a) Find all real numbers $k$ such that there exists a positive constant $c_k$ satisfying $$(x^2 + 1)(y^2 + 1)(z^2 + 1) \ge c_k(x + y + z)^k$$ for all positive real numbers. 

b) Given the numbers $k$ found, determine the largest number $c_k$.
### Part (a)

1. **Assume \( k < 0 \):**
   - Consider \( x = y = z = \epsilon \) where \( \epsilon \to 0 \).
   - The left-hand side (LHS) of the inequality is:
     \[
     (x^2 + 1)(y^2 + 1)(z^2 + 1) = (\epsilon^2 + 1)^3 \to 1 \text{ as } \epsilon \to 0.
     \]
   - The right-hand side (RHS) of the inequality is:
     \[
     c_k (x + y + z)^k = c_k (3\epsilon)^k \to \infty \text{ as } \epsilon \to 0 \text{ if } k < 0.
     \]
   - Since \( 1 \) cannot be greater than or equal to \( \infty \), \( k \) must be non-negative. Hence, \( k \ge 0 \).

2. **Assume \( k > 2 \):**
   - Consider \( y = z = \epsilon \) and \( x = N \) where \( \epsilon \to 0 \) and \( N \to \infty \).
   - The LHS of the inequality is:
     \[
     (x^2 + 1)(y^2 + 1)(z^2 + 1) = (N^2 + 1)(\epsilon^2 + 1)^2 \approx N^2 \text{ as } N \to \infty.
     \]
   - The RHS of the inequality is:
     \[
     c_k (x + y + z)^k = c_k (N + 2\epsilon)^k \approx c_k N^k \text{ as } N \to \infty.
     \]
   - For \( k > 2 \), \( N^k \) grows faster than \( N^2 \), so the RHS will eventually be larger than the LHS, violating the inequality. Hence, \( k \le 2 \).

3. **Conclusion for Part (a):**
   - Combining the results from steps 1 and 2, we have \( 0 \le k \le 2 \).

### Part (b)

1. **Determine the largest \( c_k \) for \( 0 \le k \le 2 \):**
   - We need to find the largest \( c_k \) such that:
     \[
     (x^2 + 1)(y^2 + 1)(z^2 + 1) \ge c_k (x + y + z)^k \text{ for all } x, y, z > 0.
     \]
   - For \( k = 0 \):
     \[
     (x^2 + 1)(y^2 + 1)(z^2 + 1) \ge c_0.
     \]
     The LHS is always at least 1, so the largest \( c_0 \) is 1.

   - For \( k = 2 \):
     \[
     (x^2 + 1)(y^2 + 1)(z^2 + 1) \ge c_2 (x + y + z)^2.
     \]
     Using the AM-GM inequality:
     \[
     x^2 + 1 \ge 2x, \quad y^2 + 1 \ge 2y, \quad z^2 + 1 \ge 2z.
     \]
     Multiplying these inequalities:
     \[
     (x^2 + 1)(y^2 + 1)(z^2 + 1) \ge 8xyz.
     \]
     Using the AM-GM inequality again:
     \[
     x + y + z \ge 3 \sqrt[3]{xyz}.
     \]
     Squaring both sides:
     \[
     (x + y + z)^2 \ge 9 \sqrt[3]{(xyz)^2}.
     \]
     Therefore:
     \[
     8xyz \ge c_2 \cdot 9 \sqrt[3]{(xyz)^2}.
     \]
     The largest \( c_2 \) that satisfies this inequality is \( \frac{8}{9} \).

2. **Conclusion for Part (b):**
   - For \( 0 \le k \le 2 \), the largest \( c_k \) is:
     \[
     c_k = \begin{cases}
     1 & \text{if } k = 0, \\
     \frac{8}{9} & \text{if } k = 2.
     \end{cases}
     \]

The final answer is \( \boxed{ 0 \le k \le 2 } \) and the largest \( c_k \) is \( 1 \) for \( k = 0 \) and \( \frac{8}{9} \) for \( k = 2 \).