docs/content/en/installation/_index.md
Meshery deploys as a set of Docker containers to either a Docker host or a Kubernetes cluster. A given deployment of Meshery can be described as either an in-cluster or an out-of-cluster deployment. Meshery runs as a standalone management plane on a Docker host (out-of-cluster) or within a Kubernetes cluster (in-cluster). See the complete list of supported platforms below.
If you are deciding which installation path fits your environment, start with the [Compatibility Matrix]({{< ref "project/compatibility-matrix/compatibility-matrix.md" >}}).
For runtime configuration after installation, see [Meshery Server Environment Variables]({{< ref "installation/advanced/environment-variables.md" >}}).
If you are deploying Meshery for production use, review the [Production Deployment]({{< ref "installation/production/_index.md" >}}) considerations for guidance on high availability, security hardening, performance, multi-cluster and multi-cloud operation, and operational readiness.