Packaging Applications and Services with Kubernetes Operators

Package applications and services for Kubernetes with the Operator framework. 

Developing Operators

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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. 

Download Operator-SDK binary 

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

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Lightweight Network Observability Operator without Loki

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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

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.

Certify your Operator with Red Hat Partner Connect

When you publish, you get:

security

Seal of approval

Your Operator functionality is verified by Red Hat.

Faster

Promotion

Listed in Red Hat OpenShift OperatorHub and Red Hat Ecosystem Catalog for all customers to see and download.

RHEL Release

Continuous certification

Using Red Hat Certification Build Service APIs means continuous security compliance—great for CI/CD.

RHEL Release

Support coverage

Full Red Hat support for the foundation of Operators and their containers when used with Red Hat OpenShift.

Operator videos

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OpenShift Commons Briefing with Daniel Messer: State of Operators

Daniel Messer and Diane Mueller
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Red Hat OpenShift: Operators Framework

OpenShift now includes operator framework to help organizations easily...
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Intro: Operator Framework BoF

An Operator is a method of packaging, deploying and managing a Kubernetes...
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SRE principles and (Kubernetes) Operator practice

New articles about Operators

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Article

Simplifying cluster security: RHACS in RHACM global hub

Dan Manor

This article provides a guide to integrating Red Hat Advanced Cluster Security with the multicluster global hub for centralized security data collection across managed clusters. It covers the setup requirements, configuration steps, and key annotations needed to enable seamless data aggregation and observability through a unified dashboard.

More articles about Operators

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.

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Interested in the operator community? OperatorHub is the community home for Kubernetes Operators. Find an existing operator, or list your own.