Red Hat OpenShift

Basic Information

Red Hat OpenShift is a family of containerization software products, with its flagship being the OpenShift Container Platform (OCP). It is a hybrid cloud platform as a service built around Linux containers orchestrated and managed by Kubernetes on a foundation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

• Model: OpenShift Container Platform (OCP). Other offerings include OKD (community distribution), Red Hat OpenShift Online (SaaS), OpenShift Dedicated (managed service), Azure Red Hat OpenShift (ARO), Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA), Red Hat OpenShift on IBM Cloud (RHOIC), OpenShift Data Foundation, OpenShift Database Access, OpenShift Local, and MicroShift.
• Version: Uses semantic versioning (e.g., 4.19.14). Minor versions are released approximately every four months.
• Release Date: Initial release May 4, 2011. OpenShift Container Platform 4.19 was released on June 17, 2025.
• Minimum Requirements: Highly dependent on the specific OpenShift product and deployment. For a full OpenShift cluster, significant resources are needed. OpenShift Local has lower requirements.
• Supported Operating Systems: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and Red Hat Enterprise Linux CoreOS (RHCOS) are fully supported. Control plane components require RHCOS. Compute nodes can run RHEL, RHCOS, or Windows Server for Windows containers.
• Latest Stable Version: 4.19.14 (as of October 9, 2025).
• End of Support Date: Varies by minor version and support phase (Full Support, Maintenance Support, Extended Update Support). Full Support typically ends 6 months after GA or 90 days after the superseding minor release. Maintenance Support lasts 18 months from GA. Extended Update Support (EUS) for even-numbered minor releases can extend support up to 24 or 36 months with add-ons. For example, OpenShift 4.18 Maintenance Support ends August 25, 2026, with EUS extending to February 25, 2028.
• End of Life Date: Determined by the conclusion of all support phases for a given minor version. For OpenShift 4.15, Maintenance Support ended August 27, 2025.
• License Type: Commercial subscription-based. Licensing for self-managed deployments is based on physical cores or core-pairs.
• Deployment Model: Supports self-managed deployments (on-premises, bare metal, virtualized environments, private cloud), managed services on major public clouds (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud), and edge deployments. Deployment methods include Installer Provisioned Infrastructure (IPI) for automated deployments and User Provisioned Infrastructure (UPI) for highly customized setups.

Technical Requirements

Red Hat OpenShift's technical requirements vary based on the deployment type (e.g., full cluster, OpenShift Local, MicroShift) and the role of the node (master, worker).

• RAM:
  • Minimum 8 GB per node for basic installations.
  • Minimum 16 GB for master nodes (additional recommended, especially if etcd is co-located).
  • OpenShift Local requires at least 16 GB, with 32 GB strongly recommended.
• Processor:
  • Minimum 1 vCPU for basic nodes.
  • Minimum 4 vCPU recommended for master nodes (additional strongly recommended).
  • OpenShift Local requires at least four physical cores (Intel CPU or Apple Silicon for Macs).
  • Full OpenShift on a single node (SNO) may require 8 vCPUs (4 cores/8 threads).
• Storage:
  • Minimum 15 GB hard disk space for /var/.
  • Minimum 1 GB for /usr/local/bin/ and 1 GB for temporary directories.
  • Additional 15 GB unallocated space for Docker's storage backend.
  • OpenShift Local requires at least 35 GB of free disk space.
  • Master nodes may require 40 GB for /var/.
• Display: Not a direct requirement for the platform itself. Standard display capabilities are assumed for accessing the web console.
• Ports: Requires specific network ports to be open for internal cluster communication, API access, and application exposure. Exact port requirements depend on the OpenShift version and network configuration.
• Operating System: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) or Red Hat Enterprise Linux CoreOS (RHCOS) for cluster nodes.

Analysis of Technical Requirements

Red Hat OpenShift is an enterprise-grade platform, and its technical requirements reflect this, demanding substantial resources for full-scale deployments. The platform is designed for high availability and scalability, necessitating robust hardware or virtualized infrastructure. OpenShift Local and MicroShift offer reduced footprints for development or edge use cases. Users must carefully plan resource allocation, particularly for master nodes and storage, to ensure optimal performance and stability.

Support & Compatibility

Red Hat OpenShift offers comprehensive support and broad compatibility across various environments.

• Latest Version: 4.19.14 (as of October 9, 2025).
• OS Support:
  • Cluster nodes: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and Red Hat Enterprise Linux CoreOS (RHCOS).
  • Windows containers: Supports Windows Server Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC), specifically Windows Server 2019 version 10.0.17763.1457 or newer, enabling management of both Linux and Windows containers from a single interface.
  • Guest Operating Systems (OpenShift Virtualization): Certified guest operating systems include Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 (ARM64, s390x), Microsoft Windows 10 (x86), and Microsoft Windows 11 (x86).
• End of Support Date: Red Hat provides a time-delineated, phased lifecycle for each minor version, including Full Support, Maintenance Support, and Extended Update Support (EUS).
  • Full Support: Begins at GA and ends after 6 months or 90 days after the GA of the superseding minor release, whichever is later.
  • Maintenance Support: Starts after Full Support and ends 18 months after GA.
  • Extended Update Support (EUS): Available for even-numbered minor releases, extending support beyond Maintenance Support, potentially up to 24 or 36 months with add-ons.
• Localization: As an enterprise product, OpenShift provides localized documentation and console interfaces, though specific language support details are not explicitly listed in the provided data.
• Available Drivers: OpenShift integrates with various infrastructure components, including storage providers (e.g., object storage for the registry) and network solutions, implying robust driver and integration support.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status

Red Hat OpenShift demonstrates a strong commitment to support and compatibility, crucial for enterprise adoption. The multi-phase support lifecycle provides predictability for planning and upgrades. Its ability to run on RHEL/RHCOS, manage Windows containers, and host a variety of guest operating systems via OpenShift Virtualization highlights its versatility. The platform's adherence to open-source standards and Kubernetes certification ensures broad compatibility with the cloud-native ecosystem.

Security Status

Red Hat OpenShift is designed with a strong focus on security, integrating multiple layers of protection from the host to the application level.

• Security Features:
  • Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Manages user and team permissions within the cluster.
  • Security Context Constraints (SCC): Enforces granular security policies for pods and containers.
  • Network Policies: Controls ingress and egress traffic for pods, allowing for strict network isolation.
  • Built-in Image Registry with Scanner: Provides an enterprise registry with integrated vulnerability scanning (e.g., Clair).
  • Encryption Support: Uses TLS certificates for secure HTTPS communication between components (e.g., API server, etcd). Optional encryption of etcd data at rest provides an additional layer of data security.
  • Authentication Methods: Internal OAuth server, integration with external identity providers (e.g., LDAP), and service accounts for applications.
  • Compliance Audit Workflows: Tools like OpenSCAP facilitate compliance checks against various frameworks (e.g., NIST 800-190, PCI).
  • Host Infrastructure Security: Built on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and Red Hat Enterprise Linux CoreOS (RHCOS), providing a hardened operating system foundation.
  • Supply Chain Security: Features for securing container content, registries, and the build process.
• Known Vulnerabilities: Addressed through frequent "Z-Stream" patch releases. Red Hat provides security advisories (RHSAs) for critical and important vulnerabilities. Ongoing vigilance and regular image scanning for CVEs are recommended.
• Blacklist Status: No specific "blacklist status" for the asset itself is publicly documented.
• Certifications: OpenShift Container Platform is part of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) Certified Kubernetes program. Its security features support compliance with industry standards.
• General Recommendations: Implement network policies to deny all traffic by default and create additive rules. Limit network access to API endpoints to trusted IP addresses. Enable etcd encryption. Follow best practices for building secure container images.

Analysis on the Overall Security Rating

Red Hat OpenShift offers a robust and comprehensive security framework, making it a secure choice for enterprise container orchestration. Its secure-by-default posture, combined with extensive built-in features for access control, network isolation, data encryption, and vulnerability management, provides a strong defense against threats. However, maintaining optimal security requires continuous management, including applying updates, scanning for vulnerabilities, and adhering to best practices for configuration and image hygiene.

Performance & Benchmarks

Red Hat OpenShift is engineered for enterprise-grade performance, scalability, and efficiency across diverse environments.

• Benchmark Scores: Specific, publicly available numerical benchmark scores for Red Hat OpenShift were not found in the provided information. Performance is generally discussed in terms of capabilities and optimizations rather than raw numbers.
• Real-world Performance Metrics:
  • Scalability: Designed for efficient scaling of applications and infrastructure, with features like auto-recreation of pods and self-healing capabilities.
  • Resource Utilization: Optimizes resource usage, particularly for AI/ML workloads with Red Hat OpenShift AI, by scheduling training and tuning jobs across distributed workloads.
  • Application Deployment Speed: Accelerates and simplifies application deployment through automation, CI/CD pipelines, and streamlined workflows.
  • Hybrid Cloud Consistency: Provides a consistent platform for deploying and managing applications across on-premises, cloud, and edge infrastructures, ensuring predictable performance.
• Power Consumption: No specific power consumption metrics are provided for the platform itself. However, OpenShift supports smaller-footprint topologies and low-power consumption devices for edge scenarios.
• Carbon Footprint: No specific carbon footprint data is available.
• Comparison with Similar Assets:
  • Stability: Users often note OpenShift offers more stability compared to plain Kubernetes.
  • Enterprise Features: Differentiates itself with enterprise-grade Kubernetes, integrated CI/CD tools, and built-in security features, providing a more complete platform than upstream Kubernetes.
  • Automation: Strong focus on automation for cluster setup, management, and updates, reducing operational complexity.

Analysis of the Overall Performance Status

Red Hat OpenShift is a high-performance platform optimized for demanding enterprise workloads, including AI/ML. While specific benchmark numbers are not readily available, its architecture emphasizes scalability, efficient resource management, and automation to deliver consistent performance and accelerate application delivery. Its ability to provide a unified experience across hybrid cloud environments further contributes to predictable performance and operational efficiency. The platform's robust design aims to simplify complex Kubernetes operations, allowing teams to focus on application innovation rather than infrastructure management.

User Reviews & Feedback

User reviews and feedback highlight Red Hat OpenShift's strengths as an enterprise-grade platform, while also pointing out areas for improvement.

• Strengths:
  • Robust Security: Praised for strong security features, including role-based access, security context constraints, and overall security throughout the stack and software supply chain.
  • DevOps Integration: Excellent integration with DevOps practices, facilitating CI/CD workflows and automation capabilities.
  • Scalability and Stability: Offers efficient scaling, high uptime, auto-recreation of pods, fast rollback, and automatic self-healing, providing more stability than upstream Kubernetes.
  • Cloud Agnostic: Enhances ease of deployment and service exposure across multi-cloud environments, helping avoid vendor lock-in.
  • Flexibility and Features: Provides flexibility for application teams, a wide range of features, and an intuitive UI for Kubernetes deployment.
  • Simplified Kubernetes Management: Streamlines Kubernetes management, deployment ease, and project ownership.
  • Integrations: Valued for seamless integrations, enhancing efficiency and supporting diverse IT environments.
• Weaknesses:
  • Steep Learning Curve: Frequently cited as challenging, especially for teams new to Kubernetes or container orchestration, requiring significant effort and understanding.
  • Complexity: Users find the setup, configuration, and overall environment complex, particularly for new teams.
  • Resource Intensive: Requires significant infrastructure demands, impacting accessibility for smaller budgets.
  • Documentation and Support: While generally good, some users suggest improvements for better user experience and easier navigation.
  • Pricing Model: Considered inflexible and high by some users, especially after changes to core-based licensing.
  • Storage Management: Identified as an area needing improvement.
  • UI Enhancements: Specific features like OpenShift Virtualization's UI could be enhanced for a more complete web console experience.
• Recommended Use Cases:
  • Enterprise-grade, secure Kubernetes solutions.
  • Hybrid and multi-cloud deployments.
  • Managing container-based workloads.
  • Developing and deploying AI/ML applications.
  • Lift-and-shift applications, microservices, and virtualization.

Summary

Red Hat OpenShift stands as a comprehensive, enterprise-grade platform for container orchestration, built upon Kubernetes and Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It offers a robust and secure environment for developing, deploying, and managing applications across hybrid cloud infrastructures, including on-premises, public clouds (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud), and edge locations. The platform excels in providing strong security features such as RBAC, SCCs, network policies, and integrated vulnerability scanning, alongside comprehensive encryption capabilities. Its commitment to open-source standards and Kubernetes certification ensures broad compatibility and portability. OpenShift's architecture is designed for high scalability, automated CI/CD workflows, and efficient resource utilization, making it well-suited for demanding workloads, including AI/ML applications.

However, the platform presents a steep learning curve and significant complexity, particularly during initial setup and configuration, which can be a barrier for teams new to Kubernetes or containerization. Its resource-intensive nature and commercial subscription model, which recently shifted to core-based licensing, can also lead to substantial infrastructure and licensing costs. While user feedback generally praises its stability, features, and integration capabilities, some areas like documentation, technical support, and storage management are noted for potential improvement.

Overall, Red Hat OpenShift is a powerful and flexible solution for enterprises seeking a secure, scalable, and consistent application platform across diverse environments. It is particularly recommended for organizations with complex, large-scale deployments, hybrid cloud strategies, and a need for robust security and automation in their DevOps pipelines. Organizations considering OpenShift should be prepared for the initial investment in infrastructure and expertise required to leverage its full potential.

The information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.