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Document v3 CRD mode as the default for new installs#2805

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caseydavenport:casey-v3-crd-docs
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Document v3 CRD mode as the default for new installs#2805
caseydavenport wants to merge 9 commits into
tigera:mainfrom
caseydavenport:casey-v3-crd-docs

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@caseydavenport

@caseydavenport caseydavenport commented Jun 26, 2026

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Makes v3 CRD mode the documented default for new Calico installs, matching the operator change in tigera/operator#4973. New installs now get projectcalico.org/v3 served directly by CRDs with no aggregation API server. The v1 / aggregation-API-server path stays documented as an opt-out. Existing and upgraded clusters are unaffected - the operator picks the mode from the CRDs present and never flips an existing cluster.

What's here:

  • Reframed the Native v3 CRDs pages (Open Source + Enterprise) as the default rather than a tech preview, and fixed the Kubernetes floor to 1.32+ (the old 1.34+ and per-version v1beta1/v1alpha1 claims were wrong).
  • Flipped the fresh-install guides for both products to apply the v3 CRD manifest (v3_projectcalico_org.yaml). The operator and manifest installs that stay on the aggregation API server got a v3 opt-out note instead.
  • Added "your CRD mode is preserved" notes to the upgrade guides for both products, with the v3 manifest called out as the alternative for clusters already on native v3.
  • Release notes for both products.

Note on Enterprise: this assumes v3_projectcalico_org.yaml ships at the published EE manifests location. The release tooling already builds and publishes it (hashreleases and tagged releases both include it), so it should line up with real releases. The one gap is the ee/master/ dev location, which is stale and hasn't picked up the granular bundles - flagged to the DE team separately.

@caseydavenport caseydavenport requested a review from a team as a code owner June 26, 2026 22:19
Copilot AI review requested due to automatic review settings June 26, 2026 22:19
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@ctauchen ctauchen left a comment

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A few suggestions for you. Thanks!


1. Install the necessary custom resource definitions.

:::note[What changed]

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We should consider removing the note here and on the other installation guides. If someone performs an installation and notices the missing api server, they'll find plenty of information in your v3 CRDs pages and the release notes.

One reason to keep the note, or something similar, is to make things easier for people who really need the api server. Is this a significant group? From what I read, there is little reason that anyone would prefer that option.

Best path is to present one option in the main guide and provide the less common alternative in another location.


1. Install the $[prodname] custom resource definitions.

:::note[CRD mode]

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If we're maintaining both modes, then a more user-friendly path might look like this:

Prerequisite: You know what CRD mode you've got (Is there a simple check?)

  1. Install the custom resource definitions for your cluster's mode:

TAB 1 / TAB 2

code code code

```

</TabItem>
<TabItem label="Manifest install" value="apiserver-manifest">

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We don't support manifest installations in Calico Enterprise. Is there something special about this case?

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Perhaps this is just Tigera Operator and Helm installation types?


## New features and enhancements

- New installs default to v3 CRD mode: `projectcalico.org/v3` resources are served directly by CRDs, with no aggregation API server. Existing and upgraded clusters are unaffected. To install with the aggregation API server instead, apply the v1 CRDs before installing the operator. v3 CRD mode requires Kubernetes 1.32 or later. See [Native v3 CRDs](../operations/native-v3-crds.mdx).

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I'll do more closer to release, but I suspect it would be good to add more here about how this works for upgrades.

Would also be good to mention if we're deprecating the api server. Is that still the plan?

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