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Deploying and Managing IBM Software Hub and its services using ArgoCD – Tech preview

By Girish Bhat posted 23 days ago

  

Authors: Girish Bhat, Kaihua Zhou

Introduction

In the fast-paced world of data-driven businesses, managing complex platforms like IBM Software Hub demands a robust, scalable, and transparent approach. Enter ArgoCD, a GitOps-based delivery tool for Kubernetes, and Helm, a package manager for Kubernetes. Together, they offer a powerful solution that aligns with the strategic goals of IBM Software Hub, addressing key business needs and enhancing overall management. 

 

Current Challenges and How ArgoCD Solves them 

Customers have expressed several critical needs that ArgoCD and Helm can address.  

 

  • Enhanced Security: ArgoCD allows for fine-grained access control, reducing the need for broad cluster admin rights and minimizing security risks. 

 

  • Clear Segregation of Duties: Role-based access control (RBAC) in ArgoCD ensures that different teams can manage their respective namespaces without overlapping responsibilities. 

 

  • Increased Transparency: Real-time monitoring and detailed logs in ArgoCD offer visibility into the install and upgrade processes, ensuring transparency and traceability. 

 

  • Simplified Scaling: ArgoCD and Helm simplify the process of scaling from a single instance to multiple instances, ensuring consistent, efficient, and error-free deployments. 

 

Part of IBM Software Hub Platform Goal 

 

The IBM Software Hub platform aims to support Git for lifecycle management of its services.  

 

Utilizing declarative GitOps practices ensures consistency across multiple deployments. ArgoCD's GitOps approach makes deployments consistent and repeatable, improving efficiency and reducing human error. 

 

Moreover, ArgoCD provides a single source of truth in Git, enabling version control, easy rollbacks, comprehensive auditing, and enhanced security and compliance. This centralized management aligns with the platform's goals of better control and compliance. 

 

This tech preview for 5.2 release is designed to support IBM Software Hub and Planning Analytics. Upon its General Availability (GA), it will be integrated into the IBM Software Hub Premium offering. 

 

Implementation Steps 

To implement ArgoCD and Helm for managing IBM Software Hub, follow these steps: 
 

  1. Connect IBM Helm Repo to the ArgoCD Instance: Ensure that your ArgoCD instance is connected to the IBM Helm repository. 

  1. Define ArgoCD Applications: Reference charts from the Helm repo. Provide necessary information like namespace and storage classes in the value override section. 

  1. Synchronize Applications: Kick off the installation of services by synchronizing the applications. 

  1. Enable Self-Heal Feature (Optional): Enable the self-heal feature in ArgoCD to keep the cluster in the desired state and auto-correct any deviations. 

  1. Monitor and Manage: Use ArgoCD's web UI and CLI to monitor the health and status of your deployments.  

 ArgoCD Demo

Conclusion 

Implementing ArgoCD and Helm for managing IBM Software Hub not only addresses critical business needs but also aligns with the strategic goals of the IBM Software Hub platform. This approach ensures greater transparency, improved efficiency, and enhanced security, simplifying the management of IBM Software Hub and ensuring scalability and consistency across multiple deployments. 

Stay tuned for more insights and best practices on managing your IBM Software Hub environment with ArgoCD and Helm. Happy deploying! 

 

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only. Always refer to the official documentation and best practices provided by IBM, ArgoCD, and Helm for the most accurate and up-to-date information. 

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