> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cybus.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cybus.io/2-4-2/deployment/choose-your-deployment-platform.md).

# Choose Your Deployment Platform

Connectware runs on Kubernetes or Docker. Each platform has different strengths depending on scale, availability requirements, and where you plan to run Connectware.

* **Kubernetes** — Production workloads, high availability, and environments where you already operate Kubernetes.
* **Docker** — Protocol-mapper agent edge deployments, single-node installations, and evaluation setups.

## At a Glance

| Aspect                    | Kubernetes                                      | Docker                                                |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **Deployment Complexity** | Higher. Requires a cluster.                     | Lower. Single-host setup.                             |
| **High Availability**     | Built-in through node redundancy.               | Not available. Single-node only.                      |
| **Scalability**           | Mix of horizontal and vertical scaling.         | Limited to vertical scaling.                          |
| **Resource Requirements** | Higher. Multi-node infrastructure.              | Lower. Single-host system.                            |
| **Best For**              | Production clusters and multi-site deployments. | Edge devices, development, single-node installations. |
| **Management Tools**      | Helm, `kubectl`, and the Kubernetes ecosystem.  | Docker Compose and the Docker CLI.                    |
| **Learning Curve**        | Steeper. Requires Kubernetes knowledge.         | Gentler. Requires Docker knowledge.                   |

## Kubernetes

Kubernetes is the recommended platform for production Connectware deployments. The cluster architecture provides node redundancy and horizontal scaling for several core components, including the CybusMQ broker, NATS, the auth server, resource status tracking, and the topic explorer. Kubernetes deployments also expose Prometheus metrics and include Prometheus Operator support for the NATS StatefulSet. Deployments integrate with existing DevOps and GitOps workflows through Helm and standard Kubernetes tooling.

For system requirements, see [System Requirements](/2-4-2/deployment/installing-connectware/system-requirements.md#kubernetes-deployment).

## Docker

Docker is the right fit for protocol-mapper agent edge deployments and single-host installations. Docker Compose keeps the whole configuration in a single `docker-compose.yml` file and starts up quickly without a cluster. It is a practical choice for industrial PCs, gateways, and evaluation environments where clustering is not needed.

For system requirements, see [System Requirements](/2-4-2/deployment/installing-connectware/system-requirements.md#docker-compose-deployment).

## Portability Between Platforms

Service commissioning files, connections, endpoints, and mappings behave identically on Kubernetes and Docker. Most services run unchanged on either platform.

Services that use platform-specific resources — `Cybus::Container`, `Cybus::Volume`, and `Cybus::IngressRoute` — are tied to the platform they were written for and cannot be moved without adjustments.

{% hint style="info" %}

## Offline Connectware installations

Offline installation is supported on both platforms. See [Offline Installation (Kubernetes)](/2-4-2/deployment/installing-connectware/offline-on-kubernetes.md) and [Offline Installation (Docker)](/2-4-2/deployment/installing-connectware/offline-on-docker.md).
{% endhint %}

## Next Steps

Once you have chosen a platform, follow the matching installation guide:

* [Installing Connectware on Kubernetes](/2-4-2/deployment/installing-connectware/on-kubernetes.md)
* [Installing Connectware on Docker](/2-4-2/deployment/installing-connectware/on-docker.md)


---

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