If you're looking to run applications on the cloud and want them to be accessible over the internet, Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA) is a great choice. It’s a fully managed service that runs Red Hat OpenShift on Amazon Web Services (AWS), giving you the power of Kubernetes without needing to manage infrastructure.
In this blog, we'll walk you through how to set up a ROSA cluster that’s publicly accessible, meaning your applications can be accessed from anywhere online — no VPN or internal access required.
☁️ What Is a ROSA Public Cluster?
A public cluster is an OpenShift environment hosted on AWS that anyone (with the right permissions) can reach over the internet. It’s useful when:
You want to host public web apps or APIs
You're building a proof of concept or demo
Your team is remote and needs quick access
✅ What You’ll Need
Before starting, make sure you have:
An AWS account
A Red Hat account
Access to the Red Hat console and AWS Management Console
Basic understanding of cloud and containers (helpful, but not mandatory)
You don’t need to know coding or use the terminal — much of the setup can be done via graphical interfaces or automated tools.
🧭 Steps to Create a Public ROSA Cluster (No Coding Needed)
Sign in to Red Hat Console
Go to console.redhat.com and log in with your Red Hat account.Go to the ROSA Dashboard
From the console, navigate to OpenShift > ROSA (Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS).
Here, you’ll see an option to create a new cluster.
- Choose "Create Cluster" Select the option to create a new cluster. You’ll be guided through several steps like:
Cluster name
AWS region (where your cluster will live)
Public or Private access – choose Public
Set Number of Worker Nodes
These are the machines that will run your applications. For testing, you can keep this to a small number (e.g., 3 nodes).Review and Launch
After reviewing all the settings, hit Create Cluster. ROSA will now work in the background to provision everything on AWS for you.Get Access Details
Once your cluster is ready (usually in 30–45 minutes), the console will give you:
A link to the OpenShift Web Console
Login credentials for your admin user
Use these to log in and start building apps!
🔐 Keeping a Public Cluster Secure
Even though your cluster is publicly accessible, it should still be secure:
Use strong admin passwords
Enable identity providers like GitHub or Google for login
Limit access using firewalls or network rules
Use HTTPS and valid certificates
🎯 When to Use a Public ROSA Cluster
✅ You’re hosting websites, APIs, or SaaS platforms
✅ You’re running developer training labs
✅ You want a fast, accessible platform without internal network setup
✅ You’re demoing projects to clients or stakeholders
📌 Final Thoughts
Setting up a public OpenShift cluster on AWS with ROSA is easier than you might think — and you don’t need to write a single line of code. With the right setup, you’ll be up and running on a secure, scalable platform that’s ready for production, demos, or experimentation.
Have questions or need help setting it up? Reach out to the Hawkstack team — we’re here to make OpenShift easier for everyone.
For more info, Kindly follow: Hawkstack Technologies
Top comments (0)