Abstract: An example virtualized computing system includes: a host cluster having hosts and a virtualization layer executing on hardware platforms of the hosts, the virtualization layer supporting execution of virtual machines (VMs); an orchestration control plane integrated with the virtualization layer, the orchestration control plane including a master server executing in a first VM of the VMs; guest cluster infrastructure software (GCIS) executing in the master server, the GCIS configured to create a set of objects defining a container orchestration cluster, and manage lifecycles of second VMs of the VMs based on state of the set of objects; and guest software executing in the second VMs to implement the container orchestration cluster as a guest cluster of the host cluster, the guest software having components that interface with the GCIS.

Abstract: An example virtualized computing system includes a host cluster having a virtualization layer directly executing on hardware platforms of hosts, the virtualization layer supporting execution of virtual machines (VMs), the VMs including pod VMs, the pod VMs including container engines supporting execution of containers in the pod VMs; an orchestration control plane integrated with the virtualization layer, the orchestration control plane including a master server and pod VM controllers, the pod VM controllers executing in the virtualization layer external to the VMs, the pod VM controllers configured as agents of the master server to manage the pod VMs; pod VM agents, executing in the pod VMs, configured as agents of the pod VM controllers to manage the containers executing in the pod VMs.

Abstract: An example virtualized computing system includes a host cluster having a virtualization layer executing on hardware platforms of hosts, the virtualization layer supporting execution of virtual machines (VMs), the VMs including pod VMs and native VMs, the pod VMs including container engines supporting execution of containers in the pod VMs, the native VMs including applications executing on guest operating systems; and an orchestration control plane integrated with the virtualization layer, the orchestration control plane including a master server having a pod VM controller to manage lifecycles of the pod VMs and a native VM controller to manage lifecycles of the native VMs.

Abstract: An example virtualized computing system includes a host cluster having a virtualization layer executing on hardware platforms of hosts, the virtualization layer supporting execution of virtual machines (VMs), the VMs including pod VMs and native VMs, the pod VMs including container engines supporting execution of containers in the pod VMs, the native VMs including applications executing on guest operating systems; and an orchestration control plane integrated with the virtualization layer, the orchestration control plane including a master server having a pod VM controller to manage lifecycles of the pod VMs and a native VM controller to manage lifecycles of the native VMs.

Abstract: An example method of managing an application in a virtualized computing system that includes a cluster of hosts managed by a virtualization management server, the hosts including a virtualization layer executing on hardware platforms is described.

Abstract: An example virtualized computing system includes a host cluster having a virtualization layer executing on hardware platforms of hosts, the virtualization layer supporting execution of virtual machines (VMs), the VMs including pod VMs and native VMs, the pod VMs including container engines supporting execution of containers in the pod VMs, the native VMs including applications executing on guest operating systems; and an orchestration control plane integrated with the virtualization layer, the orchestration control plane including a master server having a pod VM controller to manage lifecycles of the pod VMs and a native VM controller to manage lifecycles of the native VMs.

Abstract: An example virtualized computing system includes a host cluster having a virtualization layer directly executing on hardware platforms of hosts, the virtualization layer supporting execution of virtual machines (VMs), the VMs including pod VMs, the pod VMs including container engines supporting execution of containers in the pod VMs; an orchestration control plane integrated with the virtualization layer, the orchestration control plane including a master server and pod VM controllers, the pod VM controllers executing in the virtualization layer external to the VMs, the pod VM controllers configured as agents of the master server to manage the pod VMs; pod VM agents, executing in the pod VMs, configured as agents of the pod VM controllers to manage the containers executing in the pod VMs.

Abstract: An example method of managing an application in a virtualized computing system that includes a cluster of hosts managed by a virtualization management server, the hosts including a virtualization layer executing on hardware platforms is described.

Abstract: An example virtualized computing system includes: a host cluster having hosts and a virtualization layer executing on hardware platforms of the hosts, the virtualization layer supporting execution of virtual machines (VMs); an orchestration control plane integrated with the virtualization layer, the orchestration control plane including a master server executing in a first VM of the VMs; guest cluster infrastructure software (GCIS) executing in the master server, the GCIS configured to create a set of objects defining a container orchestration cluster, and manage lifecycles of second VMs of the VMs based on state of the set of objects; and guest software executing in the second VMs to implement the container orchestration cluster as a guest cluster of the host cluster, the guest software having components that interface with the GCIS.