Nutanix has introduced NKP Metal, a new capability that brings bare-metal Kubernetes support to the Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP), enabling enterprises to run containerized and AI workloads directly on physical infrastructure with cloud-like simplicity.
Designed for high-performance environments such as AI training and edge computing, NKP Metal eliminates the complexity traditionally associated with bare-metal Kubernetes. It enables organizations to deploy and manage workloads on physical servers while maintaining automation, lifecycle management, and enterprise-grade data services.
Unlike traditional approaches, NKP Metal features a dual-native architecture, allowing both virtual machines and containers to operate seamlessly under a unified operating model. This ensures consistent operations across virtualized and bare-metal environments while optimizing performance for GPU-intensive workloads.
“Running Kubernetes on bare metal has traditionally meant sacrificing the operational simplicity of virtualized environments. With NKP Metal, we’re extending the Nutanix operating model to bare-metal Kubernetes, combining automated lifecycle management with integrated Cloud Native AOS data services to deliver the simplicity, consistency and enterprise storage capabilities customers need on their physical infrastructure,” said Dan Ciruli, Vice President and General Manager, Cloud Native, Nutanix.
The solution also integrates Nutanix Cloud Native AOS and Kubernetes-native data services, giving enterprises flexible storage options while keeping data closer to workloads for improved efficiency and scalability.
Key capabilities include:
- Automated deployment and scaling of bare-metal Kubernetes environments
- Integrated lifecycle management for operating systems and firmware
- Unified operations across containers and virtual machines
- Enterprise storage and data services for Kubernetes workloads
NKP Metal is currently available in early access for select NKP users and is expected to reach general availability in the second half of 2026.
