Stop the Workarounds: NKP 2.16 Brings Long-Awaited Fixes
Kubernetes platforms evolve quickly, but not every release solves the daily frustrations of running clusters at scale. Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) 2.16 is different. It doesn’t change how you use Kubernetes, it delivers long-awaited fixes that remove complexity, improve resilience, and give operators the confidence to move faster.
Enterprise AI Deployment, Without the CLI Headaches
Deploying Nutanix Enterprise AI (NAI) on NKP used to feel like a puzzle. Manual CLI steps, YAML editing, and a brittle storageclass creation process for Nutanix Files often caused authentication errors. Many teams found themselves stuck before workloads could even launch.
With NKP 2.16, that entire setup is automated. No more CLI gymnastics, no more broken storageclass definitions. Enterprise AI now deploys with the click of a button, the way it should have been from the beginning.
Floating IPs for VPC Clusters
One of the most requested features finally arrives. You can now assign a floating IP to clusters running inside a Virtual Private Cloud and reach the control plane directly from outside the VPC.
This capability unlocks simpler topologies and removes the need for complicated networking workarounds. For hybrid and multi-cloud deployments, it is a practical game-changer.
License Upgrades, Now Risk-Free
Upgrading licenses has always been one of those deceptively stressful tasks. In previous versions, replacing a license required first removing the existing one, which introduced the risk of leaving your cluster unlicensed if the process failed.
With 2.16, license upgrades are handled directly from the UI, seamlessly and safely. No downtime, no risk, just a smoother operator experience.
Other Technical Enhancements Worth Noting
Beyond these flagship improvements, NKP 2.16 introduces several updates that further strengthen the platform.
- Kubernetes 1.33 support brings NKP in line with the latest upstream release.
- Rocky Linux 9.6 is now supported, keeping infrastructure images up to date.
- vGPU-enabled node pools allow better GPU resource utilization, combining passthrough GPUs with vGPU pools for AI/ML workloads.
- Pre-flight validation checks in the CLI now detect misconfigurations before cluster creation or upgrades.
- Automated certificate renewal ensures control plane certificates are refreshed without manual intervention, reducing downtime risks.
- Air-gapped deployments with an internal registry mirror simplify operations in restricted environments.
- Failure domain support allows control plane nodes to be distributed across multiple domains for higher availability.
- Pulse integration and partner catalog support expand telemetry insights and simplify application deployments across multi-cluster environments.
Each of these enhancements may look incremental on its own, but together they reduce operational friction and align NKP with the needs of enterprises running critical workloads.
Why It Matters
NKP 2.16 doesn’t try to reinvent Kubernetes. Instead, it delivers the fixes and improvements that operators have been waiting for. Automated Enterprise AI deployment, floating IPs for VPC clusters, and safe license upgrades stand out as the most impactful changes, but the broader set of enhancements reinforces the platform’s stability and enterprise readiness.
Personally, I plan to test these three core features in my own environments very soon, and I’ll share feedback once I’ve had hands-on experience. The fact that I’m eager to try them out says a lot. This is a release that finally feels worth exploring.