k0s

Infrastructure2048MB+ RAM

Zero-friction Kubernetes distribution

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kubernetesk8sorchestration

Deploy k0s in 3 Steps

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

Select k0s

Choose from our template library

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required

Do It Yourself

Deploy k0s via Command Line

Prefer the command line? Follow this step-by-step guide to deploy k0s manually on your VPS.

Open a Terminal Connection

Start by opening a terminal window and connecting to your VPS via SSH.

terminal

# Connect to your VPS
ssh root@your-server-ip

# Or with a specific SSH key
ssh -i ~/.ssh/your-key root@your-server-ip

First time? Docker required! Install it with: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

Create Application Directory

Create a dedicated space for your application deployment.

terminal

# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/k0s
cd ~/apps/k0s

Create Deployment Configuration

Create a docker-compose.yml file with the following configuration:

docker-compose.yml

services:
  k0s:
    image: docker.io/k0sproject/k0s:latest
    command: k0s controller --config=/etc/k0s/k0s.yaml
    ports:
      - "6443:6443"
      - "9443:9443"
    volumes:
      - k0s_data:/var/lib/k0s
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
    privileged: true
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  k0s_data:

Configuration Variables

PORTAPI server port(default: 6443)

KUBE_PORTKube API port(default: 9443)

Launch Your Application

Deploy the stack and monitor the startup process.

terminal

# Spin up containers
docker compose up -d

# Verify deployment
docker compose ps

# Check logs for errors
docker compose logs -f

Enable External Access

Set up firewall rules to permit incoming connections.

terminal

# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 6443/tcp
sudo ufw reload

# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:6443

Skip the Terminal

Skip the command line. Deploy visually.

Deploy k0s with a beautiful UI instead. No SSH, no YAML editing, no terminal commands. Just click, configure, and deploy in under 3 minutes.

Visual config editor
Instant deployment
Automatic HTTPS
Smooth updates
Live monitoring
Quick rollbacks

Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license

After Deployment

After deploying k0s with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup

Get kubeconfig

Configure kubectl

Deploy workloads

Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.

k0s FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting k0s

How do I deploy k0s with Server Compass?

Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select k0s from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.

What are the system requirements for k0s?

k0s requires a minimum of 2048MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 4096MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.

Can I migrate my existing k0s data?

Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard k0s backup and restore procedures.

How do I update k0s to the latest version?

Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest k0s image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.

Is k0s free to self-host?

k0s is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.