DANM
What it is
DANM is a free, self-hosted network management suite for Kubernetes on Linux. Originally developed as Nokia’s TelCo-grade solution, it uses a CNI metaplugin to provision multiple network interfaces to a Pod and delegate setup to other CNI plugins. Its IP address management supports dynamic, static or no allocation for IPv4 and IPv6, with up to 8 million allocations per network object. The IPVLAN CNI provisions L2 interfaces and supports routes and policy-based routes in Pod network namespaces. Documented integrations include Intel SR-IOV and MACVLAN, with delegation to Calico and Flannel. In production-grade mode, TenantNetwork and ClusterNetwork APIs let administrators manage shared resources for tenants. An optional Svcwatcher extends Kubernetes Service discovery across a Pod’s interfaces, and a webhook validates DANM API objects. Users must create a Kubernetes cluster and install DANM manually; the deployment guide says there is no Docker container release. It identifies Kubernetes 1.17.x as tested and says versions earlier than 1.9.x are not officially supported.
For and against
For
- Free under the 3-Clause BSD License.
- Supports dynamic, static, or no IP allocation.
- Integrates with Intel SR-IOV and MACVLAN.
- Production mode includes tenant and cluster network APIs.
- Optional Svcwatcher spans a Pod’s interfaces.
Against
- Requires users to create a cluster and install it manually.
- The guide says there is no Docker container release.
- Kubernetes 1.17.x is listed as tested.
- Versions earlier than 1.9.x are not officially supported.
The verdict
DANM offers multiple interface, IPAM and tenant-network capabilities for self-hosted Kubernetes. Its manual setup and documented compatibility limits matter when planning deployment.
Who it suits
DANM suits Kubernetes administrators seeking network management for lightweight or single-tenant clusters, and production clusters with tenant and administrator roles. Users need to create and manage their own Linux Kubernetes cluster.
Plans and prices
DANM
Always free · Kubernetes network management
Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- CNI integrations
- The documentation describes integration with Intel SR-IOV and MACVLAN, and delegation to CNIs including Calico and Flannel.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Deployment requirement
- Users create their own Kubernetes cluster and install DANM manually; the deployment guide says the project has no Docker container release.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The documentation presents lightweight network management for new users or single-tenant clusters and production-grade management for clusters with tenant and administrator roles.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- IP address management
- Built-in IPAM supports dynamic, static, or no IP allocation for IPv4 and IPv6, with up to 8 million allocations per network object.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Kubernetes compatibility
- The deployment guide says DANM is tested with Kubernetes 1.17.x and does not officially support versions earlier than 1.9.x.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Kubernetes services
- The optional Svcwatcher extends Kubernetes Service discovery to work across all network interfaces of a Pod.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is licensed under the 3-Clause BSD License.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Multiple interfaces
- Its CNI metaplugin can provision multiple network interfaces to a Pod and delegate setup to other CNI plugins.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Network interfaces
- DANM’s IPVLAN CNI provisions L2 IPVLAN interfaces and supports routes and policy-based routes in Pod network namespaces.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- DANM is an end-to-end network management suite for Kubernetes, originally developed as Nokia’s TelCo-grade solution.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Security controls
- DANM deployment instructions call for a Kubernetes service account with RBAC roles, and the webhook deployment uses certificates.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Support and community
- The project README invites users to join its Slack community and says maintainers are happy to discuss networking requirements.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Tenant management
- Production-grade mode provides TenantNetwork and ClusterNetwork APIs so administrators can manage shared network resources and tenants can use resources allocated to them.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Validation and resource assignment
- The webhook validates DANM API objects and connects tenant networks to administrator-configured physical interface profiles.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
