Red Hat's OpenShift platform, built on Kubernetes, revolutionizes how organizations deploy and manage cloud applications. While traditional on-premises OpenShift installations offer control, they demand significant infrastructure management that can drain resources and slow innovation. Azure OpenShift, specifically Azure Red Hat OpenShift (ARO), addresses these challenges by providing a fully managed solution. This collaborative offering from Microsoft and Red Hat eliminates the burden of infrastructure maintenance, allowing development teams to concentrate on creating valuable applications rather than managing underlying systems. By shifting from on-premises to managed OpenShift services, organizations can escape the constant cycle of infrastructure management tasks like certificate updates and cluster scaling, focusing instead on driving business value through code.
Traditional OpenShift Deployment Methods
OpenShift offers four distinct deployment approaches, each designed to meet specific organizational needs while maintaining high availability standards. These methods vary in complexity, control, and automation levels.
Assisted Installation
The most user-friendly deployment option leverages a web-based interface, making it ideal for environments with public internet access. This method streamlines the installation process through intelligent defaults and preliminary system checks. Administrators benefit from automated validation and a REST API for deployment automation. The system generates a specialized discovery image for cluster machine initialization.
Agent-Based Installation
This method requires more technical expertise, utilizing command-line operations and a local agent setup. It's particularly valuable for organizations operating in restricted network environments or those requiring enhanced security measures through network isolation.
Automated Installation
Built for efficiency, this approach employs baseboard management controller technology to handle cluster host deployment. Its versatility allows for successful implementation in both connected and air-gapped environments, offering a balance between automation and control.
Full Control Installation
Designed for organizations requiring maximum customization, this method provides complete oversight of the infrastructure supporting cluster nodes. It accommodates both connected and disconnected environments, making it ideal for enterprises with specific compliance requirements or unique infrastructure needs.
Infrastructure Provisioning Models
These deployment methods align with two primary infrastructure provisioning approaches:
- Installer Provisioned Infrastructure (IPI): Typically associated with the automated installation method, offering streamlined deployment with predetermined configurations.
- User Provisioned Infrastructure (UPI): Connected to the other installation methods, providing greater flexibility and control over the deployment process.
Each deployment method serves different organizational needs, from simplifying installation processes for teams new to OpenShift to providing granular control for enterprises with complex infrastructure requirements. The choice between these methods depends on factors such as network connectivity, security requirements, and the desired level of customization.
Infrastructure Provisioning Approaches in OpenShift
Installer Provisioned Infrastructure (IPI)
IPI represents OpenShift's automated deployment solution, streamlining cluster setup through comprehensive automation. This approach minimizes manual intervention while handling infrastructure provisioning and cluster configuration tasks. Cloud deployments benefit from automatic Virtual IP assignment through native load balancer services, though on-premises installations require manual IP allocation for API and Ingress endpoints.
Deployment Options
- Standard Deployment: Offers rapid installation with minimal configuration requirements, using platform-optimized defaults
- Customized Deployment: Provides additional flexibility for specifying control plane parameters, virtual machine types, and network configurations
User Provisioned Infrastructure (UPI)
UPI delivers enhanced control over infrastructure components, though it demands more administrative effort. This method enables organizations to implement specific infrastructure requirements, including operating system selection and custom load-balancing solutions. Unlike IPI, UPI supports both CoreOS and RHEL servers for compute nodes, offering greater operational flexibility.
Platform Support Matrix
Major cloud and infrastructure platforms offer varying levels of support for these provisioning methods:
IPI Supported Features
- Default configurations available on AWS, Azure, GCP, and IBM Cloud
- Network customization supported on selected platforms
- Private cluster deployment options for enhanced security
- Restricted network installations across most platforms
UPI Supported Features
- Custom deployments supported on major cloud providers
- Specialized network configurations for bare metal and vSphere environments
- Advanced options for restricted networks
- Platform-specific features like shared VPC support on GCP
Installation Process
The deployment workflow begins with Ignition configuration file generation, followed by bootstrap node initialization. This temporary bootstrap node orchestrates control plane deployment, which subsequently manages compute node creation. This systematic approach ensures proper cluster initialization and configuration across both IPI and UPI deployments.
Benefits of Azure Red Hat OpenShift
Streamlined Operational Management
Azure Red Hat OpenShift dramatically simplifies cluster administration by automating complex infrastructure tasks. The platform handles essential operations including provisioning, scaling, and continuous monitoring, enabling organizations to redirect technical resources from infrastructure maintenance to strategic initiatives. This managed approach eliminates the complexity of manual cluster management while maintaining enterprise-grade reliability.
Cost Optimization
Organizations can achieve significant cost reductions by transitioning to Azure Red Hat OpenShift. The managed service model eliminates expenses associated with infrastructure maintenance, dedicated operations teams, and ongoing system updates. This cost efficiency extends beyond direct infrastructure savings to include reduced training requirements and decreased downtime-related losses.
Enhanced Developer Productivity
With infrastructure management handled by the platform, development teams can focus exclusively on application development and innovation. This shift in focus accelerates delivery timelines and enables teams to concentrate on creating business value through new features and improvements rather than managing underlying systems.
Azure Ecosystem Integration
The platform provides native integration with Azure's comprehensive service portfolio, offering seamless access to:
- Advanced monitoring and analytics tools
- Security and compliance services
- Database and storage solutions
- Network infrastructure components
Enterprise Support Structure
Azure Red Hat OpenShift delivers a unified support experience through collaboration between Microsoft and Red Hat. This partnership ensures:
- Rapid issue resolution through coordinated support channels
- Access to expert technical resources from both organizations
- Proactive platform maintenance and updates
- Comprehensive documentation and best practices
Security and Compliance
The platform incorporates enterprise-grade security features and compliance measures, including:
- Automated security patches and updates
- Integrated identity management
- Network security controls
- Compliance certifications for various industry standards
These advantages make Azure Red Hat OpenShift an optimal choice for organizations seeking to modernize their container platform strategy while maintaining operational efficiency and security standards. The platform's managed nature allows businesses to focus on innovation while leveraging the expertise of both Microsoft and Red Hat for infrastructure management.
Conclusion
The evolution from traditional OpenShift deployments to managed solutions like Azure Red Hat OpenShift represents a significant advancement in container platform management. While conventional OpenShift installations offer granular control through various deployment methods, they demand substantial operational overhead and technical expertise. Organizations must carefully balance these requirements against their available resources and business objectives.
Azure Red Hat OpenShift emerges as a compelling solution that addresses the complexities of traditional deployments while delivering enhanced value through automated management, cost efficiency, and seamless cloud integration. This managed service effectively bridges the gap between operational control and administrative simplicity, enabling organizations to focus on application development and innovation rather than infrastructure maintenance.
The platform's joint support model, comprehensive security features, and deep integration with Azure services create a robust foundation for enterprise container deployments. Organizations can accelerate their digital transformation initiatives without the burden of managing complex infrastructure components. As container technologies continue to evolve, managed solutions like Azure Red Hat OpenShift will play an increasingly crucial role in helping enterprises maintain competitive advantages through efficient, secure, and scalable application deployment strategies.
Read more at trilio.io/openshift-tutorial/azure-openshift.
