Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) Reviews

We have implemented Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) for running our workloads in our government organization. We are currently testing it with our in-house applications before deploying it in production.

The platform has in-built dashboards such as Grafana dashboards and Kubernetes dashboards that allow us to monitor usage effectively. It runs smoothly without facing any downtime or issues related to Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) internally. Furthermore, scalability is a part of the solution, allowing us to predefine requirements for auto-scaling particular nodes or worker types. Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) uses NVME storage, which provides performance benefits.

There are some limitations with the non-air gap version as it requires complete internet access, which poses restrictions due to government regulations. The dashboards also face issues with internet access to repositories, such as GitHub, impacting their functionality. Installation queries exist in the air gap version, and professional support from Nutanix lacks efficiency.

I have been using the solution for one or two months.

The Nutanix support team isn't fully equipped with professional skills since D2iQ was procured by Nutanix, lacking seamless support resources.

The platform is stable. We have not faced any downtime related to Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) so far.

Scalability is a featured part of the solution. We can configure auto-scaling for particular nodes and worker types.

The quality of support varies greatly depending on the assigned support engineer. Some engineers lack the capability to resolve issues effectively, requiring escalations and additional work from other engineers to resolve problems.

Neutral

We run some workloads on VMs or servers, experiencing no significant issues. The previous server setup provided optimal performance without facing slowness.

The initial setup encountered issues due to lack of professional support from Nutanix, especially because D2iQ was procured by Nutanix, which results in challenges with accessing proper support.

It is too early to determine the ROI. Although our in-house application is running, the production application still needs complete deployment to assess ROI accurately.

Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) overall rating would be around seven out of ten. We have not fully explored all features to the fullest extent yet. They could improve the quality of their support services, especially considering the transfer of resources from D2iQ to Nutanix.

On-premises

As an infrastructure professional, I work with Docker and Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) marginally, primarily using Acropolis as a virtual machine system.

For container management, we utilized the Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) as our management solution for containers. I used pre-configured workloads for the proof of concept environment rather than deploying through GitHub. We specifically used predefined, pre-prepared workloads with Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) as our management tool.

When the system is operational, deployment becomes straightforward, making it easy to specify the number of instances needed for deployment. Basic operations with Kubernetes are quite efficient, which is something I appreciate greatly.

The security features in Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) have received positive feedback from Kubernetes specialists, though I cannot personally verify these claims based on direct experience.

From my experience, Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) supports hybrid cloud environments effectively. We conducted approximately three demonstrations where customers appreciated the ability to combine multiple elements: Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP), Kubernetes on bare metal, and cloud integration. Though cloud adoption remains limited in our region, this is typical for our area.

The stability of Nutanix is exceptional. When operational, it performs flawlessly and demonstrates remarkable resilience. The stability is truly outstanding, and I have absolutely no complaints.

The interface in Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) deviates from Nutanix's claim of providing a single pane of glass experience. It presents a different GUI and management system, not integrated with the unified Nutanix login and screen system. It functions but appears disconnected from the main ecosystem.

A significant limitation of the Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) is its requirement for extensive Kubernetes knowledge. Unlike other Nutanix tools that can be installed and utilized without extensive expertise, NKP demands comprehensive Kubernetes understanding. The installation and preliminary tasks are particularly challenging. The platform would benefit from a simplified installation process with a one-click deployment option and basic configuration questions, eliminating the current manual work that requires assistance from Kubernetes specialists.

I cannot provide a comprehensive answer about automation processes in Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) as I haven't tested automation extensively. My experience has been limited to successfully deploying basic workloads through wizards, which represents the extent of my knowledge with NKP.

The scalability merits an eight out of ten because once the system is operational, scaling up is quite efficient for users who understand the process.

Nutanix technical support deserves a perfect ten out of ten. I have never encountered better support than what Nutanix provides. Their technical support is exceptional.

The setup process for Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) is quite complex, especially for someone without extensive Kubernetes expertise. My initial attempt at installation was particularly challenging.

The price point of Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) is more suitable for enterprise customers where it provides significant value. For small businesses, implementing Kubernetes independently might be more cost-effective. Enterprise users who require persistent storage, stateless systems, and scalability capabilities will find value for their investment.

Based on feedback from others, Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) is considered technologically advanced compared to products from vendors such as Red Hat and Ubuntu, with competitive pricing.

I have tested Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) two or three times.

My last interaction with Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) was approximately six months ago.

As a Nutanix partner, I would recommend NKP particularly to those with Kubernetes expertise. While the platform performs excellently once configured, the initial setup can be challenging. I would rate it a seven or six out of ten, and the overall product rating is 8 out of 10.

Hybrid Cloud

Other

Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) is good and improving day by day. Initially, there were some problems, but they fixed many of them. It is good as of now.

I use it because it is user-friendly and not difficult to handle. Everything is integrated in the UI; we can plug and play. We have Grafana, Loki, and everything is integrated in the dashboard. We can just enable it, and it will be enabled. There are no specific use cases; it is basically simple. If you know the basics of Kubernetes, anybody can use it simply.

What I like the most about Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) are the catalog applications.

Regarding catalog applications, they have an internal Git repo and I think there will be some logging operator and backup coming that will be pre-integrated in the Kubernetes cluster itself. It is a simple thing, a plug and play feature; we can enable any operators we want to use in Kubernetes in a simple way. I like that the most.

Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) Kubernetes dashboard itself needs improvement.

What can be improved is that every application will be getting a dashboard, where we can integrate on a dedicated dashboard and simply edit the logs, similar to OpenShift. When deploying applications, everything should be integrated with the UI, and that will be better.

I have been using Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) for one year.

Regarding stability, I have not seen any lagging or crashing; initially, it was unstable, but now it is stable.

Scalability is fine; I can scale the pods and nodes. Scalability is not an issue from the Nutanix side or Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) side.

As of now, I have not contacted the technical support or customer support because I solved all problems on my own. However, we have one Slack channel where I ask questions related to any doubts or issues. I have never interacted with the support team. I just go to Slack and message there.

The speed and quality of the support is good; there are no questions about that.

Regarding Slack, it is very good, and I would rate it 10 out of 10. I cannot rate formal support because I did not get any support, even though I have worked almost one year.

Positive

I have been working in my current field for one year itself, starting with Nutanix. Since I started with Nutanix NCI, I shifted to Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP).

For the initial deployment, it was quite difficult for me as I was new, but after trying many times, it got easier. I have deployed many clusters across companies and clients.

It took me one day to deploy it for the first time.

Whether one person can do it or if a team is needed depends on the situation. I am a consultant with three to four projects, so it is better to have a team.

I have not used any alternatives as of now.

I have not used Nutanix for any AI or machine learning operations, but I deployed a Nutanix end-to-end AI cluster for a few clients and tested some applications using endpoints.

The reviewer did not directly answer what purposes they are using Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) in their company.

The product is fantastic. They are good. We haven't seen any issues as of now.

The reviewer indicated they would love to see improvements in support for Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) to reach a higher level.

We have been with Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) for around six years now, five and a half years. For Kubernetes specifically, it has been around one and a half years.

From a leadership position, the reviewer couldn't recall exact details of the initial installation, but mentioned that it went smoothly and has been working well since deployment.

The system is performing well according to the reviewer.

There is automation in place for spinning up virtual machines and containers.

We have great support from Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) and the experience has been excellent. The relationship maintained with the team in India is particularly strong.

The support directly from Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) itself has been exceptional.

Neutral

The system admin team of approximately five to six people was involved in the installation.

We have recently deployed Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) and all our workloads are running on it.

The reviewer has experience with Cisco and expressed a preference for Cisco over Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP).

The system is flexible and there haven't been any challenges. The organization is very happy with the solution.

On a scale of 1-10, the reviewer rates Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) an 8.

On-premises

The cloud provider was not specified in the review.