OKD

What OKD is

OKD is a free, self-hosted Kubernetes platform for managing applications and clusters. It brings Kubernetes together with more than 100 preinstalled Operators for cluster components, plus a web console, authentication, an image registry and tooling, monitoring, networking, node configuration and upgrades, and Operator management. Cluster nodes run an immutable operating system that is managed and updated through cluster APIs. OKD states that it is 100% compliant with Kubernetes, with additional patches for some advanced features; its defaults include hardened configuration, and its recommended design patterns are intended to strengthen security posture.

Installations can run on bare metal, virtualization platforms, or cloud platforms, using installer-provisioned or user-provisioned infrastructure. OKD supports autoscaling, rolling updates, and policy controls. Integrated deployments include projects in GitOps, service mesh, virtualization, and storage. Stable releases and nightly builds are available for installer and client tools. The installation guide includes signed checksum verification instructions; its examples cover Linux and macOS client and installer archives, and Windows client archives. OKD is aimed at technologists and students learning, experimenting, and contributing, as well as people building lab and development environments for OpenShift contributors and partners. A typical developer workstation may be better suited to Code-Ready Containers, a cut-down installation for limited compute and memory.

Who it suits

OKD suits technologists and students who want to learn about, experiment with, or contribute to a Kubernetes platform. It also fits lab and development environments for OpenShift contributors and partners, provided there is infrastructure with sufficient resources.

Limits

The free OKD plan requires infrastructure with sufficient resources. For a typical developer workstation with limited compute and memory, the installation guide describes Code-Ready Containers as a potentially better fit.

Getting started

1. Choose bare metal, a virtualization platform, or a cloud platform for deployment.
2. Provide installer-provisioned or user-provisioned infrastructure with sufficient resources.
3. Get the installer and client tools from a stable release or nightly build.
4. Use the installation guide to verify downloads with signed checksums.
5. Install OKD and manage the cluster through its web console and cluster APIs.

Verdict

Choose OKD for a free, self-hosted Kubernetes platform with a broad set of integrated cluster components and deployment options. It is intended for learning, experimentation, contribution, and lab or development use. For a typical developer workstation with limited compute and memory, consider the cut-down Code-Ready Containers installation described for that use.