CIQ has announced the tech preview release of a user-friendly management interface for the Warewulf cluster provisioning system. This new web interface, built on Cockpit and backed by a new, open source API, is designed to simplify and streamline management of high-performance computing (HPC) clusters. This new capability simplifies cluster administration for new and existing administrators while maintaining Warewulf’s flexibility for research, commercial and fully integrated environments.

With this new management interface, administrators can now interact with Warewulf through a web UI, making complex tasks easier and configuration more discoverable. The companion API, released under an open source license as part of the Warewulf project, opens up the platform for automation and tighter integration into broader infrastructure.

“Warewulf has always stood apart by being open, extensible and deeply customizable,” said Gregory Kurtzer, founder and CEO of CIQ and creator of Warewulf. “With the new management UI and API, we’re combining that power with ease of use. This release helps new and experienced users alike streamline cluster management tasks while also setting the foundation for Warewulf as a fully integrated appliance.”

The management UI enables interactive management of critical Warewulf components such as:

• Nodes: Systems provisioned by Warewulf
• Profiles: Categories of nodes with a shared configuration
• Images: Operating system payloads for deployment
• Overlays: Built-in and site-specific customizations layered onto provisioned nodes

While all of these tasks have historically been completed via the command line, the new interface enhances accessibility and collaboration, especially in environments with varying levels of technical expertise or multi-admin workflows. The inclusion of in-line documentation and visual guides lowers the barrier to entry for cluster administrators new to Warewulf or those responsible for maintaining stability across generations of cluster deployments.

The API, released as part of the Warewulf open source project, offers programmatic control and is designed to integrate seamlessly into DevOps pipelines and custom infrastructure tooling. The UI is included with CIQ’s Warewulf support offerings and will be available to customers, initially as a tech preview which targets early adopters, including existing CIQ customers and key partners.

A public webinar introducing the Warewulf management UI and API will be held on April 24, 2025.