Can we run Antivirus on our cluster nodes?

Article Number: 000020477

Resolution

Antivirus in Kubernetes: A Balancing Act

Running antivirus software on Kubernetes nodes introduces complexity. Traditional antivirus solutions may not be optimized for containerized environments like Kubernetes, and a lack of CNCF certification raises compatibility concerns. In some cases, Rancher has observed antivirus interfering with core functionalities like Docker, leading to issues.

Resolving Third-Party Tool Conflicts:

When troubleshooting issues in Kubernetes, consider if disabling antivirus software restores normal operation. This could indicate a conflict with essential system calls used by Docker or Kubernetes.

Certified Configurations: The Foundation for Stability

Published, certified configurations in the product support matrices provide a baseline for supported components in Kubernetes. Deviating from these configurations might require reverting back to a certified setup to ensure compatibility and resolve issues.