OpenShift Origin (OKD): A Comprehensive Guide to the Open-Source PaaS

Introduction to OpenShift Origin

Platform as a Service (PaaS) solutions have revolutionized application deployment by abstracting infrastructure complexities, allowing developers to focus on coding. OpenShift Origin, now known as OKD, is an open-source PaaS developed by Red Hat, built on Kubernetes and Docker. It offers a robust platform for deploying, managing, and scaling containerized applications across hybrid cloud environments. This article explores OKD’s features, its integration with other software stacks, a step-by-step installation guide, practical usage, and a comparison with alternative PaaS solutions, all tailored for developers and enterprises seeking a flexible, self-hosted platform.

What is OpenShift Origin?

OpenShift Origin, rebranded as OKD (Origin Community Distribution) in 2018, is the open-source, community-driven upstream project for Red Hat’s OpenShift Container Platform. It is a Kubernetes-based PaaS that orchestrates Linux containers using CRI-O (previously Docker) and Kubernetes, running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux or community distributions like CentOS or Rocky Linux. OKD provides a developer- and operations-friendly platform for building, deploying, and managing containerized applications, with features like automated builds, CI/CD pipelines, and a web console.

Key features include:

• Kubernetes Foundation: Leverages Kubernetes for container orchestration, with added tools for developer productivity.
• Web Console and CLI: Offers a responsive web interface and the oc CLI, extending Kubernetes’ kubectl with additional commands.
• Source-to-Image (S2I): Automates building container images from source code, though transitioning to Tekton for CI/CD.
• ImageStreams and Templates: Simplifies application deployment and management with reusable configurations.
• Security Context Constraints (SCCs): Fine-grained control over pod permissions, enhancing security.
• Integrated Registry: Built-in container registry (Quay) for storing images and artifacts.

OKD is ideal for developers and organizations seeking a free, open-source PaaS with enterprise-grade features, deployable on-premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid environments.

Integration with Other Software Stacks

OKD integrates seamlessly with modern DevOps and cloud-native tools, enhancing its versatility:

1. Kubernetes Ecosystem: As a Kubernetes distribution, OKD supports Kubernetes-native tools like Helm, Operators (via OperatorHub), and KubeVirt for virtual machines.
2. CI/CD Pipelines: Integrates with Tekton (OpenShift Pipelines) for cloud-native CI/CD, and supports Jenkins or GitLab CI for automated deployments.
3. Container Registries: Uses Red Hat Quay or Docker Hub to store and manage container images.
4. Monitoring and Logging: Integrates with Prometheus, Grafana, and EFK (Elasticsearch, Fluentd, Kibana) for metrics and log aggregation.
5. Service Mesh: Supports Istio or OpenShift Service Mesh for microservices communication, providing observability and traffic management.
6. Databases: OperatorHub enables one-click deployment of databases like PostgreSQL, MySQL, or MongoDB, integrated via Kubernetes operators.
7. Infrastructure: Runs on AWS, Azure, GCP, OpenStack, vSphere, or bare metal, offering multi-cloud flexibility.

This interoperability makes OKD suitable for microservices, serverless workloads (via Knative), and traditional applications, aligning with enterprise DevOps workflows.

Setting Up an OpenShift Origin Environment: Step-by-Step Installation Guide

This guide covers installing OKD 4.15 (the latest stable version as of June 2025) on a single-node cluster using a CentOS 8 Stream VM for testing. Production setups typically involve multi-node clusters, but this is ideal for learning.

Prerequisites

• Hardware: 8GB RAM, 50GB disk space, 4 CPU cores.
• Software:
  • CentOS 8 Stream (or Rocky Linux 8).
  • SSH access with root privileges.
  • Domain name (optional, for production).
• Tools: oc CLI, kubectl, Git, and Docker.

Step-by-Step Installation

Step 1: Set Up the Server

1. Provision a CentOS VM:
   • Create a VM on a cloud provider (e.g., AWS EC2) or locally using VirtualBox.
   • Update the system:bashsudo dnf update -y
2. Install Dependencies:bashsudo dnf install -y git wget unzip firewalld sudo systemctl enable --now firewalld sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=6443/tcp --permanent sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=443/tcp --permanent sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Step 2: Install the OpenShift CLI (oc)

1. Download oc:bashwget https://mirror.openshift.com/pub/openshift-v4/clients/ocp/latest/openshift-client-linux.tar.gz tar xvf openshift-client-linux.tar.gz sudo mv oc kubectl /usr/local/bin/
2. Verify Installation:bashoc version

Step 3: Install OKD Using CodeReady Containers (CRC)

For a single-node setup, CodeReady Containers simplifies OKD deployment.

1. Download CRC:bashwget https://mirror.openshift.com/pub/openshift-v4/clients/crc/latest/crc-linux-amd64.tar.xz tar xvf crc-linux-amd64.tar.xz sudo mv crc /usr/local/bin/
2. Set Up CRC:bashcrc setupThis configures the VM environment (requires libvirt or VirtualBox).
3. Start the OKD Cluster:bashcrc start
   • Note the admin credentials (e.g., kubeadmin and password) displayed in the output.
   • This creates a single-node OKD cluster accessible at https://api.crc.testing:6443.

Step 4: Configure DNS (Optional for Production)

1. Set Up a Domain:
   • Point *.apps.crc.testing to the VM’s IP using a DNS provider.
   • Update the cluster’s domain in the CRC configuration if using a custom domain.

Step 5: Verify the Installation

1. Log in to the Cluster:bashoc login https://api.crc.testing:6443 -u kubeadmin -p <password>
2. Access the Web Console:
   • Open https://console-openshift-console.apps.crc.testing in a browser.
   • Log in with kubeadmin and the provided password.
3. Check Cluster Status:bashoc get nodes

Troubleshooting

• Port Issues: Ensure ports 6443, 443, and 80 are open (sudo firewall-cmd –list-ports).
• Memory Errors: Increase VM memory to 8GB in VirtualBox or cloud provider settings.
• CRC Failures: Run crc status to diagnose issues and ensure libvirt is active.

Using OpenShift Origin

Deploying an Application

1. Create a Project:bashoc new-project my-project
2. Create a Sample App:
   • Create a Node.js app (app.js):javascriptconst express = require('express'); const app = express(); app.get('/', (req, res) => res.send('Hello from OKD!')); app.listen(process.env.PORT || 8080);
   • Create package.json:json{ "name": "okd-app", "version": "1.0.0", "dependencies": { "express": "^4.17.1" } }
3. Deploy the App:bashoc new-app . --name=my-appOKD uses S2I to build a container image and deploy it.
4. Expose the App:bashoc expose svc/my-appAccess the app at the generated route (e.g., http://my-app-my-project.apps.crc.testing).

Managing Services

1. Deploy a Database:
   • In the web console, go to OperatorHub > PostgreSQL > Install.
   • Configure and create the database instance.
   • Bind to the app using:bashoc set env dc/my-app DATABASE_URL=<connection-string>
2. Redeploy the App:bashoc rollout latest dc/my-app

Scaling and Monitoring

1. Scale the App:bashoc scale dc/my-app --replicas=2
2. View Logs:bashoc logs dc/my-app
3. Monitor with Prometheus:
   • Install the Prometheus operator via OperatorHub and access metrics in the web console.

Comparison with Alternatives

OKD competes with PaaS solutions like Cloud Foundry, Dokku, CapRover, and Heroku. Here’s a comparison:

Feature	OKD (OpenShift Origin)	Cloud Foundry	Dokku	CapRover
Open Source	Yes (Apache 2.0)	Yes (Apache 2.0)	Yes (MIT)	Yes (Apache 2.0, with restrictions)
Deployment Model	Kubernetes, multi-cloud	BOSH/Diego, multi-cloud	Git push, single server	Docker, single/multi-server
Ease of Use	Moderate (Kubernetes complexity)	Moderate (BOSH learning curve)	High (Heroku-like)	High (GUI, one-click apps)
Scaling	Auto-scaling, Kubernetes-backed	Auto-scaling, enterprise-grade	Manual scaling	Manual (Docker Swarm)
Service Marketplace	OperatorHub (databases, tools)	Service brokers	Plugins (e.g., PostgreSQL)	One-click apps
Multi-Cloud	Strong (AWS, Azure, GCP, bare metal)	Strong (AWS, Azure, GCP)	Limited (single server)	Moderate (Docker hosts)
Learning Curve	High (Kubernetes expertise)	Moderate (BOSH, CLI)	Low (Git, Docker)	Low (Docker knowledge)
Resource Usage	Heavy (multi-node for production)	Heavy (multi-VM)	Lightweight (single server)	Lightweight (1GB RAM)
Community Support	Strong (Red Hat, OKD community)	Strong (Cloud Foundry Foundation)	Active but smaller	Moderate (single maintainer)

Pros of OKD

• Kubernetes-Native: Leverages Kubernetes’ robust ecosystem and portability.
• Enterprise Features: Security, CI/CD, and monitoring tools rival commercial platforms.
• Multi-Cloud: Supports diverse infrastructures, ideal for hybrid clouds.
• Community-Driven: Free, with active development and testing of new features.

Cons of OKD

• Complexity: Requires Kubernetes knowledge, steeper learning curve than Dokku or CapRover.
• Resource Intensive: Single-node setups need significant resources; production clusters require multiple nodes.
• No Official Support: Community-supported, unlike OpenShift Container Platform’s paid support.

When to Choose OKD

• Ideal for teams with Kubernetes expertise needing a free, enterprise-grade PaaS.
• Best for hybrid cloud or multi-cloud deployments.
• Less suitable for small projects or developers seeking lightweight, single-server solutions (Dokku or CapRover better).

Conclusion

OKD (OpenShift Origin) is a powerful, open-source PaaS that extends Kubernetes with developer-friendly tools, making it a strong choice for containerized application deployment. Its integration with Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, and monitoring tools ensures flexibility for modern DevOps workflows. The installation guide above demonstrates how to set up a single-node cluster, while its usage instructions highlight its ease of deploying and managing apps. Compared to alternatives, OKD excels in enterprise-grade features and multi-cloud support but may be overkill for small-scale projects due to its complexity. For further exploration, visit the OKD documentation (https://okd.io) or join the OpenShift Commons community. Whether building microservices or hybrid cloud applications, OKD offers a robust platform for cloud-native development.