Freedom251 › Software-Defined Networking Software
Kube-OVN
What Kube-OVN is
Kube-OVN combines OVN and Open vSwitch with Kubernetes to orchestrate cloud-native networks. It provides subnet management, static IP allocation, gateways, hybrid underlay and overlay networks, VPC features, QoS, ACLs and traffic mirroring. VPC networks support separate address spaces and networking resources for tenants. The project recommends it for Kubernetes environments that need KubeVirt support or multi-tenant networking; Kube-OVN also supports KubeVirt virtual machine live migration without network interruption.
Documented integrations include Cilium, MetalLB, OpenStack, Submariner and OVN interconnect. It runs on x86_64 and arm64, with one-click installation scripts in its documentation. The project says it has been validated in production with clusters of thousands of nodes and hundreds of thousands of pods. Kube-OVN is free under the Apache-2.0 license, deployed on-premises with a centralized control plane. The project advises against it for OpenShift, public-cloud managed Kubernetes, or cases needing an all-in-one CNI, ingress, service mesh and observability stack.
Who it suits
Kube-OVN is aimed at Kubernetes environments needing multi-tenant networking or KubeVirt support. Its documented integrations may also suit deployments using Cilium, MetalLB, OpenStack or Submariner.
What it does well
- Free under the Apache-2.0 license
- Supports separate tenant address spaces
- Supports KubeVirt live migration without network interruption
- Runs on x86_64 and arm64
- Documents integrations including Cilium and MetalLB
What to know first
- Project advises against use with OpenShift
- Project advises against public-cloud managed Kubernetes
- Not recommended for all-in-one networking and observability needs
Limits
The free plan is the open-source Kube-OVN project under the Apache-2.0 license. The project advises against OpenShift, public-cloud managed Kubernetes, and use cases requiring an all-in-one CNI, ingress, service mesh, and observability stack.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kube-OVN | Open-source Kubernetes networking project · Apache-2.0 license | Free |
As kubeovn.github.io lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Kube-OVN documentation website
- Use the documented one-click installation scripts to build a container network
- Deploy it on-premises on x86_64 or arm64
Verdict
Kube-OVN offers network orchestration features for Kubernetes, including tenant VPCs and KubeVirt migration support. Check the project's stated exclusions before choosing it for OpenShift, managed cloud Kubernetes, or an all-in-one stack.
Questions
How much does Kube-OVN cost?
Kube-OVN is free. Its listed plan is free.
Is Kube-OVN open source?
Yes. The project license is Apache-2.0.
Which platforms does it support?
The listed platforms are API, Linux, and self-hosted. The project also states that it runs on x86_64 and arm64.
Does Kube-OVN support KubeVirt?
Yes. It supports virtual machine live migration without network interruption.
Which integrations are documented?
They include Cilium, MetalLB, OpenStack, Submariner, and OVN interconnect.
Where can teams get support?
The project links to Slack for community discussion and to Alauda for support.
Facts from Kube-OVN's own pages
- Architecture support
- The project states that it runs on x86_64 and arm64 platforms. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Best fit
- The project recommends Kube-OVN for Kubernetes environments that need KubeVirt support or multi-tenant networking. · kubeovn.github.io, 4 Oct 2026
- Cilium integration
- CNI chaining with Cilium combines Kube-OVN network abstractions with Cilium eBPF monitoring and security capabilities. · kubeovn.github.io, 4 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The documentation provides one-click installation scripts for building production-ready container networks. · kubeovn.github.io, 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Documented integrations include Cilium, MetalLB, OpenStack, Submariner, and OVN interconnect. · kubeovn.github.io, 4 Oct 2026
- KubeVirt
- Kube-OVN supports KubeVirt virtual machine live migration without network interruption. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository identifies Apache-2.0 as the project license. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Limitations
- The project advises against Kube-OVN for OpenShift, public-cloud managed Kubernetes, and cases requiring an all-in-one CNI, ingress, service mesh, and observability stack. · kubeovn.github.io, 4 Oct 2026
- Multi-tenancy
- Kube-OVN supports VPC networks with separate address spaces and tenant networking resources. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Network features
- Its documented capabilities include subnet management, static IP allocation, gateways, hybrid underlay and overlay networks, VPC features, QoS, ACLs, and traffic mirroring. · kubeovn.github.io, 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Kube-OVN combines OVN and Open vSwitch with Kubernetes to provide cloud-native network orchestration. · kubeovn.github.io, 4 Oct 2026
- Scale
- The project says it has been validated in production with clusters of thousands of nodes and hundreds of thousands of pods. · kubeovn.github.io, 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- The project accepts vulnerability reports by email and says a maintainer will acknowledge receipt within three days. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project links to Slack for community discussion and Alauda for support. · kubeovn.github.io, 4 Oct 2026