Open Cluster Management

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What Open Cluster Management is

Open Cluster Management (OCM) is an open source project for managing Kubernetes applications across multiple clusters and cloud environments. It registers clusters with a hub, where the Work API distributes Kubernetes resources and the Placement API selects clusters for content and behavior. OCM uses a hub and spoke setup: the core control plane runs on the hub, and a klusterlet agent on each managed cluster pulls instructions from it. Registration requires approval from administrators on both sides and establishes an mTLS connection. The work agent retrieves resources from its own hub namespace, so managed cluster credentials do not need to be stored on the hub.

Prebuilt policy and configuration controllers can audit or enforce declared policies across clusters. Labels help distribute policies and configuration consistently, with support for access control, quota, and cost management. A built-in application management add-on uses Argo CD for declarative GitOps application lifecycle management. OCM lists integrations with tools including Argo CD, Cluster API, Helm, Istio, OpenTelemetry, and Submariner. It supports Kubernetes clusters on GKE, EKS, and AKS, local kind clusters, and on-premises environments. A VS Code extension provides resource snippets, local environment creation, and a cluster monitoring view.

Who it suits

OCM suits teams that manage Kubernetes applications across cloud, local, or on-premises clusters and need cluster provisioning, policy enforcement, or upgrade management. It can also suit developers who use Argo CD or the VS Code extension as part of their multicluster workflow.

What it does well

Open source under the Apache License 2.0.
Work and Placement APIs distribute resources and select clusters.
Policy controllers can audit or enforce declared policies.
Argo CD supports declarative application lifecycle management across clusters.
Supports cloud, local kind, and on-premises Kubernetes environments.

What to know first

Requires a hub control plane and an agent on each managed cluster.
Cluster registration needs approval from administrators on both sides.
The quick start uses clusteradm and kind; other setups need separate guides.

Getting started

Open the OCM website.
Set up a hub cluster and install the core control plane.
Install a klusterlet agent on each managed cluster.
Use the quick start with clusteradm and kind to create one hub and two managed clusters.
For production or other Kubernetes distributions, consult the relevant setup guide.

Verdict

Choose OCM if you need to coordinate Kubernetes resources, policies, or applications across multiple clusters. Its hub and spoke architecture and integrations support that work. Look elsewhere if you need a service with a provider-managed control plane; OCM's control plane is customer-managed.

Questions

How much does Open Cluster Management cost?

It is free and open source.

What platforms and environments does it support?

Its listed platforms are API, extension, Linux, and self-hosted. Supported environments include Kubernetes clusters on GKE, EKS, and AKS, local kind clusters, and on-premises environments.

Is Open Cluster Management open source?

Yes. The project is licensed under Apache License 2.0.

Which integrations does it list?

Integrations include Argo CD, Argo Workflows, Cluster API, Clusternet, Fluid, Flower, Helm, Istio, KubeStellar, KubeVela, Kueue, Meshery, OpenTelemetry, RamenDR, and Submariner.

How is it installed?

The core control plane runs on a hub cluster, with a klusterlet agent on each managed cluster. The quick start uses clusteradm and kind to configure one hub and two managed clusters.

Is there a VS Code extension?

Yes. It includes OCM resource snippets, local environment creation, and a cluster resource monitoring view. The documented minimum VS Code version is 1.71.0.

Facts from Open Cluster Management's own pages

Application lifecycle: The built-in application management add-on uses Argo CD for declarative GitOps-based application lifecycle management across multiple Kubernetes clusters. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026
Architecture: OCM uses a hub and spoke model, with a klusterlet agent on each managed cluster pulling instructions from the hub. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026
Argo CD integration: The Argo CD integration uses OCM Placement to select managed clusters for application deployment. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026
Cluster inventory: It registers multiple clusters to a hub cluster for management. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026
Content placement: Its Placement API dynamically selects clusters for content and behavior across multiple clusters. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026
Credential handling: The work agent pulls resources from its dedicated hub namespace, avoiding the need to store managed cluster credentials on the hub. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Deployment model: Installation uses a hub cluster running the core control plane and a klusterlet agent on each managed cluster. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026
EKS support: The documented EKS hub solution uses AWS IAM roles and supports managed clusters running on EKS. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026
Getting started: The quick start sets up one hub and two managed clusters using clusteradm and kind, and asks users to consult separate guides for production or other Kubernetes distributions. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026
Installation: Installation involves putting the core control plane on a hub cluster and the klusterlet agent on each managed cluster. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026
Integrations: The project lists integrations with Argo CD, Argo Workflows, Cluster API, Clusternet, Fluid, Flower, Helm, Istio, KubeStellar, KubeVela, Kueue, Meshery, OpenTelemetry, RamenDR, and Submariner. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026
License: The project is licensed under Apache License 2.0. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Policy and configuration: Policy and configuration management uses labels to deploy policies and control consistently across resources, and supports access control, quota, and cost management. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026
Policy management: Prebuilt security and configuration controllers can audit or enforce declared policies across managed clusters. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Project status: Open Cluster Management is a Cloud Native Computing Foundation sandbox project. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026
Purpose: Open Cluster Management is a community-driven project for multicluster and multicloud scenarios for Kubernetes applications. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026
Security: Cluster registration requires approval from both hub and managed cluster administrators and creates an mTLS connection. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Security reporting: The community welcomes responsible disclosure of security vulnerabilities. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026
VS Code extension: The VS Code extension offers OCM resource snippets, local environment creation, and a cluster resource monitoring view; its documented minimum VS Code version is 1.71.0. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026
Work distribution: Its Work API lets a hub apply Kubernetes resources to managed clusters. · open-cluster-management.io, 5 Oct 2026

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