Main points:

• “mybinder.org” had capacity issues with Google and lost more capacity, leaving only GESIS and OVH as federation members.
• 2i2c deployed a single-node Kubernetes instance on Hetzner cloud using K3s, which is cheaper and easier to manage.
• Managed Kubernetes services are complex and expensive, while single-node VMs offer a cheaper alternative.
• “2i2c.mybinder.org” now serves 70% of the federation and is being monitored for performance.
• Others can join the federation using the single-node BinderHub workflow with a guide provided.
• There is a need for more resources to sustain the node and cover development time.

Key details:

• Kubernetes has matured and there are more ways to run it, like single-node workflows with K3s.
• Managed object storage services have more open source options and are cheaper.
• Hetzner offers single-node VMs that are 4x cheaper than others and provides managed object storage.
• A single VM with K3s can handle around 400 simultaneous sessions at a lower cost than a scalable Kubernetes cluster.
• 2i2c is sponsoring the node with €350 a month and providing in-kind labor.
• A guide for deploying a BinderHub with K3s is available.