Dealing with large applications, particularly in containers, has become a common occurrence in today’s computing world. Containers help software run consistently across multiple environments, such as from a developer’s notebook to the cloud. Here enter OpenShift and Red Hat Server.
Red Hat OpenShift, one of the top Kubernetes-based container platforms, offers a powerful platform for organizations to automate their software delivery process. But at the core of OpenShift are Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Server and Red Hat CoreOS, which are used as the building blocks for operating OpenShift clusters.
Read on to understand how Red Hat Server plays a vital role in OpenShift’s contribution to containerization.
The Importance of Red-Hat Server in OpenShift
Consider Red Hat Server as the foundation of OpenShift. OpenShift requires a secure, stable, and high-performance operating system to function well. That is where Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is needed. RHEL, which is part of Red Hat Server, offers the operating system that hosts OpenShift and Kubernetes.
Why Red Hat Server?
- Secure: Red Hat Server provides a secure platform for OpenShift.
- Performance: It makes sure the containers execute efficiently and smoothly.
- Reliable: It provides the reliability necessary for OpenShift’s core functions.
Let’s read on to understand the role of the Red Hat server in OpenShift Containerization.
1. Provide a Secure and Stable Foundation
Security is the largest challenge of containerization. Containers share resources, so security is critical. This is where Red Hat Server’s capabilities, such as SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux), become important.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux subscriptions grew by more than 14% in 2018, representing more than 33% of the total paid enterprise operating system environments.
Security Features in Red Hat Server:
- SELinux: This assists in controlling which processes can access specific files, enhancing container security.
- Patch Management: This server updates security patches automatically to secure OpenShift and containers.
- Isolation: Containers should be isolated from one another for security. Red Hat Server keeps containers from interfering with one another’s resources.
2. Optimized Performance and Scalability
OpenShift scales applications up or down depending on the level of traffic or demand. The Red Hat server makes it possible for the system to scale without any problems.
- Automatic Scaling: OpenShift, which is driven by Red Hat Server, can scale up or down automatically by adding or removing containers to meet the workload.
- High Performance: It makes sure that containers are performing optimally even under high demand.
- Resource Optimization: It maximizes the utilization of resources so that your system operates effectively without wasting power.
This server assists OpenShift in keeping applications running smoothly, even when they must adapt quickly to changing or reduced demand.
3. Seamless Kubernetes Orchestration
As OpenShift is built on Kubernetes, its performance relies on the operating system that underlies it. This server plays an important role in:
- Container Runtime Integration: Red Hat Enterprise Linux and CoreOS have CRI-O support, which is a very lightweight Kubernetes-optimized container runtime.
- Optimized Networking: It allows for low-latency node-to-node communication within OpenShift, enhancing cluster performance.
- Storage Management: OpenShift takes advantage of RHEL’s persistent storage offerings such as OpenShift Container Storage (OCS) and Ceph.
- Worker Node Stability: CoreOS offers a lightweight OS footprint for OpenShift worker nodes with smaller attack surfaces and increased stability.
4. Supporting DevOps and CI/CD Pipelines
Contemporary businesses bank on DevOps methodologies to hasten software release. Red Hat Server strengthens OpenShift’s DevOps feature by:
- Integrated Container Tools: Red Hat Server incorporates tools such as Podman, Buildah, and Skopeo for creating and working with containers.
- CI/CD Pipeline Integration: RHEL-supported OpenShift supports integration with Jenkins, GitLab CI, Tekton, and ArgoCD for deployment automation.
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC): OpenShift is perfectly compatible with Ansible Automation Platform, making infrastructure provisioning automatic.
- GitOps Workflows: OpenShift, operating on Red Hat Server, offers GitOps practices for declarative application management.
5. Enterprise-Grade Security and Compliance
Businesses have to follow stringent security policies and compliance standards while operating containerized applications. This server offers:
- FIPS-140-2 Compliance: Guarantees cryptographic security compliance for sensitive workloads.
- HIPAA, GDPR, and FedRAMP: Red Hat Server assists organizations in achieving regulatory compliance standards.
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): OpenShift, operating on Red Hat Server, implements stringent user and API access controls.
- Identity Management (IdM): RHEL is integrated with LDAP, Active Directory, and OpenID Connect to provide centralized authentication.
These capabilities make OpenShift, powered by Red Hat Server, a secure platform for regulated sectors such as healthcare, finance, and government departments.
The Final Thoughts
In containerization, Red Hat Server has a crucial role to play in ensuring that OpenShift operates smoothly and optimally. By offering a solid, secure, and high-performance base, Red Hat Server guarantees that OpenShift can handle containers at scale, securely and automatically.
Whether it is security, performance, cloud compatibility, or automation, Red Hat Server ensures OpenShift provides a seamless experience for businesses working with containers.
If you want to manage your applications with containers, OpenShift paired with Red Hat Server is the perfect solution. They together make containerization simple, secure, and prepared to face the demands of contemporary computing.
