Here is the latest, step-by-step complete guide to install and configure OKD β the open-source version of OpenShift β along with an introduction to what OKD is.
What is OKD?
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Name | OKD (Origin Community Distribution of Kubernetes) |
Relation to OpenShift | Upstream open-source version of Red Hat OpenShift |
Core Components | Kubernetes + CRI-O + Podman + Operators + OpenShift Console |
Latest Version (2025) | OKD 4.14 (matching OpenShift 4.14) |
Supported OS | Fedora CoreOS (FCOS), RHEL CoreOS |
Deployment Modes | IPI (Installer-Provisioned Infrastructure), UPI (User-Provisioned Infra) |
License | Apache 2.0 / Open Source (Free to use) |
Ideal For | Open-source adopters, self-managed clusters, testing advanced OpenShift |
OKD Installation Methods (Summary)
Method | Platform | Automation | Use Case |
---|---|---|---|
IPI | AWS, GCP, Azure, vSphere | Quick cloud installation with automation | |
UPI | Bare metal, custom VMs | On-premise or custom infrastructure | |
CRC | Local VM (dev only) | Developer test environments |
Step-by-Step Guide: OKD 4.14 Installation (Bare Metal / UPI)
Weβll install OKD 4.14 using the UPI (User-Provisioned Infrastructure) method on bare metal or custom virtual machines.
1. System Prerequisites
Requirement | Description |
---|---|
OS | Fedora CoreOS (OKD requires FCOS) |
Machines | Bootstrap, Master(s), Worker(s) |
RAM per Master | 16 GB+ |
CPU per Master | 4+ cores |
Disk per Node | 100 GB+ SSD |
DNS + DHCP | Required |
Internet Access | Required (or mirror registry for offline) |
2. Download OKD Tools
Download links:
- OKD Installer: https://github.com/openshift/okd/releases
- Fedora CoreOS (FCOS) images: https://getfedora.org/coreos
Download:
openshift-install
binaryoc
CLI binaryFedora CoreOS
ISO and PXE images
3. Generate Install Config
./openshift-install create install-config --dir=okd-cluster
This prompts:
- Base domain (e.g.,
example.com
) - Cluster name (e.g.,
okd
) - Pull secret (use OKD-specific or fake secret for community)
- Platform (select βnoneβ for bare metal/UPI)
- SSH key (for connecting to nodes)
This generates: install-config.yaml
4. Create Ignition Files
./openshift-install create ignition-configs --dir=okd-cluster
This creates:
bootstrap.ign
master.ign
worker.ign
5. Provision Fedora CoreOS Nodes
Use ISO or PXE to boot machines and provide the proper ignition file via kernel arguments:
coreos.inst.install_dev=/dev/sda
coreos.inst.image_url=<FCOS Live ISO URL>
coreos.inst.ignition_url=http://<http_server>/bootstrap.ign
Set up:
- 1x Bootstrap node (use
bootstrap.ign
) - 3x Master nodes (use
master.ign
) - N x Worker nodes (use
worker.ign
)
6. Set Up Networking (DNS, DHCP, Load Balancer)
DNS records (for base domain):
Record | Type | Target |
---|---|---|
api.okd.example.com | A | LB for port 6443 (API) |
*.apps.okd.example.com | A | LB for ports 80/443 (apps) |
api-int.okd.example.com | A | Internal API |
etcd-0.okd.example.com | A | etcd master 0 |
Load Balancer Ports:
- API:
6443
- Machine Config Server:
22623
- Ingress (apps):
80
,443
7. Wait for Bootstrap Completion
Run:
./openshift-install wait-for bootstrap-complete --dir=okd-cluster --log-level=info
When done:
- Shutdown the bootstrap node
8. Finish Cluster Installation
Run:
./openshift-install wait-for install-complete --dir=okd-cluster
Youβll get:
- Web Console URL:
https://console-openshift-console.apps.okd.example.com
- Admin credentials (stored in
auth/kubeadmin-password
)
9. Login and Validate
Login via CLI:
oc login -u kubeadmin -p <password> https://api.okd.example.com:6443
Access Web UI and verify that all nodes are healthy, and cluster is Ready.
Optional: Post-Install Tasks
Task | Description |
---|---|
Add users | Use HTPasswd or OAuth identity providers |
Install Operators | From OperatorHub |
Set up storage | Configure RWX or RWO PVCs |
Create projects/namespaces | For apps and workloads |
Monitor cluster | Use built-in Prometheus + Grafana stack |
Alternative: OKD IPI on AWS (Auto Infra)
OKD supports IPI (auto-provision) on AWS:
./openshift-install create cluster --dir=okd-aws
- Set platform:
aws
- Must configure AWS credentials
Where to Learn More
- OKD Docs: https://docs.okd.io/
- GitHub Releases: https://github.com/openshift/okd/releases
- FCOS: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/fedora-coreos/
- Community Support: https://discuss.okd.io/
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