Operations FAQ¶
Common questions when you move from 3scale 2.15 (embedded databases) to 2.16 with PostgreSQL and Redis in-cluster but outside the 3scale operator lifecycle.
Does “external” mean off-cluster?¶
No. External means the database sits outside the 3scale operator lifecycle — it can stay in-cluster (for example namespace 3scale-db). Full explanation, operator reconciliation table, and scope limits: Why this repo.
Who operates logs and disk persistence?¶
After externalComponents, you own PostgreSQL and both Redis in 3scale-db (pods, PVCs, images, backups, logs). The 3scale operator still manages system-app, APIcast, and Zync. Ownership matrix and steady-state checklist: Day 2 operations. Motivation: Why this repo.
Which image versions to pin?¶
Preflight requirement
PostgreSQL ≥ 15.0 (system) and Redis ≥ 7.2 (system + backend). The 3scale operator 2.16 checks this about every 10 minutes.
Images used in the official guide and this repo:
registry.redhat.io/rhel9/postgresql-15registry.redhat.io/rhel9/redis-7
The bases pin SHA-256 digests resolved on 2026-10-15: PostgreSQL sha256:242c66cfab1873ecbde84ba8c8bf7488b1c40a820f41820d76efa58634519826 and Redis sha256:81535d5fd51bc5e83108db6f86a15b6b22412922d4a590235d1fba56751b967a. Do not switch them back to a floating tag.
Redis restore vs persistence¶
Run Redis in restore mode (save "", appendonly no) only during cutover to load dump.rdb. Afterwards switch to persistence (lab-persist overlay or redis-config-persist). Without that step, a restart loses data.
Day 2 checklist (backups, digests, GitOps path): Day 2 operations.
Can I test on OpenShift 4.19 if production is on an earlier minor?¶
Yes. Use 4.19 to validate 2.16 with self-managed databases. On the cluster you will migrate, confirm the current OCP version is in the matrix for both 2.15 and 2.16. Sequence: latest 2.15 micro → externalize PostgreSQL and Redis on 2.15 → 3scale operator 2.16 → OpenShift upgrade later.
Where is the full procedure?¶
This site is the English procedure. Clone-friendly runbooks in the repository:
English: docs/runbooks/en/ (00–07, including Windows variants 01-bis / 02-bis).
Español: docs/runbooks/ (mismos números).
On Windows (Git Bash), use docs/runbooks/01-bis-externalize-postgresql-windows.md and docs/runbooks/02-bis-externalize-redis-windows.md. Operations reference: docs/faq-externalizacion.md. If cutover fails: Rollback.