Configuring the provider cluster for external client access

Configure the provider cluster to expose storage services and generate an onboarding token for client access.

1. Install the MetalLB operator.
   To install the MetalLB operator, complete the following steps:
   1. Log in to the Red Hat® OpenShift® Container Platform web console.
   2. Go to the Ecosystem > Software Catalog page.
   3. Scroll or type MetalLB into the Filter by keyword box.
   4. Select MetalLB Operator from the results.
   5. Click Install.
   6. On the Install Operator page, complete the following configuration:
      1. Select stable from the Update channel list.
      2. Select the required version from the Version list.
      3. For Installation mode, select All namespaces on the cluster (default).
      4. For Installed Namespace, select Operator recommended Namespace.
      5. For Update approval, select either Automatic (recommended) or Manual.
   7. Click Install.
   8. Go to the Installed Operators page and confirm that:
      • The MetalLB Operator appears in the list
      • Status is Succeeded
2. Create a MetalLB instance.

   Apply the following configuration:

   apiVersion: metallb.io/v1beta1
   kind: MetalLB
   metadata:
     name: metallb
     namespace: metallb-system

3. Configure an IP address pool.

   Define a range of IP addresses to be assigned by MetalLB:

   apiVersion: metallb.io/v1beta1
   kind: IPAddressPool
   metadata:
     name: metallb
     namespace: metallb-system
   spec:
     addresses:
     - 10.0.0.138-10.0.0.142

4. Create an L2 advertisement.

   Apply the following configuration:

   apiVersion: metallb.io/v1beta1
   kind: L2Advertisement
   metadata:
     name: l2advertisement
     namespace: metallb-system
   spec:
     ipAddressPools:
     - metallb

5. Create a LoadBalancer service.

   Expose the provider API using a LoadBalancer:

   apiVersion: v1
   kind: Service
   metadata:
     name: ocs-provider-server-load-balancer
     namespace: openshift-storage
     annotations:
       metallb.universe.tf/ip-allocated-from-pool: metallb
   spec:
     type: LoadBalancer
     selector:
       app: ocsProviderApiServer
     ports:
       - name: provider
         protocol: TCP
         port: 50051
         targetPort: ocs-provider
         nodePort: 30756

   Important:

   Record the LoadBalancer IP address and port. For example: storageProviderEndpoint: 10.0.0.138:50051. You need this information when onboarding the client cluster.

6. Create a storage consumer instance.
   To create a storage consumer instance, complete the following steps:
   1. On the Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform web console, navigate to the Storage > Data Foundation > Storage Consumers page.
   2. Click Create Storage Consumer.
   3. Provide the required details, such as name and quota.
   4. Click Create.
7. Generate the onboarding token.
   To generate the onboarding token of the created storage consumer instance, complete the following steps:
   1. Click the overflow menu ︙ icon for the new storage consumer instance.
   2. Select Generate client onboarding token.
   3. Copy the onboarding token for use on the client cluster.