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Container Service for Kubernetes:Component overview

Last Updated:Mar 25, 2026

ACK Lingjun managed clusters include pre-installed system components and support optional components that extend cluster capabilities. Install, upgrade, or uninstall components based on your requirements.

Component types

TypeInstalled
System componentAutomatically when you create the cluster
Optional componentWhen you create the cluster

System components handle core cluster functions such as networking, DNS, load balancing, and monitoring. Optional components add capabilities like log collection, advanced monitoring, security policy enforcement, and Ingress routing.

Key components

ComponentTypeDescription
Cloud Controller ManagerSystem componentCreate Server Load Balancer (SLB) instances for applications and manage route entries of nodes.
Kube API ServerSystem componentAct as the access gateway of the Kubernetes cluster.

Networking components

ComponentTypeDescription
CoreDNSSystem componentServe as a Domain Name System (DNS) server for the cluster.
managed-kube-proxySystem componentRun as a containerized proxy for Services on cluster nodes.
TerwaySystem componentProvide network connectivity within the cluster using Alibaba Cloud's open source Container Network Interface (CNI) plugin. Integrates with Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) and supports standard Kubernetes network policies to control container-to-container communication.
Nginx Ingress ControllerOptional componentParse traffic forwarding rules configured in NGINX Ingresses.

Logging and monitoring components

ComponentTypeDescription
alicloud-monitor-controllerSystem componentMonitor the lifecycles and status of containers.
metrics-serverSystem componentCollect resource usage data to support auto scaling.
ack-node-problem-detectorOptional componentDetect node exceptions and report them to the Kubernetes event center.
ack-arms-prometheusOptional componentMonitor clusters using Managed Service for Prometheus.
logtail-dsOptional componentCollect container logs and deliver them to Log Service. Read the component documentation before updating.

Storage components

ComponentTypeDescription
storage-operatorSystem componentManage the lifecycles of storage components. We recommend that you install this component.

Security components

ComponentTypeDescription
gatekeeperOptional componentManage and enforce policies executed by Open Policy Agent (OPA) in the cluster.
policy-template-controllerOptional componentManage and apply pod security policies.
security-inspectorOptional componentRun security inspections on the cluster.