Shared, Build, Buy Models
By Anna V. March 30, 2025. Revised. Version: 0.0.02
1. Overview
The k8or Orbit platform is a complex, multi-component ecosystem that consists of two main layers: the Orbit Plane (the management, orchestration, CI/CD, security, and logging layer) and the Cluster Plane (the runtime environment for K3s clusters that host your containerized applications). Given the sophistication and number of components (over 30 in total) that form the Orbit Plane, we offer several models for how organizations can gain access and deploy the platform. These models address various needs, ranging from learning and experimentation to full-scale, dedicated production deployments. The four primary models are:
Shared Limited Model
Build Unlimited Model
Shared Unlimited Model
Buy Unlimited Model
Below, we detail each model, explain their benefits, and indicate which scenarios and organizations they are best suited for.
2. Models Explained
Option One: Shared Orbit Plane With Limited Cluster Plane
AKA: Shared Limited Model
Description: The Shared Orbit Plane model is the publicly available, open-source version of k8or Orbit. It is pre-deployed with all its 30+ components, providing immediate access for anyone. With this model, users receive authentication and authorization credentials and can launch a single K3s cluster on a cloud provider of their choice. This cluster supports a single containerized application and is intended primarily for learning, experimentation, and proof-of-concept testing.
Key Characteristics:
Cost: Free access to the Orbit Plane and one K8s cluster in Cluster Plane. No monthly charges.
Expertise: None in Orbit Plane components technologies. Requied in K8s.
Limited Capacity: Users are restricted to a single cluster and a limited number of applications.
Immediate Availability: Pre-deployed components allow you to get started without complex setup.
Customization: Not allowed.
Ongoing traning and support: None required in Orbit Plane component technologies.
Best For:
Hobbyists and Independent Developers: Those looking to explore k8or Orbit without incurring infrastructure costs.
Proof-of-Concepts and Demos: Ideal for learning the platform, testing its features, and demonstrating capabilities in small-scale scenarios.
Academic and Research Projects: Great for educational environments where budget constraints exist.
Option Two: Build Your Own Dedicated Orbit Plane With Unlimited Cluster Plane
AKA: Build Unlimited Model
Description: In the Dedicated Orbit Plane model, an individual or organization sets up their own instance of the Orbit Plane in their preferred cloud provider account (e.g., AWS). In this model, professional contributors from the k8or Orbit team offer guided, bi-weekly training sessions and provide access to the source code and detailed documentation. The organization is responsible for managing, maintaining, and supporting their dedicated orbit plane, which allows them to run multiple clusters in the Cluster Plane.
Key Characteristics:
Setup Assistance: Bi-weekly access to contributors and contributors help.
Expertise: Required in multiple Orbit plane componets technologies, naming, numbering convention, and programming. And also in K8s.
Self-Managed: The organization takes full control of the orbit plane.
Scalable: No shared limitations – they can deploy multiple clusters as needed.
Full Customization: Access to source code and configuration details to tailor the platform to specific operational needs.
Cost: High with team of 3-4 DevOps personal of various skills to build and manage the Orbit Plane plus monthly Cluster Plane charges.
Ongoing traning and support: If needed, provided by contributors at extra cost.
Best For:
Small to Mid-Sized Enterprises: Organizations that want dedicated control over their deployment while having some external support.
Advanced Users and DevOps Teams: Those with the capability and expertise to manage and maintain a full orchestration platform.
Custom Integrations: Companies needing to integrate the orbit plane tightly with existing systems (e.g., internal IAM, custom CI/CD tools).
Option Three: Shared Orbit Plane with Unlimited Purchased Cluster Plane
AKA: Shared Unlimited Model
Description: The Shared Orbit Plane with Purchased Clusters model provides the same shared orbit plane as Option One, but with enhanced capacity. Organizations can purchase access to a larger number of clusters (e.g., 20, 50, or 100 clusters) within the shared orbit plane environment. This model allows organizations to leverage the pre-deployed orbit plane while obtaining dedicated cluster environments for their applications.
Key Characteristics:
Cost-Effective Scaling: Benefit from a shared management plane while accessing multiple, dedicated clusters.
Expertise: None in Orbit Plane components technologies. Required in K8s.
Managed Service: The orbit plane remains maintained by the k8or Orbit contributors team, while organizations focus on managing their clusters.
Flexible Cluster Capacity: Purchase additional clusters as needed based on organizational growth.
Cost: Monthy Cluster Plane recurring fee based on the number of K8s clusters provisioned.
Customization: Not allowed.
Ongoing traning and support: None required in Orbit Plane component technologies.
Best For:
Medium to Large Organizations: Entities that require multiple clusters without the overhead of building and managing their own orbit plane.
Managed Service Clients: Companies preferring to outsource the management of the central control plane while maintaining dedicated environments for their workloads.
Scalable Test and Production Environments: Organizations that need to separate workloads across various environments (e.g., development, testing, staging, production).
Option Four: Buy Your Own Dedicated Orbit Plane Model With Un-Limited Cluster Plane
AKA: Buy Unlimited Model
Description: The Unshared Orbit Plane model provides an entirely dedicated orbit plane that is isolated from other users. In this scenario, organizations receive full support from k8or Orbit contributors to build, deploy, and maintain their own orbit plane along with as many clusters in the Cluster Plane as needed. This model offers maximum control, security, and customization.
Key Characteristics:
Full Isolation: The orbit plane is exclusive to your organization, ensuring complete isolation and dedicated resources.
Expertise: None required in multiple Orbit plane componets technologies. Requied in K8s.
Unlimited Cluster Capacity: No restrictions on the number of clusters you can deploy, ideal for large-scale operations.
Comprehensive Support: Professional contributors assist in building and supporting your dedicated orbit plane.
Customization and Extensibility: Tailor the platform extensively to meet specific enterprise requirements.
Cost: High to setup the Orbit Plane, internal team to manage the Cluster Plane plus monthly Cluster Plane charges.
Ongoing traning and support: If needed, provided by contributors at extra cost.
Best For:
Large Enterprises and Service Providers: Organizations that need a fully dedicated, scalable, and customizable platform.
High-Security Environments: Companies with strict security and compliance requirements that necessitate isolated management planes.
Mission-Critical Deployments: Environments where performance, reliability, and control are paramount, and where full support from the k8or Orbit team is essential.
3. Considerations for Choosing a Model
When deciding which access model to adopt, consider the following factors:
Budget Constraints: The Shared model is free but limited; the Dedicated and Buy models require investment but offer greater scalability.
Operational Complexity: Organizations with robust DevOps teams may prefer the Dedicated or Unshared models for full control, while smaller teams might opt for the Managed (Buy) approach.
Security and Compliance: High-security environments might necessitate a fully isolated, dedicated orbit plane.
Growth Projections: Anticipate future needs; if you expect rapid scaling, investing in a Dedicated or Unshared model may offer long-term benefits.
Integration Requirements: Consider how the orbit plane will integrate with existing systems, and whether your team has the expertise to manage a dedicated platform.
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