How Does Vultr Kubernetes Engine Cluster Handle Upgrades?

Vultr Kubernetes Engine (VKE) provides a dedicated Manage Upgrades tab in the Vultr Customer Portal to control cluster upgrades. This interface allows you to upgrade your cluster’s Kubernetes version as new releases or patches become available.

• Control Plane Upgrades: Vultr automatically upgrades the control plane components, including the API server, controller manager, scheduler, and etcd, ensuring cluster stability and compatibility.
• Worker Node Upgrades: Worker nodes must be upgraded manually by you, either individually or in batches, to align with the updated Kubernetes control plane version.

During upgrades, workloads may be temporarily rescheduled or restarted. To minimize disruption, ensure your applications are designed for high availability and can tolerate node restarts. VKE maintains cluster health throughout the upgrade process, allowing you to keep your cluster secure and up to date.