Change

Due to the end-of-sale (EoS) for pay-by-specification Classic Load Balancer (CLB) instances, Container Service for Kubernetes (ACK) now use Network Load Balancer (NLB) instances by default when you create SLB-type Services or install Nginx Ingress Controller through the console. Creating CLB instances through the console will only be available to whitelisted users and when created, will default to the pay-by-LCU billing method.

Impact

This change affects the following cluster types running Kubernetes V1.24.0 or later, provided their add-ons meet the version requirements specified below:

• ACK managed clusters
• ACK dedicated clusters
• ACK Serverless clusters
• ACK Edge clusters
• ACK Lingjun clusters

Exemptions:

• Clusters or add-ons that do not meet the version criteria are unaffected.
• Existing CLB/NLB Services and Nginx Ingress will continue to function normally.

Console

Change date: August 28, 2025

• Create SLB-type Services
  • Requirement: Cloud Controller Manager V2.5.0 and later
  • Change: Default option is NLB only.
    • CLB instances are available via whitelist only and restricted to pay-by-LCU billing. To use CLB instances, submit a request through the Quota Center.
• Install Nginx Ingress Controller
  • Requirements: Cloud Controller Manager V2.5.0 and later, Nginx Ingress Controller V1.11.5-aliyun.2 and later
  • Change: Default installation uses NLB.
    • CLB instances are available via whitelist only and restricted to pay-by-LCU billing. To use CLB instances, submit a request through the Quota Center.

CLB instance billing method

Change timeline: A gradual rollout of the billing change will begin on August 28, 2025, with full deployment expected by September 20, 2025.

• Create SLB-type Services
  • Requirement: Cloud Controller Manager V2.12.0 and later
  • Change: When selecting a CLB instance, the default billing method changes from pay-by-specification to pay-by-LCU.
• Install Nginx Ingress Controller
  • Requirements: Cloud Controller Manager V2.12.0 and later, Nginx Ingress Controller V1.11.5-aliyun.2 and later
  • Change: When installing the Nginx Ingress Controller add-on through the console or API (InstallClusterAddons), selecting a CLB instance will use pay-by-LCU by default.