diff --git a/docs/enterprise/installing-overview.md b/docs/enterprise/installing-overview.md index d9eb689df0..22618c28a4 100644 --- a/docs/enterprise/installing-overview.md +++ b/docs/enterprise/installing-overview.md @@ -1,39 +1,29 @@ -# About Installing an Application - -This topic provides an introduction to installing with Replicated KOTS, including options to consider before installing. - -## Overview - -You can use Replicated KOTS to install applications into various environments, with or without existing Kubernetes clusters. The installation options include online and air gapped clusters, and support managed offerings such as EKS, GKE, AKS, and more. - -## Considerations Before Installing +# Considerations Before Installing Before you install an application, consider the following installation options. -### Installations With or Without an Existing Cluster + -### Internet-Connected or Air Gap Installations +### Online (Internet-Connected) or Air Gap Installations Most Kubernetes clusters are able to make outbound internet requests. Inbound access is never recommended or required. As such, most cluster operators are able to perform an online installation. If the target cluster does not have outbound internet access, the application can also be delivered through an air gap installation. -To install an application in an air gapped environment, the cluster must have access to an image registry. In this case, KOTS re-tags and pushes all images to the target registry. KOTS supports installations in air gapped environments on both existing clusters and on clusters created by the kURL installer. +To install an application in an air-gapped environment, the cluster must have access to an image registry. In this case, KOTS re-tags and pushes all images to the target registry. -For information about installing in air gapped environments: -* **Existing clusters**: See [Air Gap Installation in Existing Clusters](installing-existing-cluster-airgapped) -* **Embedded clusters with kURL**: See [Air Gap Installation with kURL](installing-kurl-airgap) +For information about installing with KOTS in air-gapped environments, see [Air Gap Installation in Existing Clusters](installing-existing-cluster-airgapped). -### Existing Cluster Installations into Hardened Environments +### Hardened Environments -By default, KOTS Pods and containers are not deployed with a specific security context. For existing cluster installations into a hardened environment, you can use the `--strict-security-context` flag with the installation command so that KOTS runs with a strict security context for Pods and containers. +By default, KOTS Pods and containers are not deployed with a specific security context. For installations into a hardened environment, you can use the `--strict-security-context` flag with the installation command so that KOTS runs with a strict security context for Pods and containers. For more information about the security context enabled by the `--strict-security-context` flag, see [kots install](/reference/kots-cli-install). @@ -44,15 +34,17 @@ This is useful to enable CVE scans, image policy validation, and other pre-deplo For information about image registry requirements, see [Private Registry Requirements](installing-general-requirements#private-registry-requirements). -### Automated Installation +### Automated (Headless) Installation -You can automate application installation in online, air gap, existing cluster, and embedded cluster environments using the KOTS CLI. In an automated installation, you provide all the information required to install and deploy the application with the `kots install` command, rather than providing this information in the Replicated Admin Console. +You can automate application installation in online and air-gapped environments using the KOTS CLI. In an automated installation, you provide all the information required to install and deploy the application with the `kots install` command, rather than providing this information in the Replicated Admin Console. -For more information, see [Installing with Automation](/enterprise/installing-existing-cluster-automation). +For more information, see [Installing with the CLI](/enterprise/installing-existing-cluster-automation). ### KOTS Installations Without Object Storage -The Replicated Admin Console requires persistent storage for state. For existing cluster installations, KOTS deploys MinIO for object storage by default. For embedded cluster installations with Replicated kURL, the object storage provider is either MinIO or Rook, depending on which add-on your software vendor included in the kURL installer specification. +The KOTS Admin Console requires persistent storage for state. KOTS deploys MinIO for object storage by default. + + You can optionally install KOTS without object storage. When installed without object storage, KOTS deploys the Admin Console as a Statefulset with an attached PersistentVolume (PV) instead of as a deployment.