Looking to deploy OpenShift Kubernetes in a compact, cost-effective environment? Red Hat OpenShift Single Node (SNO) is designed for developers, DevOps engineers, and enterprises who need the full power of OpenShift on a single node. Whether for edge computing, testing, or proof-of-concept clusters, SNO provides a lightweight, enterprise-ready solution.

What is Red Hat OpenShift SNO?

Red Hat OpenShift SNO is a single-node deployment where both the control plane and worker workloads run on the same machine. Unlike traditional multi-node OpenShift clusters, SNO reduces infrastructure complexity while maintaining full Kubernetes and OpenShift capabilities.

Ideal use cases:

• Edge computing in remote locations
• Development and testing environments
• Proof-of-concept or pilot OpenShift clusters

Key Features of OpenShift Single Node

1. Full Enterprise OpenShift Capabilities

SNO provides the same OpenShift features as multi-node clusters, including:

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux CoreOS (RHCOS)
• Kubernetes operators and management services
• Integrated developer tools and CI/CD pipelines
• OpenShift Data Foundation (for local persistent storage)

This ensures consistent application deployment between SNO and production OpenShift clusters.

2. Lightweight and Resource-Efficient

Red Hat recommends the following minimum hardware:

SNO can run on bare metal, virtual machines, or edge devices, making it ideal for labs and smaller sites.

3. Simplified Installation

The single-node installer automates deployment:

1. Generate a bootable ISO with embedded SNO configuration
2. Install both control plane and worker workloads automatically
3. Manage the cluster via the OpenShift web console or CLI

4. Edge-Ready Deployment

SNO is perfect for edge computing environments:

• Operates reliably in limited network conditions
• Supports local persistent storage with OpenShift Data Foundation
• Can be expanded to multi-node clusters in the future

Limitations of Red Hat OpenShift SNO

While SNO is powerful, it has some limitations:

• No high availability — single node failure results in downtime
• Resource constraints — heavy workloads may require more RAM/CPU
• Limited scalability — adding nodes requires cluster reconfiguration

For full production workloads, multi-node OpenShift clusters are recommended.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up OpenShift SNO

1. Prepare your hardware/VM with sufficient CPU, RAM, and SSD storage
2. Download the Red Hat OpenShift installer and your pull secret
3. Create the install-config.yaml tailored for single-node deployment
4. Generate a bootable ISO with embedded configuration
5. Boot the machine and let OpenShift automatically install SNO
6. Access the cluster via the OpenShift web console or CLI

Why Choose OpenShift SNO?

Red Hat OpenShift SNO is a compact, cost-efficient, and fully-featured Kubernetes platform. Benefits include:

• Enterprise-grade OpenShift in a single-node setup
• Reduced hardware and operational costs
• Simplified installation and cluster management

It’s perfect for developers and organizations exploring enterprise Kubernetes in labs, edge, or proof-of-concept environments.

Conclusion

Red Hat OpenShift Single Node (SNO) delivers the full OpenShift experience in a lightweight, single-node cluster. With SNO, you can deploy, test, and manage OpenShift workloads efficiently, whether in development, edge, or pilot environments. For organizations that want enterprise Kubernetes without complex infrastructure, OpenShift SNO is the ideal solution.