The openshift/origin-server repository contains the core components of OpenShift Origin, a Platform as a Service system released under the OpenShift Origin open source project. Written primarily in Ruby, this codebase provides sufficient components for self-hosting a complete OpenShift instance, with deployment options including a preconfigured LiveCD image or local installation following community documentation.
The architecture divides OpenShift into several key subsystems that work together to deliver containerized application hosting. The Node subsystem runs hosted applications in isolated containers, with the system capable of operating many nodes simultaneously. Cartridges represent the frameworks and components used to build applications, such as JBoss. The Broker serves as the central service, exposing a REST API for consumers while coordinating with individual nodes. The Console provides a web-based management interface leveraging the REST API to enable users to create and manage applications, while a separate Admin Console offers web-based reporting and utilities focused on administrative tasks. A Messaging System establishes the communication pipeline between the broker and nodes. User Authentication is pluggable, allowing flexible control over access to the broker. Domain Name Management assigns each hosted application a unique domain name, simplifying SSL termination and deployment processes.
The repository is classified across multiple infrastructure and cloud-native categories including Container Platform, Kubernetes, Application Deployment, Container Orchestration, PaaS, Cloud Native, Developer Platform, Automation, and Microservices. This broad classification reflects the system's role as a comprehensive platform for deploying and managing containerized applications at scale.
The primary command line interface for interacting with OpenShift is the RHC tool, maintained in a separate repository. The project maintains a distributed mirror network to facilitate access to OpenShift Origin content, with mirrors located globally including sites in Europe, South America, and the Czech Republic, in addition to the primary mirror.openshift.com repository.
The codebase is released under the Apache License 2.0, with individual component directories containing their own LICENSE files. The project includes export control restrictions applicable to U.S. regulations, prohibiting distribution to specified countries and end users, and restricting use in connection with nuclear, chemical, biological weapons development or certain aerospace applications.
The OpenShift Origin project maintains an active community contribution process documented on the OpenShift Origin Open Source page, with specific Contributor Guidelines provided in the repository. The project represents a mature, production-oriented approach to building self-hosted Platform as a Service infrastructure, combining container isolation, application framework support, centralized management, and user-facing tooling into an integrated system.
