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Version: 5.4

Kubernetes and container orchestration

Advantages of Kubernetes​

Using Kubernetes offers numerous advantages for deploying and managing the OPC Router:

  • Scalability: Kubernetes makes it possible to scale the number of OPC Router instances based on current requirements.
  • Flexibility: By using containers, different versions and configurations of the OPC Router can be easily managed and deployed.
  • Automation: Kubernetes automates many administrative tasks, including deployments, rollbacks, and scaling, which simplifies management and reduces errors.

Helm Chart for OPC Router​

The Helm Chart for the OPC Router facilitates the deployment and management of the OPC Router in a Kubernetes cluster. Here are the main features and configuration options:

Deployment:​

  • Helm Chart: Enables the deployment of the OPC Router on any Kubernetes cluster.
  • Multiple configurations: Support for various configuration options to meet specific requirements.

Configuration:​

  • Global Parameters: Settings such as global Docker image registry and StorageClass.
  • Common Parameters: Parameters for customizing the name and service account settings.
  • OPC Router Parameters: Configurations for the OPC Router image, environment variables, and project repository.
  • MongoDB Parameters: Settings for MongoDB integration, including authentication and redundancy.

Redundancy:​

  • OPC Router Redundancy: Support for redundancy mode to run a second pod with an OPC Router runtime that becomes active in case of failure of the main pod.
  • MongoDB Redundancy: Ability to run multiple MongoDB pods to make the database redundant and increase resilience.

Best Practices​

To take full advantage of Kubernetes and Helm Charts, the following best practices should be observed:

Private Repositories:​

  • Ensure that Git repositories are private to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Connect the OPC Router's internal Git system to hosted Git servers such as GitHub, Bitbucket, or Microsoft Azure DevOps.

Secrets Management:​

  • Secrets and passwords should never be stored in the Git repository.
  • The OPC Router always stores secrets in a separate local vault to ensure that they are not versioned.

Regular Updates and Monitoring:​

  • Regularly update the Kubernetes cluster and Helm charts.
  • Monitor the cluster to ensure that all components are functioning and scaling properly.

Practical Implementation​

Deployment with Helm Chart:​

  1. Preparation: Ensure that Kubernetes and Helm are installed and configured.
  2. Add Helm repository: Add the OPC Router Helm repository and update it:
helm repo add opc-router https://opc-router.github.io/helm-charts
helm repo update
  1. Install OPC Router: Use the following command to install OPC Router:
    helm install my-opcrouter opc-router/opc-router --set I_do_accept_the_EULA=true
  1. Security configuration: Add authentication and security parameters to secure the installation:
    helm install my-opcrouter opc-router/opc-router \
      --set webManagement.auth.disable=false \
      --set webManagement.auth.initialUser.name=<nutzername f??r="" den="" initialen="" web="" management="" nutzer=""> \
      --set webManagement.auth.initialUser.password=<passwort f??r="" den="" initialen="" web="" management="" nutzer=""> \
      --set mongodb.auth.enabled=true \
      --set mongodb.auth.rootPassword=<mongodb root="" passwort=""> \
      --set mongodb.auth.replicaSetKey=<mongodb replicaset="" key=""> \
      --set I_do_accept_the_EULA=true

Redundancy and scaling:​

  1. Enable OPC Router redundancy: Configure the OPC Router redundancy mode in the Helm Chart as soon as it is available.

  2. MongoDB redundancy: Ensure that MongoDB is running in redundancy mode by increasing the number of pods:

    --set mongodb.replicaCount=2

Load project from Git repository:​

  • Reference the project repository and path in the Helm Chart to load an OPC Router project from a Git repository:
    --set project.projectRepo=<url zum="" git="" repository=""> \
    --set project.projectPath=<pfad zur="" .rpe="" projektdatei=""> \
    --set project.configPath=<pfad zur="" konfigurationsdatei="" des="" projektes=""> \
    --set project.auth.ssh_key=<privater ssh="" schl??ssel="">

Summary​

Using Kubernetes and Helm Charts provides a powerful and flexible way to run OPC Router in a scalable and manageable environment. By implementing best practices and utilizing configuration options, organizations can maximize the reliability and efficiency of their OPC Router installations.