vCluster glossary
This page contains definitions for common terms used throughout the vCluster documentation.
Admission Control
A Kubernetes feature that intercepts requests to the API server prior to persistence of the object, allowing for validation, mutation, or rejection of requests based on configured policies.
Related terms: API Server, Control Plane
API Server
The core component of Kubernetes that exposes the Kubernetes API. It is the front-end for the Kubernetes control plane and handles all REST operations, validating and configuring data for API objects.
Related terms: Control Plane, rate-limiting
Control Plane
The container orchestration layer that exposes the API and interfaces to define, deploy, and manage the lifecycle of containers. In vCluster, each virtual cluster has its own control plane components.
Related terms: API Server, vCluster
Host Cluster
The physical Kubernetes cluster where virtual clusters are deployed and run. The host cluster provides the infrastructure resources (CPU, memory, storage, networking) that virtual clusters leverage, while maintaining isolation between different virtual environments.
Related terms: Virtual Cluster
K0s
A lightweight, certified Kubernetes distribution that can be used in virtual clusters as an alternative to K3s or standard Kubernetes.
Related terms: K3s, K8s
K3s
A lightweight, certified Kubernetes distribution often used as the default distribution for virtual clusters due to its minimal resource requirements and fast startup time.
Related terms: K8s, K0s
K8s
The standard Kubernetes distribution that can be used in virtual clusters, offering full compatibility with upstream Kubernetes features.
Related terms: K3s, K0s
Multi-tenancy
The capability to host multiple separate users, teams, or workloads on the same infrastructure while providing isolation between them. Virtual clusters enhance multi-tenancy in Kubernetes environments.
Related terms: Virtual Cluster
Syncer
A component in vCluster that synchronizes resources between the virtual cluster and the host cluster, enabling virtual clusters to function while maintaining isolation.
Related terms: vCluster, Virtual Cluster
vCluster
An open-source software product that creates and manages virtual Kubernetes clusters inside a host Kubernetes cluster. vCluster improves isolation and multi-tenancy capabilities while reducing infrastructure costs.
Related terms: Virtual Cluster, Host Cluster
Virtual Cluster
A certified Kubernetes distribution that runs as an isolated, virtual environment nested inside a physical host cluster. Virtual clusters run inside host cluster namespaces but operate as independent Kubernetes environments, each with its own API server, control plane, syncer, and set of resources.
Related terms: vCluster, Host Cluster