Scaling Kubernetes to 2,000 Pods with 10,000 Interfaces per Worker Node - Achieving Stability in High-Density Environments

Learn to implement a high-density Kubernetes deployment that achieves 2,000 pods per worker node with 10,000 network interfaces in this 28-minute conference talk. Discover how to overcome technical challenges in IPv6-only environments at extreme container densities, including NIC hardware limitations, MAC address table exhaustion, and IPAM bottlenecks. Explore the dual-CNI architecture solution that combines lightweight ipvlan for primary networking with Multus-orchestrated macvlan interfaces for workload connectivity. Master kernel parameter optimization techniques and partitioned IPAM implementation strategies that enable stable operation at cluster-wide densities of 12,000 pods across six worker nodes. Examine performance testing results demonstrating consistent sub-millisecond latency and multi-gigabit throughput without packet loss, proving viability for research environments modeling dynamic network topologies at scale. Gain practical frameworks for deploying containerized applications at densities far beyond Kubernetes' default scaling parameters.