Mirantis Kubernetes Engine 4k 4.1.1: Supercharging Kubernetes with k0rdent and Enterprise-Ready Features

We’re excited to announce Mirantis Kubernetes Engine for k0rdent (MKE 4k) 4.1.1, the latest release of our enterprise-grade Kubernetes platform powered by the open-source k0rdent composable Kubernetes management framework. The 4.1.1 release introduces powerful features to simplify deployment, lifecycle management, and scaling of production-ready Kubernetes clusters. Built on the compact, self-contained k0s distribution, this CNCF-certified platform delivers flexibility, security, and simplicity for modern cloud-native workloads. Let’s explore what’s new! 

What’s New in MKE 4k 4.1.1?

MKE 4k Child Clusters with Mirantis k0rdent Enterprise 1.1.0 

The release includes Mirantis k0rdent Enterprise 1.1.0 by default, enabling seamless deployment of MKE 4k child clusters across multiple providers from an MKE 4k mothership cluster. Users can start with our default cluster template or work with our team for a custom cluster template to meet specific needs. The mothership cluster ensures consistency by monitoring and correcting configuration drift for MKE 4k services and resources. You can apply versioned configuration changes across your entire cluster fleet while customizing individual clusters for edge cases. New clusters automatically adopt a standardized default configuration, simplifying multi-cluster deployments across clouds or on-prem environments.

Custom CA Certificates for Air-Gapped Environments 

The release supports custom registries with TLS certificates from private, self-signed Certificate Authorities (CAs). This is critical for air-gapped environments, enabling secure image management without internet access, which is ideal for industries like finance or government where isolation is non-negotiable.

Improved Upgrades, Including Dry-Run Functionality 

Upgrading to 4.1.1 from MKE 3 (3.7/3.8) or MKE 4k 4.1.0 is now smoother, and brings key MKE 3 features forward, closing the gap for MKE 3 users, with minimal disruption and enhanced stability. The new dry-run feature allows you to simulate upgrades, validate configurations, and identify potential issues before upgrading, ensuring production clusters remain reliable.

Enablement for Custom CNIs, Including Calico Enterprise 

The 4.1.1 release ships with Calico OSS CNI for robust networking and now enables custom CNIs like Calico Enterprise. This flexibility lets you leverage advanced network policies and observability, tailoring Kubernetes networking to your needs while maintaining CNCF-certified reliability.

MKE 4k 4.1.1 empowers you to build Kubernetes platforms your way—scalable, secure, and effortless.  For more information about MKE 4k 4.1.1, see the release notes and the MKE 4k documentation.

We’re excited to see how the 4.1.1 release accelerates your cloud-native journey. Share feedback, star our GitHub repo, or contact us to learn more!