- Home
- Container Networking Software
- CNI Plugins
CNI Plugins
What it is
CNI Plugins is a free collection of reference and example network plugins for configuring Linux and Windows container interfaces. The CNI project provides a specification and libraries for that configuration, as well as a command-line tool for executing plugins and a Go library for application integration. Interface plugins cover bridge, ipvlan, loopback, macvlan, point-to-point, VLAN, host-device, and dummy setups; Windows-specific options include win-bridge and win-overlay. IPAM plugins support DHCP, host-local allocation tracking, and static IPv4 or IPv6 addresses. Meta plugins add interface tuning, port mapping, bandwidth controls, source-based routing, and firewall rules. A sample plugin provides an example for creating a custom plugin. The project focuses on container network connectivity and removing allocated resources when a container is deleted. The repository is distributed under the Apache License, Version 2.0, and CNI is a Cloud Native Computing Foundation project. The latest release page lists Linux archives for amd64, arm, and arm64. Technical questions can go to the cni-dev mailing group or the #cni channel on CNCF Slack; security issues should be reported privately to the addresses listed in the OWNERS file.
For and against
For
- Free collection of container network plugins
- Supports Linux and Windows container networking
- Includes multiple IPAM options
- Provides a Go library and command-line tool
- Apache License, Version 2.0
Against
- Latest release page lists Linux archives only
- Security issues must be reported privately
The verdict
CNI Plugins brings interface, IPAM, and meta-plugin options together with tools for integration and execution. Its focus is container connectivity and cleanup when containers are deleted.
Who it suits
CNI Plugins suits developers and teams configuring network connectivity for Linux or Windows containers. It also provides a sample for those building a custom plugin.
Plans and prices
Free
Reference and example CNI network plugins · Apache-2.0 license
Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Additional plugins
- Meta plugins provide interface tuning, port mapping, bandwidth limiting, source-based routing, and firewall rules.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- CNI integration
- The CNI project includes a Go library for integrating CNI into applications and a command-line tool for executing plugins.cni.dev · read 4 Oct 2026
- CNI role
- CNI provides a specification and libraries for configuring network interfaces in Linux and Windows containers, along with supported plugins.cni.dev · read 4 Oct 2026
- Container networking scope
- CNI focuses on container network connectivity and removing allocated resources when a container is deleted.cni.dev · read 4 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The latest release page lists downloadable Linux plugin archives, including amd64, arm, and arm64 builds.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- IP address allocation
- IPAM plugins include DHCP, host-local allocation tracking, and static IPv4 or IPv6 allocation.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository is distributed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Maintainer organization
- CNI is a Cloud Native Computing Foundation project.cni.dev · read 4 Oct 2026
- Networking features
- Interface plugins include bridge, ipvlan, loopback, macvlan, point-to-point, VLAN, host-device, and dummy.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- CNI Plugins is a collection of reference and example network plugins maintained by the containernetworking team.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Sample plugin
- A sample plugin provides an example for building a custom plugin.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Security reporting
- The project asks that security issues be reported privately to the email addresses listed in its OWNERS file.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs questions to the cni-dev mailing group or the #cni channel on CNCF Slack.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Windows plugins
- The project includes Windows-specific win-bridge and win-overlay plugins.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
