Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

Kubean

kubean-io.github.io

LinuxAPISelf-hosted
Visit kubean-io.github.io
Spec score 7.4 #19 of 29 in Kubernetes Management Platforms

What it is

Kubean is an open-source toolchain for managing Kubernetes cluster lifecycles. It runs on an existing Kubernetes cluster and uses Kubespray and other lifecycle engines. A declarative API and Kubernetes resources support installation, uninstallation, upgrades and scaling, including worker-node and control-plane operations. The documented installation method is a Helm chart, requiring an existing standard or cloud-provider Kubernetes cluster and Helm. Deployments can use SSH, with an SSH private key stored in a Kubernetes Secret referenced by a Cluster resource. Kubean supports offline deployment and publishes operating-system packages, images and binaries with releases. Operations can run a playbook or shell command, with optional pre-operation and post-operation hooks. Listed delivery architectures include AMD, ARM and Kunpeng with Kylin. Supported environments include bare metal, virtual machines and cloud environments, with customer-managed control planes. Offline packages cover CentOS, Red Hat, Kylin and Ubuntu; local ISO sources are currently limited to CentOS.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Kubean is a cluster lifecycle management toolchain based on Kubespray and other cluster lifecycle management engines.Read 9 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Architecture
Kubean runs on an existing Kubernetes cluster and uses Kubespray as its underlying technology.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Architecture support
Kubean supports multi-architecture delivery, including AMD and ARM, and lists Kunpeng with Kylin compatibility.Read 9 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Cluster operations
The documentation describes cluster deployment, worker-node and control-plane scaling, version upgrades, and uninstallation.Read 9 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Community support
The roadmap says feature requests can be discussed in project issues and that its schedule depends on community needs.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Custom actions
Kubean allows custom actions to be added to a cluster without changing Kubespray.Read 9 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Custom operations
Cluster operations can run a playbook or shell command, with optional pre-operation and post-operation hooks.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Declarative management
Kubean uses a declarative API to deploy Kubean and manage Kubernetes cluster lifecycles.Read 9 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Deployment access
The documentation describes deploying clusters over SSH and includes an SSH private-key secret option.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Deployment model
Kubean is designed to run as a container and can be installed with a Helm chart.Read 9 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Installation
The maker documents installation as a Helm chart into an existing Kubernetes cluster.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Installation prerequisites
Installation requires an existing standard or cloud-provider Kubernetes cluster and Helm on the control node or cloud terminal.Read 9 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Lifecycle operations
It manages Kubernetes cluster installation, uninstallation, upgrades, and scaling through custom resources and Kubernetes resources.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Offline OS packages
The offline documentation lists CentOS, Red Hat, Kylin, and Ubuntu OS packages as supported, and says UnionTech V20 packages must be built manually.Read 9 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Offline repository limits
The documented local ISO image source currently supports only CentOS, and extra software sources are also currently limited to CentOS.Read 9 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Offline support
Kubean releases offline packages for OS packages, images, and binaries.Read 9 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Offline use
Kubean supports offline deployment and publishes packages for operating system packages, images, and binaries with releases.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Prerequisite
The Helm installation guide requires an existing standard or cloud-provider Kubernetes cluster and Helm.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Project affiliation
The project describes itself as a Cloud Native Computing Foundation sandbox project.Read 9 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Security scanning
The v0.5.1 release notes list enabling Trivy security scanning.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
SSH authentication
Cluster deployment can use an SSH private key stored in a Kubernetes Secret referenced by a Cluster resource.Read 9 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io
Supported architectures
The project lists multi-architecture delivery including AMD, ARM, and Kunpeng with Kylin.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kubean-io.github.io

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Open-source cluster lifecycle toolchain
  • Declarative installation, upgrades, scaling and removal
  • Offline packages for operating systems, images and binaries
  • Supports AMD, ARM and Kunpeng with Kylin
  • Custom playbook or shell operations with hooks

Limits

  • Requires an existing Kubernetes cluster
  • Requires Helm for documented installation
  • Local ISO source currently supports only CentOS
  • Customer-managed control planes

Who it suits

Kubean suits teams managing customer-controlled Kubernetes clusters across bare metal, virtual machines or cloud environments. It assumes an existing Kubernetes cluster and Helm for installation.

Verdict

Kubean provides declarative Kubernetes lifecycle operations with offline, multi-architecture and SSH deployment options. Its prerequisites and current CentOS limitation are explicit, helping teams assess fit before installation.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to KubeanAll alternatives →