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Mirantis Kubernetes Engine

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What Mirantis Kubernetes Engine is

Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (MKE 4) is a self-hosted enterprise Kubernetes platform built on the open-source k0s distribution. It supports deployments across public and private clouds, multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud environments, and bare-metal infrastructure. Teams manage cluster lifecycle with the mkectl command-line tool and a declarative mke4.yaml configuration file; standardized APIs and GitOps-based lifecycle management are also available. An MKE 4 cluster includes k0s, a container network interface, the MKE control plane, system services, and user services. Calico is installed by default, with other network interface options supported. A web dashboard manages Kubernetes resources in an MKE-managed cluster, while backup and restore are supported and the CLI upgrade process includes automated backups. Authentication through Dex supports OIDC, SAML, and LDAP, but not MFA. Mirantis describes MKE 4 as secure by default and says its default components are FIPS-validated. A valid license is required, with a free trial license available on request. Mirantis offers 24/7 proactive support or managed services.

Who it suits

MKE 4 may suit organizations managing Kubernetes across cloud, hybrid, or bare-metal environments that can run a self-hosted platform. Teams should check its supported operating systems and authentication limits before adopting it.

What it does well

  • Supports public, private, multi-cloud, hybrid, and bare-metal deployment
  • Manages lifecycle declaratively with mkectl and mke4.yaml
  • Includes a web dashboard for Kubernetes resources
  • Supports backup and restore
  • Offers a trial license on request

What to know first

  • Requires a valid license for use
  • Does not support MFA
  • Manager nodes must run supported Linux distributions
  • Requires x86_64 architecture

Limits

MKE 4 requires a valid license; the trial license is available on request. MFA is unsupported. MKE 4.2.0 and later requires cgroups v2 on all nodes and an upgrade path from MKE 3.9.x.

Plans

PlanBilled and limitsPrice
MKE 4 subscriptionValid license required · subscription-only service; free trial license available on requestOn request

As docs.mirantis.com lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

  1. Open the MKE 4 documentation website.
  2. Request a free trial license or arrange a valid subscription license.
  3. Prepare x86_64 nodes with supported operating systems; manager nodes must use supported Linux.
  4. Use mkectl and an mke4.yaml configuration file to manage cluster lifecycle.
  5. Choose a supported deployment environment and network interface option; Calico is installed by default.

Verdict

MKE 4 combines self-hosted Kubernetes management with multiple deployment options and declarative lifecycle tools. Its licensing, supported-node requirements, and lack of MFA are important constraints to weigh.

Questions

Is there a free plan?

No. MKE 4 requires a valid license for lawful use.

Which platforms and operating systems does it support?

The listed platforms are API, Linux, self-hosted, web, and Windows. Supported systems include Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04, RHEL 9.6 and 8.10, Rocky Linux 9.4, and Windows Server 2022 worker nodes on x86_64; manager nodes must run Linux.

Does MKE 4 support multi-factor authentication?

No. MFA is listed as unsupported; Dex supports OIDC, SAML, and LDAP authentication.

Is MKE 4 open source?

MKE 4 is built on the open-source k0s distribution and lets users assemble platforms from CNCF open-source components. A valid MKE 4 license is required for use.

What support does Mirantis offer?

Mirantis offers a choice of 24/7 proactive support or managed services for MKE 4.

Facts from Mirantis Kubernetes Engine's own pages

Architecture
An MKE 4 cluster includes k0s, a container network interface, the MKE control plane, system services, and user services. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Architecture requirement
MKE 4 requires x86_64 architecture, and manager/control-plane nodes must use a supported Linux distribution. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Authentication
MKE 4 supports OIDC, SAML, and LDAP authentication through Dex; MFA is listed as unsupported. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Authentication limit
MKE 4 authentication does not support multi-factor authentication (MFA). · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Automation
MKE 4 provides standardized API interfaces and GitOps-based lifecycle management. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Backup and upgrades
MKE 4 supports backup and restore, and its CLI upgrade process includes automated backups. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Company headquarters
Mirantis lists its address as 900 E Hamilton Avenue, Suite 650, Campbell, California 95008. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Composable platform
MKE 4 lets users assemble platforms from CNCF open-source components and manage them declaratively. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Dashboard
MKE 4 includes a web-based dashboard for managing Kubernetes resources in an MKE-managed cluster. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Deployment
MKE 4 supports deployment across public, private, multi-cloud, hybrid-cloud, and bare-metal environments. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Deployment environments
MKE 4 supports deploying applications to public, private, multi-cloud, hybrid-cloud, or bare-metal environments. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Headquarters
Campbell, California, United States · docs.mirantis.com, 28 Sept 2026
Licensing
MKE 4 requires a valid license for lawful use. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Management
The mkectl command-line tool manages the cluster lifecycle using a declarative mke4.yaml configuration file. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Networking
MKE 4 installs with Calico by default and supports other container network interface options. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Operating systems
MKE 4 supports Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04, RHEL 9.6 and 8.10, Rocky Linux 9.4, and Windows Server 2022 worker nodes on x86_64; manager nodes must run Linux. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Purpose
MKE 4 is an enterprise Kubernetes platform built on the open-source k0s distribution. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Security
Mirantis describes MKE 4 as secure by default and says its default components are FIPS-validated. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Support
Mirantis offers a choice of 24/7 proactive support or managed services for MKE 4. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026
Upgrade limit
MKE 4.2.0 and later requires cgroups v2 on all nodes, and upgrades to those versions must come from MKE 3.9.x. · docs.mirantis.com, 7 Oct 2026

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