OpenShift 4 for the Absolute Beginner Hands-On | Learning thru Doing

If you are new to containers, to Kubernetes or to cloud native application development, getting started with OpenShift could feel a bit scary. But the best way to understand the platform is not simply reading about principles, but **learning thru doing.

If you’re a total newbie, OpenShift  training can take you by the hand and teach you thru the basics, step by step, from creating apps, dealing with containers, utilising the OpenShift web portal and command line, scaling apps, and troubleshooting frequent challenges.

The core of Red Hat's learning route is the practical experience of developing and deploying applications on OpenShift with source code, container images, the oc command-line tool, scaling, databases, and performance information. ([Red Hat Developer][1]) ### OpenShift 4 – What Is It?

OpenShift is an enterprise application platform based on Kubernetes for designing, deploying, and managing containerised applications.

For novices it is good to think of OpenShift as a platform that provides tools to run applications in containers, while making many of the duties related in administering such applications easier.

Learning the basics of Kubernetes will also enable newcomers to better understand OpenShift since OpenShift is built on Kubernetes. Red Hat offers teaching resources to learn Kubernetes and OpenShift side-by-side. [2] Red Hat Documentation ### The Benefits of Hands-On Learning of OpenShift?

Reading about pods, deployments, services, routes and containers is good but hands on experience helps you understand these things more.

The beginners will be able to learn by:

  • Create their first OpenShift project * Deploy a containerised application *
    Pods and deployment management
    Make applications available via services and routes

  • Use the openshift web console Practice the oc command
    Scaling Applications
    View application logs

  • Diagnose deployment difficulties

  • Working with databases

  • Know the resources of application

The hands-on experience is similar to Red Hat’s introductory offerings, which provide hands-on activities via the web console and the oc CLI. ([Red Hat Developer][1] )# Start With Containers

It is important that the new comers understand the basic understanding of containers before doing a lot of work with OpenShift.

A container is an isolated environment that contains an application and its dependencies. This allows programs to be moved easily between development, testing and production environments.

You don't need to be a container guru to begin with OpenShift. Having some knowledge about images, containers, registries and basic container commands will ease the learning process.

 Learn the basics of Kubernetes OpenShift is built on top of Kubernetes concepts, so the rookies should understand words like:
Pod >

  • Deploying Services

  • Space name

  • ConfigMaps

  • TOP SECRET-

  • Container image.

  • Long-term storage *

  • replication

Once you understand these concepts, many of the features of OpenShift are much easier to follow

 Use the OpenShift web console

The OpenShift web console provides a graphical means to work with applications and cluster resources.

The console is a good starting point for beginners as it gives you an idea of what is going on inside the environment.

You may use it to:

  • Build projects

  • Deploy Apps

  • Pod view

  • Review deployments
    View services

  • install routes
    View logs

  • Resource monitoring

  • Application configuration

Red Hat has a special introduction to the web console of OpenShift and practical exercises with the web console in the beginner learning path. ([Red Hat Developer][1])

 Learning the oc command line tool

Once comfortable with the web console, beginners can begin to work with the OpenShift command line.

The oc CLI provides a way for developers and administrators to interact with OpenShift resources from a terminal.

Becoming familiar with the CLI makes you more productive and you better understand how OpenShift resources are managed.

Standard activities include:

  • Log in to a cluster

  • Making projects

  • Resource listing

  • Examining pods

  • Log Viewing

  • Handling deployments

  • Scaling apps

  • Configuration application

  • Troubleshooting help

Specifically, Red Hat’s learning resources contain exercises for deploying applications and scaling them with the oc CLI. ([Red Hat Developer][1]). ## Deploy your first app

The most exciting aspect of basic training is launching an application.

For a simple learning project you can follow this workflow:
Source Code → Container Image → OpenShift Deployment → Pod → Service → Route → App

Students can grab an existing application, deploy it to OpenShift and then learn how each component works incrementally.

The basic Red Hat learning path focuses on deploying applications from source code and from Linux container images. ([Red Hat Developer][1]) ## Understanding Pods and Deployments

A pod is the basic unit for running containerised workloads in Kubernetes and OpenShift.

A deployment helps you to manage instances of your application, including upgrading and scaling workloads.

Beginners can understand these principles by running an application, looking at its pod, altering the deployment, and seeing what occurs instead of memorising definitions.

This is when hands-on learning is extremely valuable. ## Learn Services and Routes

Deploying an application is only one part of the equation. It needs a mechanism to connect with users and other programs.

OpenShift services give dependable access to application workloads inside the cluster while routes can expose applications outside the cluster.

The flow can be shown with the following practical exercise:
Application Pod -> Service -> Route -> External User

Once you see this in action, the networking ideas of OpenShift will be a lot easier to understand. ## Practice Application Scaling

Most modern applications need to deal with fluctuating workloads.

Hands-on OpenShift training may show new users how to scale application instances up or down, and how the platform processes those workloads.

As part of Red Hat’s core OpenShift learning route, you’ll find practical exercises where you learn how to scale applications from the web console and the oc CLI. ([Red Hat Developer][1]) ### Working with databases

There are many times where you need to store persistent data when building applications. So, merging databases is a smart place to start.

A hands-on OpenShift class can show students how to deploy database workloads and connect apps to them.

Red Hat learning route offers fundamental teaching and practical exercises with databases utilising the oc CLI and OpenShift online console. ([Red Hat Developer][1])# Solving Real Problems

Troubleshooting is probably one of the most important aspects of hands-on learning.

Learners need to see good demos, but also need practice with things going wrong.

For example:
No pod is running
Could not fetch image

  • Application Not Responding
    Misconfigured route

  • Deployment is not ready
    Application is generating unexpected logs

Beginners acquire practical troubleshooting abilities thru studying these difficulties which are hard to find only from theory.# Creating a Basic OpenShift Project for Newbies

A solid starting project might combine multiple concepts into one app.

For example:
Frontend → OpenShift Service → Backend API → DB

During the project, the learners can:

  1. Create a project in OpenShift.

  2. Run the app 3. Inspect the application pod.

  3. Add a Service

  4. Specify a route.

  5. Check application logs.

  6. Change the deployment. 8. Expand application.

  7. Input the software into a database. 10. Troubleshooting Common Issues.

This sort of project gives a practical introduction to the OpenShift application lifecycle. ## Who Should Learn OpenShift 4?

Who should start training on OpenShift? * DevOps newbies * Software developers System administrators * Linux admins * Cloud engineers, * Getting started with Kubernetes * Site Reliability Engineers IT specialists * Students who are interested in cloud-native technologies * Professionals preparing for OpenShift related roles You don’t have to be an OpenShift expert before you get started. Structured courses can help with introducing the technology in steps.## What Makes a Good OpenShift Beginner Course?

Look for an OpenShift course that offers hands-on, practical training as opposed to just lectures.

A good introductory course should contain:

  • OpenShift ideas.
    Fundamentals of Kubernetes
    Ideas for containers

  • Web Console Practice

  • oc CLI drill
    deploy the applications

  • Deployments and Pods
    Services and routes:

  • Settings

  • Storage Essentials * Scaling
    *Logging & monitoring

  • Problem solving
    Industry projects

Red Hat's current learning resources also break down OpenShift learning into foundational, application-development and resource-management paths. [Red Hat Docs][3]

 Learn Thru Doing, Not Just Watching

Hands-on OpenShift training has the biggest advantage that every concept is an activity.

Rather than just learning what a pod is, make one.

Rather than reading about deployments, deploy an application.

Instead of memorising scaling commands, scale a workload and see the result.

Create a problem on purpose and learn how to diagnose it instead of just studying troubleshooting.

This helps to translate the theory into practical OpenShift skills. OpenShift 4 for Absolute Beginners is best learned thru constant practice and experimentation. Learners can begin with the basics of containers and Kubernetes and then progress to projects, pods, deployments, services, routes, scaling, databases, monitoring, and troubleshooting.

OpenShift  course has many ways to practise, including the web console and the oc CLI. Red Hat’s Developer Sandbox and learning paths provide beginner-friendly environments and exercises. ([Red Hat Developer][1])

If your goal is to build practical OpenShift skills, remember the core principle: learn the concept, perform the task, make mistakes, troubleshoot the problem, and repeat. 

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