Tigera Launches Calico for Kubernetes Virtual Machines with eBPF

Tigera has launched Calico for Kubernetes Virtual Machines, positioning it as the industry's first eBPF-based platform to provide unified networking and security for both virtual machines (VMs) and containers under a single Kubernetes-native control plane.

The solution targets enterprises migrating from VMware environments to Kubernetes platforms such as OpenShift, VKS, SUSE, Mirantis, and Canonical. Tigera aims to simplify this transition by offering VM networking and security capabilities comparable to VMware NSX, without requiring a network redesign.

Organizations migrating VMs often find the network component the most complex part. Tigera's platform provides a consistent operational model for managing both VMs and containers, allowing businesses to retain existing IP addresses and network policies initially, then modernize them towards Kubernetes-native patterns over time.

The offering addresses key migration goals: lifting and shifting VMs with minimal disruption, modernizing network architecture away from legacy dependencies, avoiding vendor lock-in, and establishing a converged platform for both containerized and virtualized workloads, including emerging AI applications.