OpenShift Installation | Supported Platforms for OpenShift Container Platform 4.14 Deployment

Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.14 delivers a powerful, enterprise-grade environment for orchestrating and managing containerized applications at scale. For IT administrators, selecting the right deployment platform is a critical step that directly impacts system performance, scalability, and long-term operational success. OpenShift 4.14 supports a wide range of infrastructure environments to accommodate diverse enterprise needs—from hybrid cloud strategies to edge computing.

This comprehensive overview highlights all the officially supported platforms for deploying OpenShift 4.14, including major cloud providers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). It also covers virtualization environments like VMware vSphere and Red Hat Virtualization, along with on-premise bare-metal servers for organizations that require full control over their infrastructure.

Whether you're deploying via installer-provisioned infrastructure (IPI) or user-provisioned infrastructure (UPI), understanding the compatibility matrix and deployment prerequisites of each platform is essential for a smooth and secure OpenShift installation. With OpenShift 4.14, Red Hat continues to expand support for edge and hybrid architectures, empowering IT teams to build flexible and future-proof container platforms.

This guide ensures you make informed decisions when selecting the most suitable and supported platform for your OpenShift 4.14 deployment.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to OpenShift Deployment
2. Supported Cloud Platforms
   1. Amazon Web Services (AWS)
   2. Microsoft Azure
   3. Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
   4. IBM Cloud VPC
   5. Alibaba Cloud
3. Supported Virtualization Platforms
   1. Red Hat OpenStack Platform (RHOSP)
   2. Red Hat Virtualization (RHV)
   3. VMware vSphere
   4. VMware Cloud (VMC) on AWS
4. Bare-Metal Deployments
5. Edge Computing Deployments
6. Installation Methods
7. Conclusion

What is OpenShift?

OpenShift is a Kubernetes-powered container application platform developed by Red Hat, designed for automating the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It is an enterprise-ready, hybrid cloud application platform that enables IT operations and development teams to build, deploy, and manage applications consistently across on-premise, public cloud, and edge environments.

At its core, OpenShift uses Kubernetes for container orchestration but extends it with a comprehensive set of developer and operational tools. These include:

• Integrated Developer Tools – like source-to-image (S2I) builds, developer workspaces, and GitOps pipelines.

• Secure by Default – OpenShift enforces strong role-based access control (RBAC), network isolation, and built-in security policies to protect workloads.

  
  

• Multi-tenancy and CI/CD – Supports multiple teams with isolated environments and integrates with continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) tools.

• Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) Capabilities – Offers self-service provisioning, automated builds, scaling, and lifecycle management of applications.

OpenShift is available in various formats:

• OpenShift Container Platform (OCP) – The enterprise version for on-prem or cloud use.

• OpenShift Dedicated – A fully managed OpenShift service by Red Hat on AWS or GCP.

• OpenShift Online – A developer-focused public cloud version.

• OKD (Origin Community Distribution of Kubernetes) – The open-source upstream version of OpenShift.

Overall, OpenShift simplifies Kubernetes for enterprise use by combining security, observability, DevOps automation, and enterprise support, making it a preferred platform for modern application development and deployment.

1. Introduction to OpenShift Deployment

OpenShift Container Platform 4.14 provides flexibility in deployment, allowing IT administrators to choose the infrastructure that best fits their organizational needs. Whether deploying on public cloud services, virtualization platforms, or bare-metal servers, OpenShift ensures a consistent and scalable environment for containerized applications.

2. Supported Cloud Platforms

Deploying OpenShift on cloud platforms offers scalability, flexibility, and integration with various cloud-native services. OpenShift 4.14 supports the following cloud platforms:

2.1 Amazon Web Services (AWS)

AWS is a widely adopted cloud platform offering robust infrastructure services. OpenShift 4.14 supports both installer-provisioned infrastructure (IPI) and user-provisioned infrastructure (UPI) deployments on AWS.

• Installer-Provisioned Infrastructure (IPI): Automates the provisioning of AWS resources, including EC2 instances, VPCs, and load balancers.
• User-Provisioned Infrastructure (UPI): Allows administrators to manually provision and configure AWS resources before deploying OpenShift.

Key AWS services utilized include EC2, EBS, ELB, and Route 53.

2.2 Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure provides a comprehensive set of cloud services. OpenShift 4.14 supports both IPI and UPI deployments on Azure.

• IPI: Automates the creation of Azure resources such as virtual machines, virtual networks, and load balancers.
• UPI: Offers flexibility for administrators to set up and configure Azure infrastructure manually.

Integration with Azure services like Azure Load Balancer and Azure DNS is supported.

2.3 Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

GCP offers scalable and secure cloud services. OpenShift 4.14 supports both IPI and UPI deployments on GCP.

• IPI: Facilitates automated provisioning of GCP resources, including Compute Engine instances and networking components.
• UPI: Enables manual setup and configuration of GCP infrastructure prior to OpenShift deployment.

Key GCP services utilized include Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, and Cloud Load Balancing.

2.4 IBM Cloud VPC

IBM Cloud VPC provides a secure and scalable cloud environment. OpenShift 4.14 supports IPI deployments on IBM Cloud VPC, allowing automated provisioning of resources such as virtual servers and networking components.

2.5 Alibaba Cloud

Alibaba Cloud offers a range of cloud services. OpenShift 4.14 supports IPI deployments on Alibaba Cloud as a Technology Preview feature, enabling automated provisioning of resources within the Alibaba Cloud environment.

3. Supported Virtualization Platforms

For organizations utilizing on-premise virtualization, OpenShift 4.14 supports deployment on several virtualization platforms:

3.1 Red Hat OpenStack Platform (RHOSP)

RHOSP provides a scalable and flexible virtualization environment. OpenShift 4.14 supports both IPI and UPI deployments on RHOSP versions 16.1 and 16.2.

• IPI: Automates the provisioning of RHOSP resources, including compute, networking, and storage components.
• UPI: Allows for manual setup and configuration of RHOSP infrastructure prior to OpenShift deployment.

3.2 Red Hat Virtualization (RHV)

RHV offers a robust virtualization platform for enterprise workloads. OpenShift 4.14 supports UPI deployments on RHV, enabling administrators to manually provision and configure virtual machines and networking components before deploying OpenShift.

3.3 VMware vSphere

VMware vSphere is a widely used virtualization platform. OpenShift 4.14 supports both IPI and UPI deployments on vSphere.

• IPI: Automates the creation of vSphere resources, including virtual machines and networking configurations.
• UPI: Provides flexibility for administrators to manually set up and configure vSphere infrastructure.

3.4 VMware Cloud (VMC) on AWS

VMC on AWS combines VMware's virtualization platform with AWS's scalable infrastructure. OpenShift 4.14 supports UPI deployments on VMC, allowing administrators to manually provision and configure resources within the VMC environment.

4. Bare-Metal Deployments

Deploying OpenShift on bare-metal servers offers high performance and control over hardware resources. OpenShift 4.14 supports both IPI and UPI deployments on bare-metal infrastructure.

• IPI: Automates the provisioning of bare-metal resources using tools like Redfish and IPMI for out-of-band management.
• UPI: Allows administrators to manually set up and configure bare-metal servers and networking components before deploying OpenShift.

Bare-metal deployments are ideal for latency-sensitive applications and environments requiring strict compliance and security controls.

5. Edge Computing Deployments

Edge computing brings computation and data storage closer to the data source. OpenShift 4.14 supports edge deployments through:

• Single Node OpenShift (SNO): A minimalistic deployment suitable for edge locations with limited resources.
• 3-Node Compact Clusters: Offers high availability with a minimal footprint, ideal for remote sites.
• Remote Worker Nodes: Enables centralized control with distributed compute resources at the edge.

6. Installation Methods

OpenShift 4.14 provides two primary installation methods:

6.1 Installer-Provisioned Infrastructure (IPI)

IPI automates the provisioning of infrastructure components, simplifying the deployment process. It is suitable for administrators seeking a streamlined installation experience with minimal manual intervention.

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6.2 User-Provisioned Infrastructure (UPI)

UPI provides full control over the deployment process. IT administrators are responsible for provisioning all required infrastructure components manually, including networking, compute, and storage layers. This method is ideal for environments with custom requirements or where automation is not feasible.

UPI installation is supported across all deployment platforms, including cloud providers, virtualization platforms, and bare-metal servers.

7. Conclusion

Understanding the supported platforms for Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.14 is vital for successful, scalable, and secure deployments. Whether your organization is operating in the cloud, on-premises with virtualization, or on bare-metal infrastructure, OpenShift provides flexible installation methods that cater to your operational model.

This comprehensive guide serves as a roadmap for IT administrators planning OpenShift 4.14 deployments. It ensures you make informed infrastructure decisions aligned with Red Hat’s officially supported platforms, promoting stability and long-term maintainability.

Remember: Always consult the Red Hat OpenShift official documentation for the most current and detailed technical requirements and release notes before initiating your deployment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the benefits of using Installer-Provisioned Infrastructure (IPI)?

IPI simplifies deployment by automating the provisioning of required infrastructure resources like VMs, networking, and storage. It’s ideal for rapid installations and minimizes manual configuration errors.

2. Which public cloud platforms are officially supported in OpenShift 4.14?

Red Hat OpenShift 4.14 supports deployments on AWS, Azure, GCP, IBM Cloud VPC, and Alibaba Cloud. Each offers both IPI and/or UPI options depending on the provider.

3. Can I deploy OpenShift on bare-metal servers?

Yes, OpenShift 4.14 supports both IPI and UPI deployments on bare-metal. Bare-metal offers low latency and better control over the hardware environment, making it suitable for performance-sensitive workloads.

4. Does OpenShift 4.14 support edge deployments?

Yes, OpenShift supports several edge computing models including Single Node OpenShift (SNO), 3-node compact clusters, and remote worker node deployments for distributed architecture.

5. Is Red Hat Virtualization (RHV) still supported for OpenShift 4.14?

Yes, RHV is supported as a UPI platform in OpenShift 4.14. You can manually configure and provision infrastructure for deployment.

6. What virtualization platforms are compatible with OpenShift 4.14?

OpenShift 4.14 supports Red Hat OpenStack Platform (RHOSP), Red Hat Virtualization (RHV), VMware vSphere, and VMware Cloud (VMC) on AWS.

7. Can I mix IPI and UPI in the same deployment?

No, you must choose one installation method per cluster. IPI automates infrastructure provisioning, whereas UPI requires manual setup.

8. Does OpenShift 4.14 support Alibaba Cloud?

Yes, but it is currently in Technology Preview, meaning limited production support may be available. It's ideal for testing and evaluation in Alibaba Cloud environments.

9. What tools are used for provisioning bare-metal servers with IPI?

IPI on bare-metal uses protocols like Redfish, IPMI, or iLO for out-of-band management and bootstrapping servers automatically.

10. How can I validate platform compatibility before installation?

Use Red Hat’s compatibility matrix and platform-specific installation guides available in the official documentation to validate compatibility before deploying.