Modern Virtualization Platform
A minimal, automated virtualization platform for datacenters and home labs. Boot from USB, run one command, and start managing VMs in minutes.
# Build the ISO
make build-iso
# Write to USB
USB_DEVICE=/dev/disk4 make write-usb
# Boot, login (root/kcore), run:
install-to-disk
# After reboot, manage VMs
kctl create vm web-server --cpu 4 --memory 8G
kctl get vmsEverything You Need
Simple, automated, and production-ready
Fully Automated
Boot from USB → Run install-to-disk → Reboot. All services start automatically and nodes self-register.
Hardware Auto-Detection
DHCP on all interfaces. Works with any NIC. No manual configuration required.
Production Ready
libvirtd + virtlogd managed by systemd. Automatic service restarts and comprehensive logging.
Developer Friendly
Make-based build system, Devbox environment management, and scripts in separate files.
Distributed Architecture
Controller manages multiple compute nodes
Controller
Runs on your Mac/workstation
Manages cluster state
SQLite database
Node #1
node-agent
libvirtd
VMs...
Node #2
node-agent
libvirtd
VMs...
Node #N
node-agent
libvirtd
VMs...
Documentation
Everything you need to get started and use kcore
Quick Start
Get up and running in minutes. From USB to running VMs.
Read guide →Introduction
Learn about kcore's architecture and how it works.
Read more →kctl CLI
User-friendly CLI for managing VMs and resources.
View docs →Commands Reference
Complete reference for all kcore commands.
View reference →Write USB Guide
Step-by-step guide to create a bootable USB drive.
Read guide →Troubleshooting
Common issues and solutions for kcore.
View fixes →Architecture
Understand kcore's system design and components.
Learn more →License
Business Source License 1.1 - Free for most use cases
Free Use
- Single server, non-commercial use
- Personal and educational use
- Home lab environments
- Development and testing
- Open source projects
Commercial Use
- Production commercial environments
- Multiple servers
- Commercial services
- Enterprise deployments
Requires commercial license. Contact us for pricing.
kcore is licensed under the Business Source License 1.1. This means the source code is available, and you can use it freely for single server, non-commercial purposes.
For commercial use, production deployments, or multi-server setups, a commercial license is required. The license converts to Apache 2.0 on January 1, 2027.
Ready to Get Started?
Clone the repository and follow our quick start guide