Packaging applications and services with Kubernetes Operators
Package applications and services for Kubernetes with the Operator framework.
Developing Operators

Operators give you a convenient way to package, deploy, manage and distribute applications for Kubernetes. The method allows you to package configuration so that users can deploy operators from a simple catalog without having to engage administrators. You can distribute operators beyond your organization using OperatorHub.io which is open to all contributions or the Red Hat OpenShift OperatorHub using Red Hat's certification process.
Operator maturity model
Conceptually, an Operator takes human operational knowledge and encodes it into software that is more easily packaged and shared with consumers. How you approach and build your Operator is up to you. Advanced Operators are designed to handle upgrades seamlessly, react to failures automatically, and not take shortcuts, such as skipping a software backup process to save time.
A Kubernetes application is both deployed on Kubernetes and managed using the Kubernetes APIs and kubectl/oc tooling. You can think of Operators as the runtime that manages this type of application on Kubernetes.

Get started building your operator resources

Automate golden image creation and distribution for virtual machines across...

Simplify operator management on Red Hat OpenShift with Operator Lifecycle...

Simplify operator management on Red Hat OpenShift with Operator Lifecycle...
Hands-on operator labs
Demonstrate how ArgoCD with Red Hat ACM can manage different clusters and...
Learn how to create Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Edge images and deploy them...
The goal of this track is to explore the Red Hat OpenShift GitOps Operator...
This track provides an introduction to cloud-native development with Node.js...
Discover the simplicity of containerizing your application with Buildah and...
Learn to deploy and control an already-defined container image.
When you publish, you get:
Seal of approval
- Your Operator functionality is verified by Red Hat.
Promotion
- Listed in Red Hat OpenShift OperatorHub and Red Hat Ecosystem Catalog for all customers to see and download.
Continuous certification
- Using Red Hat Certification Build Service APIs means continuous security compliance—great for CI/CD.
Support coverage
- Full Red Hat support for the foundation of Operators and their containers when used with Red Hat OpenShift.
Operator videos

OpenShift Commons Briefing with Daniel Messer: State of Operators

OpenShift now includes operator framework to help organizations easily...

An Operator is a method of packaging, deploying and managing a Kubernetes...
New articles about Operators

Simplify operator management on Red Hat OpenShift with Operator Lifecycle...

This article describes the setup and operation of JBoss EAP 7 clustering in...

Learn how to optimize GPU resource use with NVIDIA Multi-Instance GPU (MIG)...

Explore the latest features in Network Observability 1.8, an operator for Red...

Discover a lesser-known method for using the custom metrics autoscaler based...

The technology preview of incident detection is now available in the Red Hat...
Adventures Aboard the Kluster Kruise Ship
This story uses a series of metaphors to introduce the concept of Operators, explain how they aid in the automation of clusters, and provide a high-level overview of Operator Lifecycle Management in a way that anyone can understand. Readers will meet Kate the octopus, esteemed cruise ship director, who finds herself overwhelmed with the responsibilities associated with her position.
Interested in the operator community? OperatorHub is the community home for Kubernetes Operators. Find an existing operator, or list your own.