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-backed Services through the console will only be available to whitelisted users and when created, will default to the pay-by-LCU billing method.
Impact scope
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.
Change details
Console workflow
Change date
September 11, 2025
The effective date for this change has been rescheduled from August 28, 2025, to September 11, 2025. This announcement was reissued on September 8, 2025, to reflect this new date; all other details remain unchanged.
Impact details
Operation | Condition | Description |
Create SLB-type Services | Cloud Controller Manager V2.5.0 and later | Default option: 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 |
| 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 September 11, 2025, with full deployment expected by November 30, 2025.
The effective date for this change has been rescheduled from August 28, 2025, to September 11, 2025. This announcement was reissued on September 8, 2025, to reflect this new date; all other details remain unchanged.
Impact details
Operation | Condition | Impact |
Create SLB-type Services | Cloud Controller Manager V2.12.0 and later | When selecting a CLB instance, the default billing method changes from pay-by-specification to pay-by-LCU. |
Install Nginx Ingress Controller |
| 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. |