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Existing Host Install

Use this workflow when the target RHEL host already exists and the Cockpit host can SSH to it.

Confirm Host Access

Run these checks from the Cockpit host:

ssh -i <ssh-key> <ssh-user>@<target-host> 'cat /etc/redhat-release'
ssh -i <ssh-key> <ssh-user>@<target-host> 'sudo -n true'

The target should be RHEL 9 or RHEL 10. The SSH user must be able to use sudo -n.

Choose Package Access

Use one of these repository patterns:

ModeRequired state
Preconfigured repositoriesthe target already exposes microshift and openshift-clients packages
RHSM activation keythe operator supplies organization ID, activation key, optional release lock, and optional additional repository IDs

Run The UI Flow

  1. Open https://<cockpit-host>:9090.
  2. Navigate to MicroShift.
  3. Select Install MicroShift.
  4. Choose Use an existing RHEL host.
  5. Enter host, SSH, registry authentication, repository, network, and MicroShift config fields.
  6. Continue to review.
  7. Inspect the generated artifacts.
  8. Start deployment.

After Install

Open the inventory entry for the deployment. Confirm:

  • status is recorded as succeeded
  • target pattern is existing-host
  • kubeconfig access details are present
  • recent output does not show failed package, service, or readiness checks

Existing-host destroy semantics are intentionally conservative. Do not assume the plugin will remove packages or broad host configuration from a remote RHEL machine.