In today’s hybrid and multi-cloud world, organizations are eager to modernize existing applications while embracing cloud-native innovation. Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization offers a transformative path: bringing virtual machines (VMs) and containers together on a single, enterprise-grade Kubernetes platform. Now, by combining Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), you can migrate, deploy, scale, and manage both modern and traditional workloads seamlessly taking advantage of OCI’s reliable, high-performance cloud foundation.

Why Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization on OCI?

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure is  built to help organizations address their performance, security, and cost-efficiency needs—making it an ideal destination for running Red Hat OpenShift at scale. With Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization on OCI, you benefit from:

  • Streamlined Migration and Modernization: Quickly migrate existing VMs onto a modern, unified platform with built-in tools like the Migration Toolkit for Virtualization. Modernize workloads at your own pace while taking advantage of Red Hat OpenShift’s cloud-native capabilities to drive agility and innovation.
  • Unified Management: Manage VMs and containers side by side on a single platform, using Red Hat OpenShift’s robust clustering, networking, and security features.
  • Workload Flexibility: Choose between OCI’s powerful bare metal and VM shapes to fit your workload needs.
  • Hybrid Cloud Capabilities: Operate VMs with a more consistent model across on-premises, cloud, and edge, gaining unified visibility into workload health and performance while retaining the freedom to adapt and evolve applications over time.
  • Integrated OCI Services: Leverage OCI’s extensive catalog of Services to enable additional capabilities, including networking, security, and persistent storage, on Red Hat OpenShift. 

Getting Started with Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization on OCI

Deploying Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization on OCI is a straightforward process:

1. Launch a new Red Hat OpenShift cluster on OCI

  • Provision OCI resources for a Red Hat OpenShift cluster, using the process documented at Red Hat OpenShift on OCI for an optimal, OCI-supported deployment.
  • Select appropriate node shapes sized for your demands, ensuring compute, memory, and networking resources for both VMs and containers. Supported Bare Metal shapes are best to get optimal performance for Virtualization.
  • Use the latest OCI Cloud Controller Manager and RWX-enabled Container Storage Interface drivers (>=v1.32.0) to enable persistent OCI storage for your workloads. Refer to our Storage and Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization on OCI guides for all the details.

2. Install Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization

3. Launch and Manage Virtual Machines alongside Containers

  • Use the Red Hat OpenShift console or CLI to define, launch, and manage VMs alongside your containerized applications.

Key Benefits

  • Consolidation: Streamline workloads—both legacy (VM-based) and modern (containerized)—onto one coherent platform.
  • Agility: Accelerate migration and modernization strategies without a “big bang” rewrite.
  • Security and Compliance: Get fine-grained RBAC, IAM, and benefit from OCI and OpenShift’s built-in security architecture.
  • Cost Efficiency: Optimize resource utilization across VMs and containers, paying only for what you need.

FAQs

1. What types of workloads are best-suited for Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization on OCI?
Any traditional VM-based workloads can run alongside newer containerized services on Red Hat OpenShift. This is ideal for phased migrations or workloads not ready to be fully refactored to cloud-native Kubernetes.

2. Can I migrate existing on-premises VMs to Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization on OCI?
Yes, you can import or migrate compatible VM images onto the platform using the Migration Toolkit for Virtualization and run them as virtual machines managed by Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization. See Red Hat’s documentation for further information.

3. How is persistent storage managed for VMs in Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization on OCI?
Persistent cloud storage for virtual machines—using OCI Block Volumes (recommended) or OCI File Storage Service—is managed by the OCI Container Storage Interface (CSI) driver. Review the Cloud Storage for Red Hat OpenShift clusters on OCI guide for details and configuration options.

4. Are automated scaling and backup capabilities for virtual machines available?
Red Hat OpenShift provides scaling options and backup tools for both containers and VMs. Integrate with OCI’s data protection services for snapshots and disaster recovery strategies.

5. What options do I have to create virtual machines?
You can create virtual machines by (a) uploading your own VM image, (b) using one of the Red Hat provided VM images, or (c) migrating existing VMs from supported source providers using the Migration Toolkit for Virtualization.  

Learn More

For detailed technical steps, best practices, and troubleshooting, consult these resources:

Migrate and modernize confidently – run VMs and containers side by side at scale, with the power and reliability of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and Red Hat OpenShift.