openshift 4 Features and Benefits Explained

OpenShift 4 is a game-changer for containerized applications. With its robust features and benefits, it's no wonder why many organizations are making the switch.

One of the key features of OpenShift 4 is its ability to automate the deployment and management of applications. This is made possible by its built-in Kubernetes cluster, which provides a scalable and secure environment for your applications to run in.

OpenShift 4 also provides a self-healing cluster, which means that if a node in the cluster goes down, the cluster will automatically restart the application on a different node. This ensures that your applications are always available and running smoothly.

This level of automation and self-healing means that IT teams can focus on more strategic tasks, rather than spending their time managing and troubleshooting applications.

Getting started with OpenShift 4 is relatively straightforward. You can begin by following the "Getting started in OpenShift Container Platform" guide.

First, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the OpenShift 4 architecture, which is designed to provide a more scalable and secure platform. The architecture is built around a control plane and a worker node.

To get started, you'll want to install the OpenShift 4 cluster, which can be done using the installation program. This program will guide you through the process of deploying the cluster.

OpenShift provides a secure way to deploy workloads in sandboxed containers.

This feature is particularly useful for deploying privileged or untrusted workloads safely.

OpenShift sandboxed containers can run untrusted code without compromising the host system.

Sandboxed containers are essentially a layer of isolation between the container and the host system.

This isolation prevents the container from accessing the host system's resources or causing harm to the system.

OpenShift sandboxed containers can be used to deploy workloads that would otherwise be considered high-risk.

By using sandboxed containers, you can deploy workloads in a safe and controlled environment.

OpenShift is not just a vanilla Kubernetes installation, but a certified Kubernetes with additional layers of abstraction that aim to increase the value of the entire solution.

As you dive into OpenShift, you'll notice that it comes with more than you might expect. You'll get a bunch of carefully selected developer and operations tools, frameworks and services.

One of the key benefits of using OpenShift is that whenever you update it, you can be certain that Red Hat has certified that every component inside the box will still function correctly.

You'll also get a web GUI for both devs and operations teams, making it easier to manage your cluster.

Here are some of the key components you can expect to find inside the box:

If you were to deploy any of these software tools, such as Grafana, to your AKS cluster, you would be responsible for managing it. But with OpenShift, you can log a support ticket and get an engineer to help you with your Grafana related issue.

The OpenShift Container Platform release notes highlight what's new and changed with this version. In this release, you'll find several key updates that impact how you manage and use your platform.

One of the main highlights is the inclusion of a new console interface. The release notes mention that this interface provides a more streamlined experience for users. This new interface aims to make it easier for administrators to manage their clusters.

Another significant change is the upgrade process for clusters. The release notes explain that clusters can now be upgraded more easily and with less downtime. This should make it more convenient for administrators to keep their clusters up to date.

The release notes also mention several bug fixes and security patches that have been included in this release. These fixes and patches aim to improve the overall stability and security of the platform.

The new release includes several new features and improvements to existing ones. Some of these features include better support for multi-tenancy and improved monitoring capabilities. These features should make it easier for administrators to manage and monitor their clusters.

The OpenShift Container Platform release notes provide a comprehensive overview of what's new and changed in this release. If you're interested in learning more, I recommend checking out the full release notes for more information.

Security and compliance are top priorities for any OpenShift 4 deployment. Learning about and managing security for OpenShift Container Platform is crucial to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of your data.

OpenShift 4 provides robust security features, including network policies and identity and access management. This ensures that only authorized users and applications can access and interact with your cluster.

To manage security, you need to understand the different components of OpenShift 4's security framework. This includes learning about the various tools and features available, such as security scans and vulnerability management.

Regular security scans and vulnerability management are essential to identify and fix potential security issues before they become major problems. This helps prevent data breaches and other security incidents.

By following best practices for security and compliance, you can ensure that your OpenShift 4 deployment is secure and compliant with relevant regulations. This includes staying up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates.

Getting support for OpenShift Container Platform is crucial for a smooth experience. You can get support through various channels.

Red Hat provides support for OpenShift Container Platform, including online resources and community forums.

You can also reach out to Red Hat support directly for personalized assistance.

For a more personalized experience, you can use the Red Hat Customer Portal to access knowledge base articles, release notes, and more.

Red Hat's support options are designed to help you get back up and running quickly.

Managing clusters in a disconnected environment can be challenging, but OpenShift 4 provides a solution with its disconnected environments feature.

OpenShift 4 allows you to manage clusters in a disconnected environment, which means you can still manage and monitor your clusters even when they're not connected to the internet.

You can manage OpenShift Container Platform clusters in a disconnected environment, which is especially useful for organizations with strict security policies or limited network connectivity.

This feature is especially useful for organizations that require strict security policies or have limited network connectivity, such as government agencies or financial institutions.

To manage clusters in a disconnected environment, you'll need to use a mirror registry to store container images, which can then be used to deploy applications to your cluster.

A mirror registry is a local repository that stores container images, allowing you to manage and deploy applications in a disconnected environment.

By using a mirror registry, you can ensure that your cluster remains secure and up-to-date, even when it's not connected to the internet.

You can install OpenShift Container Platform on various cloud providers, including Alibaba Cloud, IBM Cloud, and Google Cloud Platform. Alibaba Cloud, for instance, allows you to install OpenShift Container Platform on their platform.

Installing on IBM Cloud is also an option, where you can follow the instructions for Installing OpenShift Container Platform on IBM Cloud. This includes setting up the required infrastructure and configuring the necessary settings.

Google Cloud Platform, or GCP, is another cloud provider that supports OpenShift Container Platform, with instructions available for Installing OpenShift Container Platform on Google Cloud Platform.

Installing on Azure is a straightforward process. You can follow the instructions in the "Installing on Azure" section, which outlines the steps to install OpenShift Container Platform on Azure.

To get started, you'll need to select one of the supported VM series, which all use premium managed disks. You can choose from various options, but be aware that you'll need at least three master nodes and three worker nodes to meet the minimum requirement.

Provisioning a cluster on Azure requires a minimum of 40 cores, which is higher than the default Azure resource quota for a new subscription. To request an increase in your resource limit, you can follow the instructions in the "Provisioning a cluster" section.

Once your cluster is up and running, you can connect to it using the administrator credentials and web console URL. If you prefer to use kubectl, you're in luck – OpenShift is a certified Kubernetes distribution, and you can use kubectl to support your existing workflows.

Serverless computing is a game-changer for developers. It allows you to create and deploy applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure.

OpenShift Serverless makes it easy to build event-driven applications. This means your app can scale automatically in response to changing demands, without you having to lift a finger.

One of the key benefits of serverless computing is cost efficiency. You only pay for the resources your app uses, so you can save money on unnecessary infrastructure costs.

With OpenShift Serverless, you can focus on writing code, not managing servers. This is a huge productivity boost, especially for teams working on complex projects.

You can install an OpenShift Container Platform cluster on-premise using the Agent-based Installer, which is a convenient option for many users. This method allows for a more straightforward installation process.

Installing an on-premise cluster with the Agent-based Installer is a popular choice for its ease of use. You can also opt to install OpenShift Container Platform on bare metal, giving you more control over the hardware.

This option is ideal for users who require a high level of customization and control over their infrastructure.

You can install OpenShift Container Platform on bare metal, which involves installing it directly on physical servers without a virtualization layer.

This approach requires a significant amount of manual configuration and planning, as you'll need to provision the servers and configure the necessary networking and storage.

To get started, you can follow the instructions for "Installing on bare metal", which will guide you through the process of setting up a bare metal installation of OpenShift Container Platform.

Alternatively, you can use the "Deploying installer-provisioned clusters on bare metal" method, which automates many of the provisioning and configuration tasks for you.

This approach can be a good option if you have a large number of servers to provision and want to streamline the installation process.

IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE offer a robust on-premise option for deploying OpenShift Container Platform.

You can install OpenShift Container Platform on these systems, which is a significant advantage for businesses that require high levels of security and reliability.

IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE provide a scalable and secure infrastructure for running containerized applications, making them an attractive choice for organizations with complex workloads.

Their architecture is designed to support large-scale deployments, which is essential for businesses that need to handle high traffic and large datasets.

By leveraging the capabilities of IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE, you can create a highly available and fault-tolerant environment for your containerized applications.

IBM Power Virtual Server offers a flexible and scalable option for deploying OpenShift Container Platform on-premise. This option allows you to run OpenShift on IBM's cloud-based virtual server environment.

You can install OpenShift Container Platform on IBM Power Virtual Server, as described in the documentation. This process involves configuring the virtual server environment and deploying OpenShift.

IBM Power Virtual Server provides a secure and managed environment for running OpenShift, with features like automated backups and patching. This can help reduce the administrative burden of managing an on-premise OpenShift cluster.

To get started with IBM Power Virtual Server, you'll need to create a virtual server instance and configure the necessary networking and storage resources. This will give you a foundation for deploying OpenShift.