Gardener Managed Kubernetes
Kubernetes-Native GPU Orchestration on European Infrastructure
Deploy production-ready Kubernetes clusters in minutes with Gardener. Easy GPU provisioning, auto-healing, seamless updates, and hibernation on climate-positive infrastructure in the Netherlands.
Why Gardener?
Enterprise-Grade Kubernetes, Zero Operational Overhead
Gardener is an open-source Kubernetes management platform trusted by enterprises worldwide. Deploy clusters via YAML or our intuitive dashboard at dashboard.gardener.leaf.cloud. Focus on your applications while we handle cluster lifecycle, updates, and infrastructure.
Technical Specifications
Production-Ready Kubernetes Infrastructure
How It Works
Managed Control Plane, Your Infrastructure
Leafcloud manages the Kubernetes control plane (zero operational overhead), while worker nodes run in your OpenStack project (full visibility and control). Networking and security groups are configured in your project. All cluster resources appear in your OpenStack dashboard for complete transparency.
Built For
For Research, Government, Enterprise & Startups
Whether you're training AI models, processing scientific data, building SaaS applications, or running government workloads—Gardener Managed Kubernetes scales with your needs while keeping data sovereign in the Netherlands.
Secure
Easy Certificate Management
Effortlessly secure your Kubernetes clusters using simple certificate management, boost security, and ensure seamless operations—all with just a few clicks.
Operational Continuity
Peerless Auto-Healing and Scaling
Maximize uptime with Leafcloud’s auto-healing capabilities, which automatically detect and recover from node failures. This proactive system minimizes downtime, safeguards application availability, and reduces manual intervention, providing teams with operational resilience.
Seamless
One-Click Updates
Keep your system up-to-date effortlessly with 1-Click Updates. Simplify maintenance, enhance performance, and stay ahead with minimal effort.
GPU-Native Orchestration
Deploy GPU Clusters in Minutes
Provision NVIDIA A30, A100, H100, or Blackwell GPUs directly through Gardener. Kubernetes-native GPU scheduling with auto-scaling and hibernation support. Perfect for AI/ML workloads, rendering, and scientific computing. No manual node configuration required.
Carbon Reducing
Calculate Your Yearly Emissions Reduction
Our compute heavy machines are housed in apartment complexes and care homes. That means your workload reduces emissions for heating shower water by replacing natural gas use. With the heat from your workload people get a hot shower! Find out by how much you can reduce emissions
Gardener Features
Everything You Need for Production Kubernetes
Transparent Pricing
€84.50 per month per cluster, plus compute resources (VMs, GPUs). No hidden fees, no vendor lock-in. Hibernate clusters when not in use to save costs. Full pricing transparency guaranteed.
European Data Sovereignty
GDPR-Compliant, Secure by Design
All data stays in the Netherlands. ISO27001 and SOC2 certified infrastructure. No data transfer to US cloud providers. Open-source stack with no proprietary lock-in. Perfect for government, research institutions, and enterprises with strict compliance requirements.
About Leafcloud
Helping Forward Thinkers Succeed
We empower businesses to grow sustainably, stay secure, and maintain control. Whether your focus is on the environment, avoiding vendor lock-in, or data sovereignty, we’re here to help you succeed.
Sustainable Innovation
We transform existing buildings into energy-efficient Leaf sites, reusing residual heat to warm urban buildings and provide free hot showers. No new data centers, no carbon credits—just real impact. Lower costs for you, less waste for the planet.
European Standards
We prioritize your data privacy with GDPR compliance, ISO 27001, and SOC2 certifications. Your data stays protected and sovereign—right where it belongs.
Open-Source Freedom
Built on OpenStack open-source technology, we provide flexible APIs and industry standards. Enjoy seamless multi-cloud integration without the risk of vendor lock-in, so you stay in control.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I connect to my Kubernetes cluster?
Gardener has its own command-line tool called gardenctl. You can use gardenctl to connect to your cluster and manage your garden.
- Install Gardenctl: Follow the installation instructions provided in the Leafcloud documentation.
- Connect to Your Cluster: Use gardenctl commands to access and manage your Kubernetes cluster efficiently. For detailed steps, refer to the Leafcloud Gardenctl Documentation.
How can I manage and create Kubernetes clusters?
You can manage and create Kubernetes clusters (shoots) using Gardener in two main ways:
- Declaratively with YAML:
- Define cluster configurations in YAML files.
- Use gardenctl to apply these configurations, creating or updating clusters as specified.
- Via the Gardener UI:
- Access the Gardener dashboard at dashboard.gardener.leaf.cloud.
- Use the intuitive interface to manage and create clusters. Both methods offer flexible and efficient cluster management. For detailed instructions, visit the Leafcloud Gardenctl Documentation.
How does the Managed Kubernetes setup work?
The Kubernetes setup consists of several parts:
- Control Plane: Managed by Leafcloud, it oversees the Kubernetes cluster.
- Worker Nodes: Created in the customer's OpenStack project to run applications and workloads.
- Networking: Configured in the customer's OpenStack project to connect worker nodes and resources.
- Security Groups: Enhance security and control network access in the customer's OpenStack project.
How does the upgrade process work using the Gardener UI?
The upgrade process includes:
- Node Replacement: Nodes are replaced one by one when changing the Kubernetes version.
- Workload Migration: Workloads from old nodes are automatically migrated to the new nodes.
- Seamless Transition: Ensures minimal downtime, maintaining consistency and smooth operation.
What happens when a LoadBalancer service is created?
When you create a LoadBalancer service in Kubernetes:
- A load balancer is automatically provisioned for you in OpenStack.
- An external IP is assigned to the load balancer.
- This load balancer directs traffic from the external IP to your application pods.
What happens when a Persistent Volume Claim (PVC) is created?
When you create a PVC in Kubernetes, a storage volume is automatically created for you in OpenStack based on the specified storage class.
Where can I find Managed Kubernetes?
Our Gardener Managed Kubernetes service is available here. For self-managed Kubernetes on OpenStack, see this guide.
Where can I find the documentation about Leafcloud Kubernetes?
You can find documentation related to Leafcloud Kubernetes here.
Which network types are supported?
Leafcloud supports both Calico and Cilium network types.
Which versions of Kubernetes does Leafcloud offer?
Leafcloud is committed to staying close to the latest stable Kubernetes release. Currently, we offer Kubernetes version 1.32 (stable) and a preview of version 1.33.
Deploy Your First Cluster Today
Open communication, transparent pricing, and direct access to our Amsterdam-based team. Start with Gardener Managed Kubernetes and experience the difference.