Red Hat’s OpenShift Virtualization Engine is an OpenShift edition focused on running and managing virtual machines (VMs). Red Hat Connectivity Link is a separate product for application connectivity, API management, and policy management in Kubernetes environments. They address different needs and are not presented as a bundled offering. The assigned title’s “Kubernetes Connectivity Link” refers to Red Hat Connectivity Link, its official product name.
What is OpenShift Virtualization Engine?
Red Hat announced the general availability of OpenShift Virtualization Engine on January 15, 2025, describing it as an OpenShift edition focused exclusively on virtualization workloads. Its aim is to provide organizations with a VM-focused way to deploy, manage, and scale virtual machines without features unrelated to VM management. Red Hat’s announcement also introduced Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Virtualization, a distinct edition for centralizing VM lifecycle tasks such as provisioning, monitoring, and day-to-day compliance. That management offering is not the Engine itself.
How is the Engine different from OpenShift Virtualization?
OpenShift Virtualization is the virtualization functionality; OpenShift Virtualization Engine is an edition that packages OpenShift for VM-focused use. Red Hat’s FAQ explicitly describes OpenShift Virtualization as a feature, not a product. The virtualization capability is also included in broader OpenShift editions, which combine it with additional application development, container, and cloud-native capabilities. Red Hat’s FAQ and product datasheet explain the distinction.
What does OpenShift Virtualization Engine include?
The Engine includes the core OpenShift Virtualization functionality found in OpenShift Container Platform and OpenShift Platform Plus, according to Red Hat’s January 9, 2025 datasheet. It uses the same deployment and management processes and tools as bare-metal OpenShift deployments, with VM workloads as its focus.
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The datasheet lists these capabilities:
- VM availability and recovery: high availability using node fencing and workload recovery.
- Resource management: scheduling and resource distribution, including descheduler and eviction policies intended to reduce contention.
- Storage visibility and operations: analysis and management using Container Storage Interface (CSI) capabilities, including per-disk snapshots and clones.
- Host networking: configuration through Kubernetes NMState.
- VM connectivity: Open vSwitch for VLAN and external network connectivity alongside OVN-Kubernetes for intra-cluster communications.
- Network policy: policies at VM and project levels.
- Monitoring and logging: OpenShift workload monitoring and cluster logging features.
- Administration: a virtualization-focused administration console.
Red Hat describes deployment on on-premises hardware that supports Red Hat Enterprise Linux and on supported bare-metal cloud services, including AWS bare-metal instances. That does not establish support for arbitrary hardware or general-purpose cloud instances. The datasheet and FAQ are the appropriate starting points for checking a specific configuration.
What is Red Hat Connectivity Link?
Red Hat Connectivity Link is a cloud-native solution for application connectivity, API management, and policy management across single- and multi-cluster Kubernetes environments on hybrid cloud, according to the Red Hat Customer Portal. Red Hat said the product was available by January 24, 2025, in its January 2025 product roundup.
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Its documented approach uses Kubernetes-native resources with role-oriented responsibilities. In the version 1.2 introduction, infrastructure owners define shared infrastructure use, cluster operators manage cluster-level concerns, and application developers manage application traffic details such as timeouts, request matching, and routes to backends. That versioned documentation describes an architecture designed for public or private OpenShift clusters; check the current documentation for up-to-date version and support details. Read the Connectivity Link 1.2 introduction.
How do the two products relate?
| Consideration | OpenShift Virtualization Engine | Red Hat Connectivity Link |
|---|---|---|
| Primary problem addressed | Running and managing VM workloads | Application connectivity, API management, and policy management |
| Scope described by Red Hat | A VM-focused OpenShift edition | Connectivity across single- and multi-cluster Kubernetes environments on hybrid cloud |
| Typical decision question | Does the organization need OpenShift virtualization capabilities in a VM-focused edition? | Does the organization need Kubernetes-based application connectivity and policy capabilities? |
| Bundling or subscription relationship | The cited product materials do not establish that Connectivity Link is included in the Engine subscription. | |
These are not competing products: one focuses on VM operations, while the other addresses application and API traffic and policy. If an organization is considering both, it should assess them against separate requirements rather than treating them as editions of the same product.
Rank #3
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
What should you verify before choosing or deploying?
For OpenShift Virtualization Engine
- Confirm that the target workloads, VM migration scope, and operational requirements fit the virtualization-focused edition.
- Check the exact bare-metal hardware or supported bare-metal cloud configuration against current Red Hat guidance.
- Validate storage, networking, backup, and disaster-recovery integrations for the specific release. Red Hat describes partner integrations and categories, but that does not guarantee every partner solution works with every release. See the product page.
- Identify any OpenShift application development, container, or cloud-native capabilities the organization needs beyond VM management; compare those needs with the broader OpenShift editions.
- Confirm current subscription entitlements, support terms, and price with Red Hat or an authorized sales channel. The cited materials do not provide a current price or exhaustive entitlement matrix.
For Connectivity Link
- Map the Kubernetes cluster topology and determine whether the requirement is single-cluster or multi-cluster connectivity.
- Specify which application connectivity, API management, and policy functions are required, along with who will own infrastructure, cluster, and application-level configuration.
- Check current version-specific prerequisites and support information before deployment; the cited role and architecture details are from version 1.2 documentation.
For either product, verify current compatibility and commercial terms directly with Red Hat. The available product materials do not establish current geographic pricing, a complete version-by-version support matrix, or named partner certifications.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
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