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Multus CNI

github.com

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Spec score 7.0 #21 of 28 in Container Networking Software

Spec sheet

Purpose
Multus CNI is a Kubernetes CNI meta-plugin that attaches multiple network interfaces to pods by calling other CNI plugins.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Integrations
The project gives VLAN, VXLAN and PTP as examples of networks reached through other CNI plugins.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support
The project directs users to open a GitHub issue or ask questions in the Network Plumbing Working Group Slack #general channel.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
The repository lists the Apache-2.0 license.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Architecture support
The project says it builds for multiple architectures, but testing and validation are performed against x86; other architectures are supported through best-effort community contributions.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
CNI integrations
Multus can invoke other CNI plugins, with the project describing examples including VLAN, VXLAN, and PTP networks.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Compatibility
The quickstart says Multus supports Kubernetes versions supported by the Kubernetes community.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Deployment options
The project documents both thick and thin plugin deployments; the thick version uses a daemon and shim.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Device resources
Multus passes device IDs assigned by kubelet to delegate CNI plugins and does not allocate devices itself.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Distribution
The project offers installation by Kubernetes DaemonSet, downloadable release binaries, GitHub Container Registry images, or building from source.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Existing network required
The quickstart requires Kubernetes and an installed default CNI network before Multus is deployed.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
How it works
Multus calls other CNI plugins to provide additional network interfaces to multi-homed pods.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Kubernetes support
The maintainers say they support Kubernetes versions that the Kubernetes community maintains.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Metrics
The README says the thick deployment supports metrics that were unavailable with the thin deployment.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Network configuration
It uses NetworkAttachmentDefinition custom resources to specify configurations for additional pod interfaces.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Prerequisite
Installation requires Kubernetes and an already configured default CNI network for pod-to-pod connectivity.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Resource trade-off
The README recommends the thick plugin for most environments and says it consumes more resources than the thin plugin.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security detail
The quickstart says installation creates a node directory containing authentication information for Multus to access the Kubernetes API.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support channels
The project directs questions to GitHub issues or the #general channel in NPWG Slack.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Where Specifiction places it

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