Quick reference Q&A for offline deployments
You can create an air gapped installation of Cloud Pak for Business Automation by preparing a
host, mirroring the image registry, and by using the ibm-pak
CLI.
- Before you begin
- Question 1: Does your cluster already have storage classes that you can use?
- Question 2: Do you have your IBM entitlement key?
- Question 3: Do you need to prepare a host to mirror images?
- Question 4: How do you mirror the image registry?
- Question 5: How do you install the Cloud Pak operator?
- Question 6: How do you prepare for the capabilities that you want to install?
- Question 7: How can you create a production deployment?
- Question 8: How do you troubleshoot your production deployment?
Before you begin
Review what you need to know before you begin a production installation. You must plan your production deployment even more so than a starter deployment. You must consider properly what you want to install, what software you need, and what type of storage to use. Use the following links to read up on the things that you need to know beforehand.
- Decide what you want to install. Capabilities for production deployments can help you choose from the available capabilities. For example, Operational Decision Manager, Automation Decision Services, and Content Manager.
- Check the system requirements in Planning for a production deployment.
When you are ready to move to the next step, answer the following questions to help you complete the necessary tasks.
Question 1: Does your cluster already have storage classes that you can use?
Check that you have storage that works with the Capabilities for production deployments that you plan to install.
Options | What to do |
---|---|
You have the supported storage | |
You do not have any supported storage |
a) Decide which storage classes you want to use. b) Make sure that you have dynamic storage provisioning for the cluster, see Storage considerations. |
Question 2: Do you have your IBM entitlement key?
The Cloud Pak for Business Automation container images are hosted on the IBM Entitled Registry. To access the images, you must have your IBM entitlement key.
Options | What to do |
---|---|
You have your IBM entitlement key |
Go to Question 3: Do you need to prepare a host to mirror images?. |
You do not have your IBM entitlement key |
a) Log in to MyIBM Container Software Library with the IBMid and password that is associated with the entitled software. In the Entitlement Keys tile, click Add New Key. b) Go to Question 3: Do you need to prepare a host to mirror images? |
Question 3: Do you need to prepare a host to mirror images?
You can store everything that you need to install Cloud Pak for Business Automation on a host and use it, or use it to transfer the images, in an air gap environment.
Options | What to do |
---|---|
Setting up a host |
a) Follow the steps in Setting up a host to mirror images to a private registry. |
Question 4: How do you mirror the image registry?
If this is the first time the Cloud Pak is installed in an air gap environment, then you do need to mirror the image registry.
Options | What to do |
---|---|
Setting up a mirror image registry |
a) Follow the steps to complete the setup by using Downloading the CASE files and cert-kubernetes. b) Follow the steps to complete the setup by using Option 1: Mirroring catalogs to a private registry using oc mirror. c) Go to Question 5: How do you install the Cloud Pak operator? |
Question 5: How do you install the Cloud Pak operator?
If this is the first time the Cloud Pak is installed in an air gap environment, then you do need to install the Cloud Pak catalog and operator.
Options | What to do |
---|---|
Installing the Cloud Pak catalog and an operator instance |
a) Follow the steps to complete the setup by using Option 2: Installing the Cloud Pak catalog and operator instances by using ibm-pak. b) Go to Question 6: How do you prepare for the capabilities that you want to install? |
Question 6: How do you prepare for the capabilities that you want to install?
Each capability that you want to install must be prepared for before you apply your custom resource.
Options | What to do |
---|---|
Prepare your data sources, secrets, and PVCs for each capability in your deployment |
a) Follow the steps to prepare your data sources, secrets, and PVCs by using Preparing your chosen capabilities. b) Go to Question 7: How can you create a production deployment? |
Question 7: How can you create a production deployment?
You can install the capabilities that you want by using the Operator Form view of the Cloud Pak operator in the OCP console or by running the deployment script.
Options | What to do |
---|---|
Create a production deployment in the OCP console |
a) Follow the steps to create a custom resource by using Option 2: Installing a production deployment in the OpenShift console. b) Follow the steps to configure your custom resource in the YAML View by using Checking and completing your custom resource. c) Create the deployment instance. d) Follow the steps in Completing post-installation tasks. e) Go to Question 8: How do you troubleshoot your production deployment? |
Create a production deployment by using the deployment script |
a) Follow the steps to complete the installation of the production deployment by using Option 1a: (Recommended) Generating the custom resource with the deployment script. b) Follow the steps to configure your custom resource in the YAML View by using Checking and completing your custom resource. c) Follow the steps in Option 1b: Deploying the custom resource you created with the deployment script. d) Follow the steps in Completing post-installation tasks. e) Go to Question 8: How do you troubleshoot your production deployment? |
Question 8: How do you troubleshoot your production deployment?
See Troubleshooting if you encounter problems with the production deployment.