NetApp provides its own software plugins for container support (both Docker and Kubernetes) through its Trident open-source project.

More information can be found here: https://netapp-trident.readthedocs.io

NetApp also developed its own container platform software called "NetApp Kubernetes Service". NKS provides on-premises Kubernetes-as-a-Service (KaaS) in order to enable end-users to quickly adopt container services.

NetApp Kubernetes Service (NKS) is not a hard requirement for running Docker containers and Kubernetes on top of NetApp HCI, however it does make it easier to use and consume.

NKS system size requirements for NetApp HCI environments:
- 2x4 systems are not supported for production use. However, these can be used for demo work.
- 3x4 systems are the minimum production system size supported by NetApp.
- 4x4 systems are the recommended minimum size.