node means applying a new configuration, and upgrading means replacing the whole system image in one step.

What businesses use it for

• Production Kubernetes: clusters on physical servers, virtual machines, or cloud instances that all behave the same way.
• A smaller attack surface: with no shell and no extra packages, there is less on each node to break into or keep patched.
• Repeatable builds: a cluster is described in configuration, so it can be rebuilt or extended without guesswork.
• Predictable upgrades: the operating system and Kubernetes are upgraded as whole versions, node by node.

How KawaConnect uses Talos Linux

We run Kubernetes on Talos Linux with Cilium networking, and deliver applications with Helm and GitOps so every change is recorded and can be rolled back. Talos nodes often run as virtual machines on Proxmox VE. For workloads that do not need a cluster, we use ordinary Linux servers or Docker instead.

Learn more

• Talos Linux website and documentationInstallation guides, configuration reference, and release notes from the makers of Talos.
• Talos Linux on GitHubThe source code, releases, and issue tracker for the project.
• Sidero LabsThe company that develops Talos Linux and offers commercial support for it.