What is OpenShift?

OpenShift is an application platform based on Kubernetes, developed by Red Hat. It’s designed to help developers build, deploy, and manage containerized applications across various environments, including on-premises data centers, public clouds, and hybrid infrastructures.

OpenShift extends Kubernetes by adding features that make it easier to use, more secure, and better suited for enterprise environments. It provides a complete platform for application lifecycle management, from development and testing to deployment and operations.

Summary:

OpenShift is not just a container orchestrator like Kubernetes — it is a full-featured platform that helps organizations build, deploy, manage, and scale applications and infrastructure in one place.

In simple terms:
OpenShift = Kubernetes + DevOps Tools + Security + UI + Automation

Primary Category

Category	Description
Container Application Platform	A full platform to build, run, and manage containerized applications. It includes container orchestration (Kubernetes), CI/CD, Dev tools, monitoring, security, and more.

So, OpenShift is best described as a:

“Container Application Platform” or “Kubernetes Platform”

OpenShift also fits into these categories:

Category	Why OpenShift Fits
Container Orchestration	Built on Kubernetes, it manages containers at scale.
Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)	Provides developer tools, templates, build pipelines, etc.
DevOps Platform	Offers CI/CD, GitOps, security, monitoring, and automation.
Hybrid Cloud Platform	Can run apps on-prem, public cloud, or edge locations.
MLOps Platform	Includes OpenShift AI for machine learning workflows.
Infrastructure Automation	Automates provisioning, scaling, and management of infrastructure.

Why Should You Use OpenShift?

Here’s why many companies choose OpenShift:

1. All-in-One Platform

OpenShift gives you everything in one place:

• Kubernetes (orchestration)
• CI/CD tools (for building & deploying apps)
• Monitoring & logging tools
• Security & user access controls
• Developer-friendly web console and CLI

2. Enterprise-Ready

OpenShift is built for large companies that need:

• High security
• Compliance with regulations
• 24/7 support from Red Hat

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3. Easy for Developers

Developers get:

• Self-service environments
• Templates to deploy apps quickly
• Dev Spaces (like a coding IDE in your browser)

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4. Runs Anywhere

You can run OpenShift:

• On your laptop
• In your data center
• In the cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP, IBM Cloud)
• Even on the edge (remote locations like factories)

Example Category Mapping

Category	Example Tool in OpenShift
Orchestration	Kubernetes
CI/CD	Tekton (Pipelines)
GitOps	ArgoCD
Build	Source-to-Image (S2I)
Monitoring	Prometheus, Grafana
Logging	Fluentd, Elasticsearch, Kibana
Serverless	Knative
API Gateway	3scale
IDE	Dev Spaces
Storage	ODF, CSI
VM Support	KubeVirt
Networking	Istio, Routes
Security	RBAC, SCC, OAuth
MLOps	OpenShift AI

Why Should You Not Use OpenShift?

OpenShift is great, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. Here’s why:

1. Cost

• OpenShift is not free (unless you use OKD, the community version)
• Red Hat subscriptions and support can be expensive for small companies or startups

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2. Complex Setup

• The installation and upgrade process can be complicated
• Requires skilled DevOps/SRE engineers to manage (unless you’re using ROSA or Dedicated)

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3. Vendor Lock-in

• OpenShift adds custom features on top of Kubernetes
• If you ever want to move away from OpenShift, you may need to rework your app setup

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A. History of OpenShift (in short)

Year	Milestone
2011	Red Hat launches OpenShift as a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), initially supporting Java, Ruby, Python, and PHP.
2014	Red Hat open-sources OpenShift as OpenShift Origin (now OKD).
2015	Red Hat starts rebuilding OpenShift on Kubernetes, moving away from its older container engine (GEARd).
2016	OpenShift v3.x is released — the first version based on Kubernetes and Docker.
2018	OpenShift 3.11 becomes the last version to support Docker as the runtime.
2019	Red Hat releases OpenShift 4.x, now based on CRI-O container runtime and Operator-based architecture.
2019	Red Hat is acquired by IBM for $34 billion — OpenShift becomes IBM’s flagship container strategy.
2020–2023	Major expansion: ROSA (AWS), ARO (Azure), OpenShift Virtualization, Serverless, GitOps, and AI are added.
2024	OpenShift 4.x continues evolving with support for Lightspeed (AI), Edge, and sandboxed containers.

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OpenShift Release & Version Info

Series	Highlights
OpenShift 1.x–2.x	PaaS model with custom gear containers (not Kubernetes-based)
OpenShift 3.x	Introduced Kubernetes + Docker + OC CLI
OpenShift 3.11	Last 3.x version; stable and widely used for years
OpenShift 4.1+	Operator-based lifecycle, CRI-O, MachineSets, Installer, etc.
OpenShift 4.12–4.14 (2023)	Enhanced GitOps, AI/ML, Virtualization, Edge support
Latest (as of 2024)	OpenShift 4.14, with Lightspeed AI preview, sandboxed containers, and advanced hybrid cloud support

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Technologies & Programming Languages Used in OpenShift

Component	Language
Core platform (API, controllers)	Go (Golang) — like Kubernetes
Web console (UI)	TypeScript + ReactJS
CLI tool (oc)	Go (Golang)
Source-to-Image (S2I)	Go, Shell
Installer	Go, Ansible (legacy)
Operators (OLM, CRDs)	Go
Dev Spaces	Java, TypeScript, Eclipse Che stack
Pipelines (Tekton)	Go
GitOps (ArgoCD)	Go, YAML
Monitoring (Prometheus, Grafana)	Go, JS/TS for dashboards

Most of OpenShift is written in Golang, because it builds on Kubernetes, which is also written in Go.

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Summary

• Created by Red Hat in 2011, became Kubernetes-based from v3.x (2015).
• Uses Golang, TypeScript, Java, and React.
• Current version is OpenShift 4.x, focused on hybrid cloud, AI, and enterprise-grade operations.

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What Are the Features of OpenShift?

Feature	Description
Kubernetes Built-in	OpenShift is built on Kubernetes
Web Console	Easy-to-use UI for managing apps and clusters
CLI (oc)	Command-line tool like kubectl, but more powerful
CI/CD Pipelines	Built-in automation for build/test/deploy
Security	Role-based access, secure containers, policy controls
Integrated Tools	GitOps (ArgoCD), Serverless, Service Mesh, Monitoring
Container Registry	Built-in image registry for storing Docker images
Dev Spaces	Browser-based developer environments
Auto-scaling	Automatically adjust resources based on demand
Rolling Updates	Deploy new versions without downtime

OpenShift Architecture

Best Alternatives to OpenShift — With Direct Comparison

Alternative	Category	How It Compares to OpenShift	Strengths	Weaknesses
Rancher (by SUSE)	Kubernetes Management Platform	Manages multiple K8s clusters like OpenShift does	Great UI, Multi-cluster, Lightweight	Lacks built-in CI/CD, registry
VMware Tanzu	Kubernetes + Dev Platform	Like OpenShift but built around VMware ecosystem	Deep vSphere integration, Secure supply chain	Complex setup, VMware-focused
Platform9	SaaS-managed Kubernetes	OpenShift-style features but 100% SaaS-managed	Easy, multi-cloud, minimal ops	Some features require enterprise tier
Amazon EKS Blueprints / ROSA	Managed Kubernetes	ROSA is an OpenShift variant on AWS; EKS + Blueprints adds GitOps, logging, etc.	Native AWS, integrates well	Requires assembly of parts
Google Anthos	Hybrid K8s Platform	Competes directly with OpenShift for hybrid/multi-cloud	Google infra + Istio + Migrate for Anthos	High complexity, Google-centric
Azure AKS + DevOps + Arc	Managed K8s + Tools	Azure’s cloud-native equivalent to OpenShift	Azure-native GitOps, DevOps pipelines	Less unified platform than OpenShift
Docker Enterprise (Mirantis)	Container Platform	Docker + Kubernetes + UI + Secure registry	Legacy Docker appeal, built-in Swarm	Declining popularity, commercial-only
K3s + ArgoCD + Flux	Lightweight DIY Platform	Combine K3s, ArgoCD, Prometheus, etc. to mimic OpenShift	Lightweight, great for edge or small infra	DIY integration, no support
OKD (Community OpenShift)	Community Platform	100% OpenShift without Red Hat branding or support	Same features as OpenShift	No official support, slower updates

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Most Comparable to OpenShift Feature-by-Feature

Feature	OpenShift	Rancher	Tanzu	Anthos	Platform9
K8s Orchestration
CI/CD (Pipelines)	(Tekton)	(external)	(TAP)	(use external)	(external)
GitOps	(ArgoCD)
Developer IDEs	(Dev Spaces)
App Templates
Built-in Registry
Logging & Monitoring		External setup	Built-in	Built-in	Built-in
Web Console
Security & RBAC
Runs Anywhere
Enterprise Support

Red Hat OpenShift supports several additional deployment models and variants

Yes, besides the core five you mentioned earlier, Red Hat OpenShift supports several additional deployment models and variants, especially as it expands across hybrid cloud, edge, and specialized workloads.

Here’s a full list of all major OpenShift deployment models, including newer and specialized ones:

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1. OpenShift Container Platform (OCP)

• Self-managed
• Deployed on on-prem, bare metal, VMware, or public/private clouds
• Full control, highly customizable
• Requires more ops effort

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2. OpenShift Dedicated

• Red Hat-managed OpenShift
• Runs in your AWS or Google Cloud account
• Ideal for enterprises who want full-featured OpenShift but don’t want to manage it themselves

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3. OpenShift Online

• SaaS version
• Hosted and managed by Red Hat
• Ideal for quick starts, dev/testing
• No infrastructure setup needed

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4. ROSA (Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS)

• Co-managed by Red Hat + AWS
• Provisioned directly through AWS Console
• Integrated with AWS IAM, CloudWatch, Billing
• Best fit for AWS-native customers

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5. ARO (Azure Red Hat OpenShift)

• Similar to ROSA but for Microsoft Azure
• Jointly managed by Microsoft + Red Hat
• Native Azure integration (Azure AD, billing, etc.)

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6. OKD (Origin Kubernetes Distribution)

• The community version of OpenShift
• Free and open-source
• Lacks enterprise support, but great for testing and hobby use

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7. OpenShift on IBM Cloud

• Fully managed by IBM
• Useful for enterprises with IBM infrastructure or hybrid cloud strategies
• Deeply integrated into IBM Cloud PaaS

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8. OpenShift Local (Formerly CodeReady Containers)

• Single-node OpenShift cluster on your laptop
• Ideal for development or learning
• Runs via virtualization (like CRC or Podman)

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9. OpenShift at the Edge

• Lightweight OpenShift clusters designed for edge locations
• Example: Single-node OpenShift (SNO) or 3-node compact clusters
• Used in retail stores, telco base stations, IoT sites

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10. OpenShift on Bare Metal

• Directly installed on physical servers
• High performance, direct hardware access
• Popular for data centers, AI/ML workloads, telecom

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11. OpenShift Virtualization

• Run VMs inside OpenShift alongside containers
• Uses KubeVirt
• Reduces need for separate virtualization platforms (e.g., VMware)

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12. OpenShift on Private Cloud / VMWare

• OpenShift deployed inside private clouds like:
  • VMware vSphere
  • Red Hat OpenStack
  • Nutanix
• Gives control while utilizing existing infrastructure

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13. OpenShift on OpenStack (RHOSP)

• Run OpenShift clusters on top of OpenStack
• Cloud-native infrastructure with strong isolation and scaling

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Deployment Summary Table

Model	Hosted By	Managed By	Best Fit
OCP	On-prem/cloud	You	Full control
Dedicated	AWS/GCP	Red Hat	Managed in your cloud
Online	Red Hat	Red Hat	Dev/test/SaaS use
ROSA	AWS	Red Hat + AWS	AWS-native users
ARO	Azure	Microsoft + Red Hat	Azure-native users
IBM Cloud	IBM	IBM	IBM customers
OKD	You	You (community)	Free/Open-source dev
Local	You (laptop)	You	Local testing
Edge	Edge sites	You	IoT, remote ops
Virtualization	You	You	VMs inside OpenShift
OpenStack	On-prem	You	Cloud-native infra
Bare Metal	On-prem	You	High-performance workloads

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Welcome Page of Open Shift