CyKor’s recent Tech on Tap, held in collaboration with Red Hat and Dell, highlighted the power of OpenShift virtualization and the next generation of tactical hardware enclosed in CyKor’s ruggedized modular KEG solution.
The Tech on Tap brought together industry experts to explore containerization, virtualization, and edge hardware strategies. Attendees also had the opportunity to step inside Dell’s Tech Bus to see the latest mobility solutions in action and get a hands-on look at the modular KEG solution. The Topgolf portion functioned as a continued strategy session where customers received focused 1-on-1 engagement with cross-vendor SMEs who addressed their specific use cases, delivered actionable feedback, and confirmed next steps. Here’s a look at the highlights from the event:
Container Concepts and Modernizing Hosting with Red Hat OpenShift
Speaker: Tom Skradski, Red Hat
Tom opened the event by laying the foundation with a discussion on containers and Kubernetes concepts. He explained how Red Hat OpenShift provides the flexibility to host both containers and traditional virtual machines on a single, unified platform. He highlighted the advantages of OpenShift powered by GitOps for streamlined operations and automation.
He also walked through a significant Navy use case, showing how OpenShift Virtualization enables continuous software delivery and resilience across distributed shipboard networks. This model moves beyond the legacy concept of a single centralized data center, instead ensuring workloads and data are resilient and mission-ready wherever they are needed.
Deeper Dive into Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization
Speaker: Matt Ertel, Red Hat
Matt followed with a deeper dive into OpenShift Virtualization and the practical steps of getting started. He walked through the process of migrating existing virtual machines into OpenShift using the Migration Toolkit for Virtualization (MTV). He also highlighted how Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management provides visibility and control across multiple clusters, enabling organizations to monitor and manage virtual machines at scale. The session concluded with a live demo, where Matt walked through an actual migration scenario and gave a tour of OpenShift’s easy to use interface, showcasing how operators can interact with both containers and VMs in one consistent platform.
Optimizing Your Edge Hardware Deployment Strategy with a Modular KEG Solution
Speaker: Thomas Bilbro, CyKor
Thomas closed the technical sessions by showcasing the modular KEG solution, which was on-site for attendees to experience firsthand. The KEG is a vendor-agnostic, ruggedized platform that integrates compute, networking, and cybersecurity into a mission-ready form factor. Thomas discussed how the KEG is engineered to perform reliably in demanding naval environments while adapting to diverse mission requirements.
He also explained how next generation tactical hardware offerings, from Dell as well as other OEMs, are integrated into the KEG, providing powerful, flexible infrastructure options for edge deployments. To support customer adoption, Thomas highlighted the capabilities of CyKor’s lab, which includes a range of software and hardware solutions tailored to DoD needs. The lab enables customers to get more familiar with the OEM tools, explore migration scenarios, or evaluate Zero Trust solutions.
CyKor’s Tech on Tap delivered a wealth of insights and hands-on opportunities for attendees. With Red Hat experts demonstrating the power of containerization and virtualization, Dell showcasing its latest mobility solutions on the Tech Bus, CyKor highlighting the mission-ready KEG platform, and Topgolf sessions providing tailored consulting with SMEs, participants gained a clear view of the technologies and strategies shaping the future of defense IT.
Thomas Bilbro is a Solutions Architect at CyKor with over 10 years of experience in network engineering and solution design. He plays a key role in supporting CyKor’s Navy clients, bringing deep technical expertise and a mission-focused approach to complex infrastructure and modernization projects.
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