Unlocking OpenShift Virtualization Potential on Bare Metal: A Deep Dive with Reist Telecom AG
15/01/2025 – We have been given the incredible opportunity of presenting our case study of how Redhat Openshift has helped us in halving licensing costs by running VMs and containers on a common platform.
As Reist joined the Red Hat Certified Cloud and Service Provider (CCSP) Program, focusing on providing superior managed services leveraging Red Hat’s Kubernetes and Linux technologies. We turned to Red Hat OpenShift for our on-premise container platform. The openness of such platform allowed Reist to implement robust security measures. “We appreciate the platform’s stability and comprehensive toolset, which accelerated our deployment” said Patric Siegrist, our chief architect.
To expedite our transition, Reist engaged closely with Red Hat partner Puzzle ITC for targeted consultancy. This collaboration not only enhanced our team’s OpenShift proficiency but also facilitated ongoing internal certifications. Operating in synergy with our Networking, Linux, and Storage teams, our engineers seamlessly integrated OpenShift into our data centers, leveraging its compatibility with critical infrastructure services like NetApp Trident.
“Our initial focus was on containerizing essential infrastructure services,” Siegrist explained, highlighting the migration process. “We optimized mail servers, proxy servers, web servers, and DNS servers, setting a robust foundation for future expansions”. Embracing Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization further streamlined our operations, reducing VM licensing costs and optimizing hardware utilization. “The platform’s integration of VM and container technologies allows us to consolidate resources and enhance operational efficiency,” Siegrist added.
Moreover, adopting a DevOps approach with GitOps ensured version control and process efficiency, bolstering our security measures and operational reliability. “With GitOps, we maintain a unified infrastructure state, enhancing our responsiveness to evolving security needs,” Siegrist said. Transitioning to OpenShift Virtualization also empowered us to deploy updates seamlessly, minimizing service disruptions for our diverse clientele, including private banks and global enterprises with stringent compliance requirements.
Our journey with Red Hat continues to unlock new opportunities. From offering advanced security solutions to expanding service offerings like namespaces-as-a-service, we remain committed to driving innovation and supporting our clients’ modernization efforts.
Reist Telecom AG pioneered OpenShift adoption in Switzerland, initially using it solely for containerization but quickly expanding its scope as our primary virtualization platform. This transition was driven by our customers’ needs and the limitations of other platforms, such as VMware post-acquisition.
Today, MAYI ID operates seamlessly on OpenShift and in the cloud, ensuring flexibility across diverse environments. We now support both modern container and legacy VM workloads on OpenShift, leveraging this dual capability for enhanced adaptability and resilience.
We also benefit from several Red Hat products, including the Red Hat build of Keycloak (RHBK), to strengthen our offerings:
RHBK: Integrated into our MAYI ID product, providing robust, supported authentication solutions with enterprise-grade reliability
OpenShift: As the backbone of our virtualization strategy, OpenShift consolidates container and VM management, positioning us a year ahead in Swiss market knowledge and application
Reist Telecom AG is among the first in Switzerland to migrate VMs from VMware to OpenShift. Our early adoption has positioned us as market experts, providing us with competitive insights and expertise in using OpenShift for both container and VM operations. Our work with Red Hat products, especially OpenShift, has drawn attention as a Swiss market case study for cloud migration.