Packaging Applications and Services with Kubernetes Operators
Package applications and services for Kubernetes with the Operator framework.
Developing Operators
Operators give you a convenient way to package, deploy, manage and distribute applications for Kubernetes. The method allows you to package configuration so that users can deploy operators from a simple catalog without having to engage administrators. You can distribute operators beyond your organization using OperatorHub.io which is open to all contributions or the Red Hat OpenShift OperatorHub using Red Hat's certification process.
Operator maturity model
Conceptually, an Operator takes human operational knowledge and encodes it into software that is more easily packaged and shared with consumers. How you approach and build your Operator is up to you. Advanced Operators are designed to handle upgrades seamlessly, react to failures automatically, and not take shortcuts, such as skipping a software backup process to save time.
A Kubernetes application is both deployed on Kubernetes and managed using the Kubernetes APIs and kubectl/oc tooling. You can think of Operators as the runtime that manages this type of application on Kubernetes.
Get started building your operator resources
Article
Sep 19, 2024
Enhancements to the Traces UI in the OpenShift web console: Technology preview...
The brand new Traces UI plug-in has now been released as a technology...
Article
Sep 19, 2024
Observability signal correlation for Red Hat OpenShift: Technology preview
A detailed look at the new functionalities of Observability signal...
Article
Sep 19, 2024
Lightweight Network Observability Operator without Loki
In Network Observability Operator 1.6, users can now disable Loki when...
Article
Sep 05, 2024
Red Hat build of OpenTelemetry and OpenShift distributed tracing 3.3: New features...
Red Hat build of OpenTelemetry and OpenShift distributed tracing now include...
Hands-on operator labs
Interactive Tutorial
Operator SDK with Helm
Create a CockroachDB Operator from an existing CockroachDB Helm chart,...
Interactive Tutorial
Manage the etcd Operator
Manage etcd clusters on Kubernetes and automate resize, failover, and upgrade...
Interactive Tutorial
Install the Operator Lifecycle Manager
Install the Operator Lifecycle Manager in an OpenShift environment, access...
Technology partners: Publish on OpenShift OperatorHub
Red Hat Partner Connect is a program for technology partners—ISVs, SIs, and VARs—that provides software, tools, and other technical resources for your development work, and marketing resources for your marketing & sales colleagues.
When you publish, you get:
Seal of approval
Your Operator functionality is verified by Red Hat.
Promotion
Listed in Red Hat OpenShift OperatorHub and Red Hat Ecosystem Catalog for all customers to see and download.
Continuous certification
Using Red Hat Certification Build Service APIs means continuous security compliance—great for CI/CD.
Support coverage
Full Red Hat support for the foundation of Operators and their containers when used with Red Hat OpenShift.
Operator videos
OpenShift Commons Briefing with Daniel Messer: State of Operators
Daniel Messer and Diane Mueller
Red Hat OpenShift: Operators Framework
OpenShift now includes operator framework to help organizations easily...
Intro: Operator Framework BoF
An Operator is a method of packaging, deploying and managing a Kubernetes...
SRE principles and (Kubernetes) Operator practice
New articles about Operators
Article
Enhancements to the Traces UI in the OpenShift web console: Technology preview release
The brand new Traces UI plug-in has now been released as a technology preview, as part of the Cluster Observability Operator 0.4.0 version. Read more about the latest enhancements, charts, and the overall improved user navigation.
Article
Observability signal correlation for Red Hat OpenShift: Technology preview
A detailed look at the new functionalities of Observability signal correlation for Red Hat OpenShift in technology preview.
Article
Lightweight Network Observability Operator without Loki
In Network Observability Operator 1.6, users can now disable Loki when fetching network insights for OpenShift clusters. Explore the advantages and trade-offs.
Article
Red Hat build of OpenTelemetry and OpenShift distributed tracing 3.3: New features for developers
Red Hat build of OpenTelemetry and OpenShift distributed tracing now include support for certificate rotation, OpenTelemetry collector dashboards, and more.
Article
Designing K8s operators for managing REST resources
Learn how to design a Kubernetes Operator that leverages the REST API of your application with this conceptual, technology-agnostic overview.
Article
Git-based operations (GitOps) for Operators managed by Operator Lifecycle Manager (OLM)
Learn how to use the operators-installer Helm chart, a production-tested solution for operator management with GitOps.
Adventures Aboard the Kluster Kruise Ship
This story uses a series of metaphors to introduce the concept of Operators, explain how they aid in the automation of clusters, and provide a high-level overview of Operator Lifecycle Management in a way that anyone can understand. Readers will meet Kate the octopus, esteemed cruise ship director, who finds herself overwhelmed with the responsibilities associated with her position.
Interested in the operator community? OperatorHub is the community home for Kubernetes Operators. Find an existing operator, or list your own.
