IPv6 First, Not Just Ready - Kubernetes Without IPv4 Using Cilium at ESnet

Learn how to deploy production-grade Kubernetes clusters in IPv6-only environments using Cilium as the Container Network Interface (CNI) in this 26-minute conference talk from the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. Discover the architectural challenges and solutions implemented at ESnet, the U.S. Department of Energy's high-performance research network, for running on-premises Kubernetes without IPv4. Explore critical design considerations including DNS64 and NAT64 network support, stable egress IPv6 address management, traffic pattern optimization, masquerading decisions, and proper PodCIDR and ServiceCIDR sizing. Master Cilium's advanced features such as eBPF datapath with kube proxy replacement, BGP configuration, load balancer IPAM, GatewayAPI implementation, and NAT46x64Gateway deployment for networks lacking NAT64 gateways. Gain practical knowledge on setting up IPv6-only KIND clusters with Cilium for application testing during development phases, and understand the implications of choosing between tunneling and native routing modes in IPv6-first Kubernetes deployments.