What is the difference between IPVS and iptables mode in kube-proxy and when would you prefer IPVS?

Question

Kubernetes Fundamentals — Hard

What is the difference between IPVS and iptables mode in kube-proxy and when would you prefer IPVS?

Accepted Answer

IPVS mode outperforms iptables mode in large clusters due to its efficient kernel hash tables. This enables O(1) service lookups, unlike iptables' sequential rule matching with O(n) complexity. IPVS also supports multiple load balancing algorithms. Its performance benefits make it preferable for large-scale environments.