Accelerate modernization in the cloud with Red Hat OpenShift on AWS (ROSA)
Leverage ROSA to innovate faster and more securely with containerized applications
March 29, 2021 | By: Armando Franco and Steve Williams
The textbook definition of a legacy application is large, complex and interconnected, making it hard to rapidly respond to customer needs. It’s hard enough to make modest changes to a monolithic application—much less attempt to fundamentally modernize it. That’s why containers are a big part of the application modernization picture.
In a containerized environment, applications are created and deployed rapidly and more securely. A containerized application packages code and all of its dependencies, such as system libraries and settings, into a standardized, pretested and standalone unit that runs reliably in any environment. But container environments need to be carefully orchestrated—automatically deployed, managed, scaled, and networked—to deploy the same application across multiple environments without redesigning.
To do this, many organizations consider leveraging Kubernetes—an open-source and extensible platform that is ideal for container orchestration. However, to make Kubernetes sing, you must add on multiple layers of services. An organization must then invest in subject matter expertise in multiple domains, including infrastructure, networking, containers, DevOps and cloud computing.
So, how do you get around all of the management complexity while trying to run applications with your existing workflows? The solution is Red Hat OpenShift on AWS (ROSA).
ROSA brings the power of AWS to OpenShift
When it comes to container hosting, Red Hat OpenShift is quickly becoming a leading platform as a service (PaaS) offering. The OpenShift Container Platform (OCP) is built around Kubernetes-managed Docker containers and provides a management engine on top of the Kubernetes orchestration platform.
Now, Red Hat OpenShift on AWS (ROSA) provides a new, fully managed service offering available through Amazon Web Services (AWS) that adds the power of the cloud to the OpenShift platform. ROSA makes modernization easier because it enables clients to simultaneously leverage the power of both AWS and OpenShift, without requiring deep Kubernetes knowledge.
For example, if you want to spin up a cluster using ROSA, you can quickly create a platform instance through AWS. You don’t need to understand technology components such as infrastructure or platform requirements. Rather, you use AWS to simply define the amount of resources required, such as CPU, memory and storage—creating a functioning cluster within an hour. Long-term platform maintenance is handled through the managed service, freeing your teams to focus on more valuable strategic work.
OpenShift provides a consistent interface across Kubernetes clusters and simplified management, as well as the ability to manage hybrid and multicloud clusters. It’s now possible to modernize your on-premises applications to containers on AWS.
With elastic AWS workloads, OpenShift clusters expand and contract automatically, and you only pay for the cloud resources that you consume. OCP subscriptions are incorporated into the overall cost of ROSA and reflected in a consolidated AWS bill.
ROSA makes it easier to experiment, where there is a need for ephemeral deployments. You can rapidly create and depreciate proof-of-concept (POC) use cases in AWS.
ROSA lets your teams focus on what they do best
Development teams want to spend their time creating strategic applications. ROSA frees your teams’ time so they can get their code into OpenShift and a microservices-based architecture that is redundant and scalable. Infrastructure needs, such as ensuring high availability or adequate scaling, are all taken care of by a managed service.
Getting OpenShift set up can be daunting if you haven’t done it before. ROSA provides an easy way to step into OpenShift, especially if you’re already using AWS. Plus, TEKsystems is one of just a handful of certified IT services providers who partner with both Red Hat as an Apex Partner and AWS as an APN Premier Consulting Partner.
With deep expertise to help you skillfully marry AWS and OpenShift services within ROSA, TEKsystems can guide you every step of the way. You can move from a straightforward proof of concept to more advanced functionalities that require new AWS or OpenShift services. Here are a few possible scenarios:
- Assistance planning and executing a go-to-market (GTM) solution or a front-end solution to balance traffic in a multiregion case.
- Advisement between a Red Hat API gateway or an Amazon API Gateway.
- Guidance on technology choices that support specific regulatory requirements.
Whatever the need, our full spectrum of experience—from engineering design and project management to construction and integration—can help you modernize and extend your business applications to the Red Hat OpenShift platform running on AWS.
Armando Franco is a senior practice architect with TEKsystems Global Services. Over the last 23 years, he has worked in several technical and senior leadership roles in software engineering organizations, and he has expertise in software development, DevOps, automation, and cloud platform architecture.
Steve Williams is a Cloud Solutions Architect with TEKsystems Global Services. He has deep experience in open source solutions such as Linux, and has worked on infrastructure projects in industries including Finance, Manufacturing, Health Care, and Telecommunications.