Introduction

IBM Sterling Transformation Extender Launcher Container packages the IBM Sterling Transformation Extender (ITX) Launcher product as a Linux container image and Helm chart. The container image, ibm-itx-ls, runs ITX Launcher systems and maps in a standalone Docker or podman setup. The Helm chart, ibm-itx-ls-prod, installs the same container image in a Kubernetes cluster like Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform (RHOCP).

For additional high-level overview of the ITX Launcher Server product, see IBM Support page.

The following is a list of high-level features provided by the ITX Launcher Server Container and Helm chart:
  • Runtime execution of compiled maps and system flows
  • Deployment of maps and systems via Cloud Object Storage
  • Automated configuration of certificates, users and passwords that are used during Launcher execution
  • Horizontal pod autoscaling support of custom metrics and behavior policies
  • Multiple deployments within any cluster namespace
  • Customized configurations of all Launcher settings from Helm command line overrides
  • System related file deployments from multiple Cloud Object Storage locations
  • Kubernetes console logging of Launcher startup, configuration and runtime messages
  • Graceful and monitored shutdown of launcher systems
  • Hot fix capability for securely patching runtime modules within an image
  • Service mesh integration via Istio sidecar injection, enabling participation in mesh-based traffic management, security, and observability