OrbStack 1.3: Cloud-init and cluster.local

OrbStack 1.3 is here! This release brings Cloud-init for automatic machine setup and cluster.local domains for Kubernetes.

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Cloud-init for machine setup

Cloud-init has been one of the most requested features for OrbStack's Linux machines, and it's finally here! This is a standard way to provision and configure Linux installs. You can now use the same Cloud-init configuration (user data) as AWS EC2 and other cloud providers to create machines in OrbStack.

This enables many use cases, such as:

• Easily provisioning development environments for teams
• Replicating, debugging, and testing EC2 instances locally
• Shipping pre-configured services in machines

To create a machine with user data, use the app or run orb create ubuntu my-machine --user-data cloud-config.yaml.

See the documentation for more examples and details.

Kubernetes cluster.local domains

OrbStack has had zero-config orb.local domains for Docker containers and Linux machines for a while. Kubernetes has a wildcard domain at *.k8s.orb.local that points to LoadBalancers, making it easy to set up domains for Ingress controllers.

Now, OrbStack also supports Kubernetes' standard cluster.local domains for services and pods. This also allows connecting to headless services from macOS.

Other changes in 1.3

• Smoother migration from Docker Desktop
• Advanced setting to change Docker Swarm node name
• Advanced setting to expose SSH server to LAN
• Fixed compatibility with JetBrains Docker plugins
• Fixed emulated Arch x86 machines on Apple Silicon
• Fixed unreliable domains on newer macOS 14 releases

Try it today

OrbStack's speed, efficiency, and ease of use makes it the ideal way to run containers, Linux, and Kubernetes if you have a Mac. The automatic migration process will copy your existing containers, images, and volumes from Docker Desktop. Once it's up and running, create a new machine with Cloud-init, or try cluster.local domains with Kubernetes!

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