Chapter 1. Preparing to install on Azure
1.1. Prerequisites
- You reviewed details about the OpenShift Container Platform installation and update processes.
- You read the documentation on selecting a cluster installation method and preparing it for users.
1.2. Requirements for installing OpenShift Container Platform on Azure
Before installing OpenShift Container Platform on Microsoft Azure, you must configure an Azure account. See Configuring an Azure account for details about account configuration, account limits, public DNS zone configuration, required roles, creating service principals, and supported Azure regions.
If the cloud identity and access management (IAM) APIs are not accessible in your environment, or if you do not want to store an administrator-level credential secret in the kube-system namespace, see Alternatives to storing administrator-level secrets in the kube-system project for other options.
1.3. Choosing a method to install OpenShift Container Platform on Azure
You can install OpenShift Container Platform on installer-provisioned or user-provisioned infrastructure. The default installation type uses installer-provisioned infrastructure, where the installation program provisions the underlying infrastructure for the cluster. You can also install OpenShift Container Platform on infrastructure that you provision. If you do not use infrastructure that the installation program provisions, you must manage and maintain the cluster resources yourself.
See Installation process for more information about installer-provisioned and user-provisioned installation processes.
1.3.1. Installing a cluster on installer-provisioned infrastructure
You can install a cluster on Azure infrastructure that is provisioned by the OpenShift Container Platform installation program, by using one of the following methods:
- Installing a cluster quickly on Azure: You can install OpenShift Container Platform on Azure infrastructure that is provisioned by the OpenShift Container Platform installation program. You can install a cluster quickly by using the default configuration options.
- Installing a customized cluster on Azure: You can install a customized cluster on Azure infrastructure that the installation program provisions. The installation program allows for some customization to be applied at the installation stage. Many other customization options are available post-installation.
- Installing a cluster on Azure with network customizations: You can customize your OpenShift Container Platform network configuration during installation, so that your cluster can coexist with your existing IP address allocations and adhere to your network requirements.
- Installing a cluster on Azure into an existing VNet: You can install OpenShift Container Platform on an existing Azure Virtual Network (VNet) on Azure. You can use this installation method if you have constraints set by the guidelines of your company, such as limits when creating new accounts or infrastructure.
- Installing a private cluster on Azure: You can install a private cluster into an existing Azure Virtual Network (VNet) on Azure. You can use this method to deploy OpenShift Container Platform on an internal network that is not visible to the internet.
- Installing a cluster on Azure into a government region: OpenShift Container Platform can be deployed into Microsoft Azure Government (MAG) regions that are specifically designed for US government agencies at the federal, state, and local level, as well as contractors, educational institutions, and other US customers that must run sensitive workloads on Azure.
1.3.2. Installing a cluster on user-provisioned infrastructure
You can install a cluster on Azure infrastructure that you provision, by using the following method:
- Installing a cluster on Azure using ARM templates: You can install OpenShift Container Platform on Azure by using infrastructure that you provide. You can use the provided Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates to assist with an installation.
