Prerequisites and System Requirements

To install the Couchbase Autonomous Operator, all you need is a running Kubernetes or OpenShift cluster.

If you don’t have access to a Kubernetes cluster, but still want to use the Operator for development, Minikube (single-node Kubernetes cluster) and Minishift (single-node OpenShift cluster) make great alternatives. Both of these products are much easier to install and deploy when compared to setting up and running an actual Kubernetes or OpenShift cluster.

Platform Compatibility

Support Level Definitions:

Certified: Couchbase has performed an extensive testing and review process to make sure that the Operator runs well out of the box on the specified platform.
Supported: Couchbase believes that the Operator will run well out of the box on the specified platform, but extensive testing has not been performed. Couchbase will make a best effort to investigate issues on a Supported platform version, but it is recommended that you run the Operator on a Certified platform version.
Developer Preview: Couchbase is still developing functionality for the specified platform, but you are encouraged to start your own testing and provide early feedback.

Table 1. Couchbase Software Compatibility
Software	Version
Couchbase Server Enterprise Edition	Certified 5.5, 6.0 Unless otherwise stated, maintenance releases (x.x.x) are supported.

Table 2. Kubernetes Platform Compatibility List
Platform	Version
Open Source Kubernetes	Certified 1.11, 1.12, 1.13
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform	Certified 3.11 Supported 3.10

Table 3. Public Kubernetes Service Compatibility List
Service	Support Level
Amazon EKS	Certified
Google GKE	Certified
Microsoft AKS	Certified

Persistent Volume Compatibility

Persistent volumes are mandatory for production deployments. Review the Operator best practices for more information about cluster supportability requirements.

Table 4. Persistent Volume Compatibility List
Volume	Support Level
AWS EBS	Certified
Azure Disk	Certified
Ceph RBD	Certified
GCE PD	Certified
GlusterFS	Certified
Portworx Volume	Certified

RBAC and Networking Requirements

Preparing the Kubernetes cluster to run the Operator may require setting up proper RBAC and network settings in your Kubernetes cluster. Before moving forward, review the following documentation:

Next Steps

As you’re setting up your Kubernetes environment, make sure that you’re following the recommended best practices.

Once your Kubernetes environment is set up, you can move on to installing the admission controller and the Operator.