Introduction
Kubernetes® doesn’t provide a network interface system by default. Instead, network plugins offer this functionality. Red Hat OpenShift suggests several alternate CNI plugins. Red Hat OpenShift has an extensive certification program to ensure CNI’s work correctly with their enterprise platform, allowing for the deployment of 3rd Party Kubernetes CNI's such as Flow CNI.
Flow CNI on Red Hat OpenShift brings a single networking model for both pods and VMs. VMs and pods share one structure, one path, and one set of behaviors.This common networking model supports connectivity between supported OpenShift pods and Nutanix AHV hosted virtual machines. Today, we are happy to announce that the Nutanix Flow CNI Operator has completed the applicable Red Hat certification process.
Fig 01: Flow CNI Certified as a 3rd Party CNI for OpenShift
Understanding CNI and Flow CNI
In Kubernetes®, a Container Network Interface (CNI) plugin is what enables pods to communicate over the network. Flow CNI (powered by OVN-Kubernetes) is Nutanix’s CNI implementation that allows Kubernetes clusters to participate in Flow Virtual Networking, meaning Kubernetes pods can exist within the same VPC networking context as VMs.
Why Flow CNI on OpenShift?
Flow CNI provides a common networking model for supported OpenShift pods and AHV hosted virtual machines.
- A common Nutanix VPC networking context for supported pods and virtual machines- Pods receive native VPC IP addresses, just like VMs. There is no longer a boundary between Kubernetes and the rest of the infrastructure.
- Direct communication- Pods connect to VM based services without external gateways or load balancers. The communication path becomes short, efficient, and easy to understand.
- Consistent routing- All workloads follow one routing model. Operators troubleshoot with a single view.
- A design intended to reduce the number of networking components required in supported scenarios- Flow CNI removes layers traditionally required to connect Kubernetes to VM environments. This design is intended to simplify deployment and networking operations in supported scenarios.
- Support for real hybrid applications- Companies often modernize one layer at a time. They move frontends to containers and keep core logic on VMs. Flow CNI can support these architectures without requiring a full redesign in supported configurations.
Note: For the current release, Nutanix Flow CNI for Red Hat OpenShift is supported only in Nutanix environments running on the Nutanix AHV hypervisor. Support for other environments or hypervisors should not be inferred.
Why does this certification matter for Enterprises?
The integration addresses a networking consideration for hybrid applications that use both containers and virtual machines. By serving as a unified networking fabric, Flow CNI allows OpenShift clusters to manage cloud-native and legacy workloads under identical networking policies and behaviors, supporting coexistence between supported OpenShift pods and virtual machines. This integration is built upon several core pillars to ensure lifecycle management capabilities for supported enterprise deployments:
- UBI Packaging- Flow CNI is packaged using the Red Hat Universal Base Image (UBI). Refer to the applicable release documentation for image compatibility, licensing, redistribution, and platform-support terms.
- Certified Operator- Deployment and management are handled via an Operator. The Operator supports lifecycle operations, including installation, configuration, and upgrades, as documented for the supported release.
- Certification Testing- The supported release completed the applicable Red Hat certification tests identified in the public certification record. The applicable certification process included the documented Network Conformance and Virtualization validation for the supported release. The Nutanix CNI Operator is listed in the Red Hat Ecosystem Catalog and is available through OperatorHub for supported releases.
- Ecosystem Integration- Flow CNI allows administrators to easily discover and deploy Flow CNI directly from the OpenShift web console.
Getting Started with Nutanix’s CNI Operator for Red Hat OpenShift
Installing the Nutanix CNI Operator may be performed either via the OpenShift Console or the OpenShift CLI. How to use the OpenShift Console to install the CNI operator is available in the Nutanix CNI Documentation for OpenShift.
The Nutanix CNI implementation, based on OVN-Kubernetes, has been packaged and delivered by Nutanix for supported Red Hat OpenShift deployments. The Nutanix CNI Operator for Kubernetes is published in the Red Hat Ecosystem Catalog and can be directly deployed from the integrated OpenShift OperatorHub.
Fig 02: Deploying Nutanix Flow CNI from the OpenShift Catalog
What support do you get with Flow CNI on OpenShift?
Flow CNI is recognized as a Certified OpenShift CNI Plug-in by completing the operator certification and passing end-to-end testing. As such, Red Hat will collaborate with Nutanix to troubleshoot the issue, per their third-party software support statements. Support is provided according to the applicable Nutanix and Red Hat support terms. Refer to the product documentation for case ownership and escalation details.
Customers who have chosen Flow CNI can benefit from both vendors' complete support experience with Flow CNI and RedHat, working towards a common resolution.
Conclusion
The integration of Flow CNI with Red Hat OpenShift addresses one of the most persistent challenges in modern hybrid cloud-the network divide between Kubernetes and virtual machines. By offering a unified networking fabric that treats pods and VMs as first-class citizens, Flow CNI is designed to simplify networking operations for supported deployments, simplifies routing, and can reduce the need for additional gateways in supported scenarios. With Red Hat certification and joint enterprise support, organizations can use the solution for supported hybrid application scenarios and apply common networking concepts to containerized and virtual-machine workloads.
Try Out Flow CNI
Explore Flow CNI for supported networking scenarios involving containerized and virtual-machine workloads in your cloud-native or on-prem environments related to Networking.
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