Self-host Proxmox Kubernetes Engine
v0.0.7Kubernetes cluster automation for Proxmox VE
- Stars
- 244
- RAM
- 4 GiB
- Storage
- 30 GiB
- Requires
- ArgoCD, capmox (Proxmox Cluster API Provider), Cert-manager, Cluster API, Kubernetes (K3s), Proxmox VE
What is Proxmox Kubernetes Engine?
PKE automates the creation and lifecycle of highly available Kubernetes clusters on Proxmox VE. It builds on the Kubernetes Cluster API and adds integrations for storage (proxmox-csi), load balancing (kube-vip), and networking (Cilium). The tool targets homelab enthusiasts and small-to-medium businesses wanting a lighter alternative to enterprise platforms. No SSH access to Proxmox hosts is needed. You start with a management VM running K3s, then apply ArgoCD applications to install Cluster API and the PKE ClusterClass. Clusters are defined declaratively as Kubernetes resources.
Should you self-host Proxmox Kubernetes Engine?
Proxmox Kubernetes Engine scores 41/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #10 of 11 in Container Orchestration. It has 244 GitHub stars.
It shipped 7 stable releases in the past year. The latest, v0.0.7, came out on 13 September 2026. New versions land roughly every 2 months.
Setup is advanced: plan for several services and some ongoing maintenance. It is AGPL-3.0-licensed.
Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is Docker Engine (80/100, 72 217 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See Proxmox Kubernetes Engine vs Docker Engine side by side.
Features
- Cluster autoscaling
- Fully API-driven / GitOps
- Multi-Cluster Management
- Native Proxmox storage integration
- No SSH access required
- OIDC authentication for clustersConfigured via controlPlaneConfig variable
Proxmox Kubernetes Engine README
FAQ
Who is Manuel Henke and how is support handled?
Manuel Henke is the developer of PKE. Support is provided directly by him (no call centers), including architecture consulting, setup assistance, and remote debugging.
What are the pre-built VM images?
Pre-built, optimized Cloud-Init images with all drivers and kernel tweaks included, provided to support subscribers to save time on template creation.
How is the price calculated? What is a 'Socket'?
Pricing is based on physical CPU sockets of your Proxmox virtualization cluster. A socket is a physical CPU slot on the motherboard. Cores or VMs are not counted.
What is the difference between the Open-Source PKE and the paid support?
The open-source version contains 100% of the code with all automation and scaling features for free. Paid support adds access to a tested 'Enterprise' update channel (similar to Proxmox Enterprise Repository), pre-built VM templates (Cloud-Init images), and direct support from the developer.
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