OpenShift vs Kubernetes – if you’re trying to decide which platform is best for your container orchestration needs, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll explore what Kubernetes and Red Hat OpenShift are, then break down their key differences and finish with final thoughts and future trends.
Introduction to OpenShift and Kubernetes
What is Kubernetes?
Kubernetes is an open-source system for automatically deploying, managing, and scaling containerized applications. It was initially developed by Google, Kubernetes draws inspiration from Borg, Google’s internal cluster management system, designed to efficiently run and manage large-scale applications across vast data centers. Borg enabled Google to handle thousands of jobs across numerous machines, ensuring high resource utilization, fault tolerance, and scalability . Kubernetes inherits many of Borg’s principles, providing features such as Load balancing, self-healing and automated rollouts and rollbacks. It has a modular architecture to extend its functionality with custom resources and operators, ensuring that you can design your environment using third-party tools and make it ready for production.
What is OpenShift?
Red Hat OpenShift is an enterprise-grade Kubernetes distribution that enhances the core capabilities of Kubernetes by providing a more controlled, production-ready platform. It integrates additional features such as a user-friendly web console, integrated CI/CD pipelines, and a built-in container image registry. OpenShift also offers content scanners, a container/image catalog, and supports various deployment methods, including on-premises and managed cloud services like ROSA (Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS) and ARO (Azure Red Hat OpenShift). As a commercial offering, OpenShift includes customer support and a range of add-on services for storage, AI, and more.
Key Differences Between OpenShift and Kubernetes
Now, let’s discuss the differences between OpenShift and Kubernetes:
1. Platform and Vendor Support
Kubernetes is an open-source project developed by Google and now maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). It’s supported by a huge community and can be deployed across various environments, while some organizations also evaluate vmware alternatives when considering hybrid strategies. But the support mainly comes from community contributions or third-party vendors.
OpenShift is Red Hat’s enterprise-grade Kubernetes distribution, designed for streamlined operations and integrated lifecycle management. Its control plane runs on Red Hat CoreOS (RHCOS)- a minimal, immutable, and auto-updating operating system tailored for Kubernetes workloads. While RHCOS is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), it is optimized specifically for OpenShift clusters. In standard deployments, both control plane and worker nodes utilize RHCOS; however, RHEL may still be employed for auxiliary infrastructure components like bastion hosts or provisioning nodes. It is a commercial product, you get dedicated enterprise support, certified integrations, and clear upgrade paths.
2. User Interface and Experience
When you work with Kubernetes, you primarily interact with its CLI tool kubectl, and if needed, the Kubernetes Dashboard. The dashboard is basic and requires additional configuration to meet your needs. You might find yourself integrating third‑party tools (like Rancher or Lens) to gain better visibility and ease of use.
OpenShift enhances that experience with a user-friendly web console. OpenShift includes the oc command‑line tool: a superset of kubectl that adds extra commands for managing OpenShift builds and projects. OpenShift makes it simpler to see the health of your applications, adjust configurations, and even set up CI/CD pipelines with just a few clicks. This interface is useful for teams who want to spend more time developing applications rather than managing underlying infrastructure. This is a key advantage in the OpenShift vs Kubernetes discussion.
3. Security Features
Most businesses have baseline security requirements for their container orchestration especially when their applications handle sensitive data. Kubernetes gives users a solid baseline: namespaces, role-based access control (RBAC), and TLS for secure communication are built into the orchestrator. But setting up a great security posture in Kubernetes requires you to add extra layers (for eg. vulnerability scanning tools like Trivy or Clair) and to fine‑tune configurations yourself.
OpenShift enhances this by offering a hardened security model out of the box. It enforces policies like preventing containers from running as the root user unless explicitly allowed and integrates authentication and authorization mechanisms directly into the platform. Furthermore, OpenShift includes integrated tools for vulnerability scanning, such as the Container Security Operator (CSO), which can monitor active pods and retrieve vulnerability data from registries like Quay. Red Hat Advanced Cluster Security (RHACS) also integrates with various scanners, including Clair, to provide comprehensive image vulnerability assessments. These built-in security features minimize the risk of misconfiguration and help meet compliance requirements with less manual overhead- a major factor in Openshift vs Kubernetes.
4. Installation and Setup Complexity
Kubernetes can be installed on various Linux distributions using tools like kubeadm or kops. This flexibility means you’re responsible for piecing together the ecosystem: networking, logging, monitoring, and security are separate components that you must integrate.
OpenShift streamlines this process by providing an opinionated installation. With OpenShift 4, for example, the control plane runs on Red Hat CoreOS, and the installation process is automated via an installer that uses Operators to manage components. This means you get a more integrated system that’s easier to set up and maintain. It simplifies operations if you’re looking for a turn‑key solution, but you lose some of the flexibility Kubernetes offers.
5. Out-of-the-Box Tools and Features
Kubernetes provides the building blocks for container orchestration: like a scheduler, service discovery, storage orchestration, and so on. Yet, many features like image registries, CI/CD pipelines, or advanced networking are left to third‑party tools. You must integrate these pieces yourself, which gives you great flexibility but also increases the complexity of your setup.
OpenShift, by comparison of Openshift vs Kubernetes, bundles many of these tools directly into the platform. It includes an integrated image registry, uses ImageStreams to manage and version container images, and provides Source‑to‑Image (S2I) capabilities to convert your source code into container images without external tools. Also, OpenShift bundles integrated CI/CD pipelines, logging, and monitoring tools, and even built‑in routing (known as Routes) for handling external traffic. These out‑of‑the‑box features mean you can deploy a fully‑featured container platform with less effort and tighter integration among components.
OpenShift as a Distribution of Kubernetes
1. Extensions, Unique Features, and Compatibility
OpenShift extends Kubernetes with benefits that many teams find valuable right out of the box. For example:
- CLI and Web Console: OpenShift extends Kubernetes’ kubectl with the oc CLI and offers a fully-integrated, user-friendly web console and provides management features for both administrators and developers.
- Integrated Image Management: It includes a built-in image registry and ImageStreams for version tracking, along with Source-to-Image (S2I) for building container images directly from source code.
- . Security Defaults: OpenShift enforces security best practices by default, such as running containers as non-root users and providing robust RBAC and network policies out of the box.
- Advanced Networking: It offers integrated software-defined networking (SDN) and simplified external traffic management through Routes, enhancing multi-tenant network isolation.
- Built-in CI/CD and OperatorHub: OpenShift provides pre-configured CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins or Tekton and includes OperatorHub for easy deployment of certified Kubernetes Operators.
These extensions mean that when you choose OpenShift, you’re not just getting Kubernetes, you’re getting a hardened, enterprise‑ready platform where many of the extras you’d normally add yourself are already integrated.
>> For teams evaluating container-based virtualization strategies, check out insights on openhat virtualization and kubevirt.
2. Compatibility with the Kubernetes Standard
Even with all these extra features, OpenShift is fundamentally a distribution of Kubernetes. Here’s what that means for you:
- API Compatibility: OpenShift uses the same Kubernetes API, ensuring that standard Kubernetes applications and tools are compatible.
- Standards-Based Operations: It supports standard Kubernetes objects and extends functionality with additional resources like DeploymentConfigs, allowing for more granular control.
- Ecosystem Integrations: OpenShift is compatible with popular Kubernetes tools such as Helm, Prometheus, and Grafana, with minor configuration adjustments to accommodate its security and networking defaults.
- Vendor and Community Collaboration: It is backed by Red Hat, OpenShift maintains compatibility with upstream Kubernetes while offering enterprise-grade support and additional features.
Use Cases and Applications
When to Use Kubernetes
Kubernetes is the open‑source container orchestration platform that gives you maximum flexibility and control. You choose Kubernetes when you want to build a custom solution designed exactly to your requirements. Here’s what you should consider:
Flexibility and Customization: It is ideal for teams that require tailored solutions and have the expertise to integrate various tools.
Ecosystem and Vendor Neutrality: It is suitable for organizations aiming for a multi-cloud strategy without vendor lock-in.
Cost Efficiency and DIY Approach: It is beneficial for teams looking to build and manage their infrastructure with granular control.
In short, if you want a highly configurable, open‑ended platform and you have the expertise to piece together the ecosystem, Kubernetes gives you the freedom to innovate at every level.
When to Use OpenShift
OpenShift takes Kubernetes and layers on enterprise‑grade enhancements that simplify management and enforce security. You choose OpenShift when you want an integrated, turnkey solution that minimizes manual configuration and reduces operational overhead. You should consider OpenShift in these scenarios:
Integrated, Enterprise-Ready Environment: It is perfect for organizations seeking a comprehensive platform with built-in tools.
Enhanced Security and Compliance: It is suitable for enterprises with strict security and compliance requirements.
Simplified User Experience and Vendor Support: It is Ideal for teams preferring a managed experience with professional support.
Easy Installation and Maintenance: It is great for organizations wanting a production-ready environment with minimal setup complexity.
>> For further insights on enhancing your OpenShift deployment, refer to this resource on optimizing Red Hat OpenShift deployments.
In summary, if you’re looking for an enterprise‑ready platform that bundles robust security, integrated developer tools, and streamlined operational support, OpenShift is the ideal choice.
Advantages of Kubernetes
Kubernetes has become the de facto standard for container orchestration due to its robust architecture and extensive ecosystem. Its design emphasizes flexibility, scalability, and a strong community-driven approach, making it a preferred choice for organizations aiming to deploy and manage containerized applications efficiently. Below are some of the advantages that highlight Kubernetes’ strengths:
Flexibility and Extensibility
Kubernetes offers a modular architecture that allows the integration of various networking, storage, and monitoring tools to meet specific needs.
Modular Architecture: Its pluggable components, such as the API server, scheduler, and controllers, can be extended using Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) and Operators, enabling customization for unique use cases .
Customizable Workflows: Kubernetes provides core building blocks that offer the freedom to mix and match tools, allowing the construction of platforms tailored to application performance and reliability requirements.
Community and Ecosystem
Kubernetes benefits from a vast, active community and a rich ecosystem of tools, enhancing its capabilities and support.
Open-Source Support: Thousands of developers contribute to Kubernetes, ensuring it remains up-to-date with frequent updates, bug fixes, and a wide range of extensions.
Ecosystem of Tools: Kubernetes supports a wide range of third-party tools, such as Jenkins for CI/CD, Helm for application packaging, and Prometheus for monitoring; however, integrating these tools requires manual setup and configuration.
Advantages of Red Hat OpenShift
Red Hat OpenShift provides a suite of features designed to streamline application development, deployment, and management. Its integrated tools and enterprise-grade capabilities provide organizations with a robust platform for building and scaling applications efficiently. Below are some of the advantages that set OpenShift apart:
1. Integrated Development and Deployment Tools
Integrated CI/CD and Tools: OpenShift includes built-in CI/CD capabilities through OpenShift Pipelines (based on Tekton) and offers integrated monitoring with Prometheus and Alertmanager by default, reducing the need for manual setup and configuration.
Image Management and Source-to-Image (S2I): It features a built-in image registry with ImageStreams to track and version container images, and the S2I process converts source code into container images on the fly, facilitating quick deployments without manual image builds.
Enterprise Support: OpenShift, backed by Red Hat, provides enterprise-grade support with SLAs, ensuring timely resolutions and dedicated assistance.
2. Enhanced Security Features
OpenShift provides robust, enterprise-grade security features out of the box, ensuring secure and compliant production environments.
Secure-By-Default Policies: It enforces strict security policies by default, such as preventing containers from running as root unless explicitly permitted, thereby reducing the risk of privilege escalation attacks.
Integrated Authentication and Authorization: OpenShift includes built-in support for role-based access control (RBAC) and integrates with authentication systems, enabling granular control over resource access and ensuring only authorized users can perform critical operations.
Network Isolation and Compliance: It incorporates integrated networking solutions that support multi-tenant isolation and advanced network policies, aiding in enforcing strict compliance and safeguarding data across various environments.
Cost Considerations
Kubernetes Cost Management
Kubernetes is open-source and free to use; however, deploying and managing it incurs costs related to infrastructure, additional tools, and the operational expertise required for maintenance. These expenses stem from compute, storage, networking, and integrating third-party solutions to achieve a production-ready environment.
OpenShift Pricing Model
OpenShift operates on a subscription-based pricing model, typically structured per node or per core, encompassing the integrated platform, support, maintenance, and regular updates. This predictable and centralized cost model ensures a consistent, all-in-one platform where licensing, support, and integration expenses are bundled together.
Conclusion
Final Thoughts on Choosing Between OpenShift and Kubernetes
Your choice between OpenShift and Kubernetes depends upon your organization’s needs:
Choose OpenShift if you prefer an enterprise-ready, turnkey solution that comes with integrated CI/CD pipelines, a built‑in image registry, security defaults, and a user-friendly web console features that reduce operational overhead and simplify cluster management with predictable support and subscription-based pricing.
Choose Kubernetes if you value maximum flexibility and customization, want to build a tailored ecosystem using third‑party tools, and have the in‑house expertise to manage and integrate additional components for networking, logging, and security to create a fully customized container orchestration platform.
Lastly, to ensure your containerized applications have reliable and efficient data management, it’s always good to integrate a storage solution like Portworx. Portworx is purpose-built for Kubernetes environments and provides persistent storage that enhances the performance, scalability, and resilience of your deployments.
By using Portworx, you can effectively manage data services across various platforms, including Red Hat OpenShift, ensuring your infrastructure is well-equipped to meet future regulatory and operational demands. For further insights on the evolving landscape, check out trends in modern virtualization.