Image mode for Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Aside from naming and versioning, managing sensitive assets, like credentials, is one of the more challenging aspects in technology. So, why is it so difficult? Well, to start off. What may be considered a sensitive asset to one individual or organization may not be the same as another. Also, given that there are so many different ways that sensitive assets can be managed, there is no universally accepted method available.
The challenges that encompass how sensitive assets are handled also apply to image mode, a new method that enables building and deploying Operating Systems using similar tools and approaches as any other traditional container. In this article, we will discuss the types of sensitive assets that apply to image mode for RHEL specifically and how to design appropriate workflows to incorporate secure practices within all phases, from build and deployment to runtime.

Image mode for RHEL extends many of the benefits of running containers and applies them to building, deploying and managing traditional Operating System environments.

While the VMDK format is open source, they are traditionally used within the VMware family of solutions, such as VMware Workstation and VMware vSphere. In this post, we will describe how the previously created VMDK disk can be used as the basis for a virtual machine hosted in a VMware vSphere environment.

Image mode for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) combines the benefits and methodologies of container technologies with the ability to operate within traditional virtual machine environments. By enabling a familiar container image assembly process that supports several popular output types, end users have the flexibility to choose where and how they want to operate.

One of the supported output formats is a Virtual Machine Disk (VMDK), which is commonly used within VMware’s supported virtualization platforms, like vSphere, but support is also available elsewhere, including VirtualBox. Bridging the gap between traditional operating environments and cloud-native technologies is one of the benefits that image mode provides. Over the course of this series, we will describe the process for creating image mode for RHEL-based bootc images for use within VMware environments, that, when included within reusable templates, will enable a consistent method for delivering virtual environments. Plus, several different methods will also be provided that illustrate how the generation of the various assets can be automated to create a repeatable factory for delivering bootc images to meet the demands of today and tomorrow.

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Learn to create an OCI-compliant bootable container image with image mode for

Image mode for Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a new deployment method that takes a container-native approach to deliver the operating system as a bootc container image.

Image mode for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) uses bootable containers to provide a single source of truth for operating systems and application containers.

Podman Desktop's Red Hat Account Extension offers easier access to products like Red Hat Enterprise Linux and helps get your job done on your chosen desktop OS.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) image mode offers a deployment method. It delivers the platform as a bootable container. These containers encapsulate the operating system, runtimes, drivers, dependencies, and applications within a single container file. Deployment of the bootc based container is straightforward across various environments.

Learn how to build a containerized bootable operating system to run AI models using image mode for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, then deploy a custom image.