Is OpenShift Free and How to Get Started

OpenShift is a powerful platform for building, deploying, and managing applications, but is it free? The answer is a bit complicated.

Red Hat offers a free version of OpenShift, known as OpenShift Container Platform, with limited features and support. This community version is ideal for developers who want to experiment with OpenShift without committing to a paid plan.

To get started with OpenShift, you can create a free account on the Red Hat website, which will give you access to the OpenShift Console. You can then use the Console to create and manage your applications, as well as access the OpenShift documentation and community forums.

OpenShift also offers a free tier on its cloud-based platform, OpenShift Online, which includes 1 GB of storage and 1 CPU core. This is a great option for small projects or proof-of-concepts.

OpenShift is a cloud platform as a service (PaaS) that allows developers to build, deploy, and manage applications in a scalable and secure environment. It's developed by Red Hat and is based on Docker containers.

OpenShift supports a variety of programming languages and frameworks, including Java, Python, and Ruby. This makes it a versatile choice for developers working on different types of projects.

The platform provides a range of features, including automated deployment, scaling, and management of applications. This allows developers to focus on writing code rather than worrying about the underlying infrastructure.

OpenShift also offers a free version, known as OpenShift Origin, which is an open-source version of the platform. This version is ideal for developers who want to try out the platform without committing to a paid subscription.

OpenShift's free tier offers a range of features that make it an attractive choice for developers. You can access a certain amount of CPU and memory, which is sufficient for testing and development.

The OpenShift console provides an intuitive interface for managing applications, making it easier for newcomers to get started. This user-friendly interface is a key feature of the free tier.

Here's a breakdown of the key features of OpenShift's free tier:

OpenShift offers a free tier that's perfect for testing and development, with limited resources that are still sufficient for getting started.

One of the standout features of OpenShift is its user-friendly interface, making it easy for newcomers to manage applications and get up to speed quickly.

The free tier also includes basic continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) capabilities, allowing users to automate their workflows and streamline their development process.

OpenShift's ecosystem is extensive, providing users with access to monitoring and logging solutions, as well as other tools and services.

Here are some of the key features of OpenShift:

OpenShift also supports a wide range of features to manage containers, including command line tools, Kubernetes-based auto scaling, and role-based access control.

Red Hat OpenShift offers a way to manage and automate a large number of containers, freeing up developers from manually managing containers.

This allows developers to focus on writing code and creating applications, rather than dealing with the complexities of container management.

OpenShift helps bridge the gap between legacy servers and modern, microservices-based work, making it easier for companies to adopt a mobile-first approach and produce smartphone and tablet apps quickly.

By promoting continuous app development and common tools for DevOps teams, OpenShift supports the DevOps approach that prioritizes collaboration and automation.

Getting Started with OpenShift's Free Tier is a straightforward process. You can begin by signing up on the OpenShift website to access the free tier.

To create a project, simply log in and follow the prompts. Once you've created a project, you can deploy applications using the provided templates or create your own.

Here's a step-by-step guide to getting started with OpenShift's free tier:

Alternatively, you can set up OpenShift for free using Minikube, but first, you'll need to ensure you have the necessary tools installed on your local machine, including Minikube, kubectl, Docker, and Helm.

To get started with OpenShift's free tier, you can follow these simple steps. Sign up for an account on the OpenShift website to access the free tier.

Once you're logged in, creating a new project is a breeze. You can create a project to start deploying applications.

To deploy applications quickly, use the provided templates or create your own. You can also deploy applications using the templates provided.

If you're new to OpenShift, the free tier is an excellent option to explore the platform and its features. It provides a practical way to learn about container orchestration and microservices without financial commitment.

To set up OpenShift for free using Minikube, you'll need to install the necessary tools on your local machine. Minikube is the first tool you'll need to install.

Minikube is a Kubernetes cluster that runs on your local machine, allowing you to test and develop applications without the need for a cloud provider. It's a great way to get started with OpenShift.

You'll also need to install kubectl, a command-line tool used to deploy and manage applications on a Kubernetes cluster. kubectl is a crucial tool for interacting with your Minikube cluster.

Docker is another essential tool you'll need to install, as it allows you to create and manage containers that can be run on your Minikube cluster. Containers are lightweight and portable, making them perfect for development and testing.

Finally, you'll need to install Helm, a package manager for Kubernetes that makes it easy to deploy and manage applications on your Minikube cluster.

To get started with OpenShift on Linux, you'll need to install the necessary dependency packages, which should be up to date on your Ubuntu system.

A single node installation will run OKD services in Docker containers, so you'll need Docker Engine runtime installed on your system.

First, import the Docker GPG key, then add the Docker APT repository to your Ubuntu system.

The Docker repository is now added, so run the commands to update, install, and verify Docker CE on Ubuntu.

Next, add your User account to the docker group, which will allow Docker to be installed successfully.

Docker is now installed, so download the OpenShift Origin client utility from the Git Hub repository.

Uncompress the downloaded tar file, move to the created folder, and copy the kubectl and oc binaries to the /usr/local/bin directory.

Verify the installation of the Red Hat container platform OpenShift client utility using the command.

Allow the use of an Insecure Docker registry and restart the Docker service after adding the file in the terminal.

Now, start the OKD server on the local interface – 127.0.0.1:8443 by running the following command.

Finally, deploy the OKD cluster integrated container image registry using the command.