Flatcar Container Linux is a self-updating operating system designed for containers, making it ideal for running Kubernetes and other container platforms. It is suitable for anyone deploying containerized applications, particularly those seeking to do so securely or at scale.

Benefits

Flatcar offers several benefits over traditional Linux operating systems:

• Security.
• Reduced complexity.
• Automated updates.

Security

Deploying a container-optimized OS like Flatcar is recommended by NIST in its application container security guide: "Whenever possible, organizations should use these minimalistic OSs to reduce their attack surfaces and mitigate the typical risks and hardening activities associated with general-purpose OSs."

License and Support

Flatcar Container Linux is free and open source, with a discussion forum for community users. For an Azure-optimized edition of Flatcar, including enterprise-grade support from Kinvolk, please see the "Flatcar Container Linux Pro" offer in Azure Marketplace. For other support enquiries, including volume support agreements, please contact hello@kinvolk.io.