RKE is a Kubernetes distribution that runs entirely within containers and installs via a simple command-line tool.
RKE solves the problem of deploying Kubernetes clusters across diverse infrastructure by packaging the entire distribution in containers, eliminating the need for complex host-level package management. The tool works by reading a cluster configuration file and orchestrating container-based Kubernetes components across your nodes, making deployment straightforward and reproducible regardless of the underlying operating system or cloud provider.
RKE suits teams that need to run Kubernetes on existing infrastructure without heavyweight installation procedures. It works well for on-premises deployments, multi-cloud scenarios, and environments where you control the underlying nodes. The project is reaching end of life, with version 1.8 as the final release in the 1.x series; users are encouraged to migrate to RKE2 for ongoing support and new features.
The project typically responds to issues and pull requests within one to two weeks. Development activity centers on infrastructure and cloud-related work, with the issue tracker dominated by bug reports and work from infrastructure-focused teams.
