Version 1.8. This version is no longer supported. For information about how to upgrade to version 1.9, see Upgrading Anthos on bare metal in the 1.9 documentation. For more information about supported and unsupported versions, see the Version history page in the latest documentation.
You must configure the base operating system of your node machines to use Google Distributed Cloud. This page contains the steps you need to take to complete the needed configuration.
For more information about troubleshooting Google Distributed Cloud, see the troubleshooting guides.
Before you begin
Ensure you are using a supported version of your operating system. Google Distributed Cloud supports the following versions for RHEL:
RHEL 8.1
RHEL 8.2
RHEL 8.3
RHEL 8.4
Ensure you have root access to the machines you are configuring, and your RedHat username and password.
Validate Package manager with the following steps:
If you haven't registered your operating system, register with RedHat using your username and password to download updates:
Firewalld can be configured
for use with Google Distributed Cloud or disabled. For information on configuring
firewalld, see
Configuring firewalld ports
on the Network requirements page.
Compare your output with the following example to ensure the Client and Server versions are 19.03+ :
Client: Docker Engine - Community
Version: 19.03.13
...
Server: Docker Engine - Community
Engine:
Version: 19.03.13
Verify Docker runs:
docker run hello-world
You should see something similar to this:
Hello from Docker!
This message shows that your installation appears to be working correctly.
Best Practices
To simplify installation, we recommend that you configure RHEL using a minimal installation with headless management. Also, be sure to enable your network connection and either use the default DHCP or provide a valid, static IP address and network information. Ensure the machine can connect to the required external resources, such as cloud.google.com.
If Docker fails to run, check that the Docker daemon is running with the following command:
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Hard to understand","hardToUnderstand","thumb-down"],["Incorrect information or sample code","incorrectInformationOrSampleCode","thumb-down"],["Missing the information/samples I need","missingTheInformationSamplesINeed","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-09-04 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eGoogle Distributed Cloud requires specific configurations to the base operating system of node machines, including supported RHEL versions (8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4) and root access to the machines.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eThe package manager must be validated by registering with RedHat, refreshing, and attaching to it automatically, followed by checking for updates to ensure no errors.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eFirewalld can either be configured or disabled, and disabling it requires stopping and disabling the service, followed by verifying its inactive status.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eDocker installation or upgrade to version 19.03+ is needed and can be done manually by removing previous versions and installing the compatible version using the provided steps, including verification checks.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eFor simpler installation, a minimal RHEL installation with headless management, proper network connectivity, and access to required external resources such as \u003ccode\u003ecloud.google.com\u003c/code\u003e is recommended.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# Configuring RHEL\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nYou must configure the base operating system of your node machines to use Google Distributed Cloud. This page contains the steps you need to take to complete the needed configuration.\nFor more information about troubleshooting Google Distributed Cloud, see the [troubleshooting guides](/anthos/clusters/docs/bare-metal/1.8/troubleshooting/known-issues).\n\nBefore you begin\n----------------\n\nEnsure you are using a supported version of your operating system. Google Distributed Cloud supports the following versions for RHEL:\n\n- RHEL 8.1\n- RHEL 8.2\n- RHEL 8.3\n- RHEL 8.4\n\nEnsure you have root access to the machines you are configuring, and your RedHat username and password. \n\nValidate Package manager with the following steps:\n\n1. If you haven't registered your operating system, register with RedHat using your username and password to download updates:\n\n sudo subscription-manager register\n sudo subscription-manager refresh\n sudo subscription-manager attach --auto\n\n2. Check for updates:\n\n sudo dnf check-update\n\nEnsure the output has no errors and the last metadata expiration check, for example: \n\n Updating Subscription Management repositories.\n ...\n # Last metadata expiration check: ...\n ...\n\nConfiguring or disabling firewalld\n----------------------------------\n\nFirewalld can be configured\nfor use with Google Distributed Cloud or disabled. For information on configuring\nfirewalld, see\n[Configuring firewalld ports](/anthos/clusters/docs/bare-metal/1.8/concepts/network-reqs#configuring_firewalld_ports)\non the Network requirements page.\n\nThe following instructions disable firewalld.\n\n1. Disable firewalld:\n\n sudo systemctl stop firewalld\n sudo systemctl disable firewalld\n\n2. Check the status of firewalld to ensure it is disabled:\n\n sudo systemctl status firewalld | grep \"Active\"\n # Output\n # Active: inactive (dead)\n\nConfiguring Docker 19.03+ on your workstation\n---------------------------------------------\n\nGoogle Distributed Cloud helps you install Docker on your bare metal machines in the\nfollowing scenarios:\n\n- If your bare metal machines don't have Docker installed, `bmctl` installs 19.03.13 or later.\n- If your bare metal machines have Docker 19.03.5 or earlier installed, `bmctl` upgrades Docker to version 19.03.13 or later.\n\n| **Note:** The workstation running `bmclt` needs non-root user access to Docker to start the temporary bootstrap (kind) cluster during installation. To enable non-root user access to Docker, go to [Manage Docker as a non-root user](https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/linux-postinstall/#manage-docker-as-a-non-root-user).\n\nFollow these steps to manually install Docker:\n\n1. Remove any previous Docker version:\n\n sudo dnf remove docker \\\n docker-client \\\n docker-client-latest \\\n docker-common \\\n docker-latest \\\n docker-latest-logrotate \\\n docker-logrotate \\\n docker-engine\n\n2. Remove podman-manpages\n\n sudo dnf remove podman-manpages\n\n3. Install Docker 19.03+:\n\n sudo dnf install -y yum-utils\n sudo yum-config-manager \\\n --add-repo \\\n https://download.docker.com/linux/centos/docker-ce.repo\n sudo dnf install -y --allowerasing docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io\n sudo systemctl start docker\n\n4. Verify you are now running version 19.03+:\n\n sudo docker version\n\n5. Compare your output with the following example to ensure the Client and Server versions are 19.03+ :\n\n Client: Docker Engine - Community\n Version: 19.03.13\n ...\n Server: Docker Engine - Community\n Engine:\n Version: 19.03.13\n\n6. Verify Docker runs:\n\n docker run hello-world\n\n You should see something similar to this:\n\n Hello from Docker!\n This message shows that your installation appears to be working correctly.\n\nBest Practices\n--------------\n\nTo simplify installation, we recommend that you configure RHEL using a minimal installation with headless management. Also, be sure to enable your [network connection](https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/8/html/configuring_basic_system_settings/assembly_configuring-and-managing-network-access_configuring-basic-system-settings) and either use the default DHCP or provide a valid, static IP address and network information. Ensure the machine can connect to [the required external resources](/anthos/clusters/docs/bare-metal/1.8/installing/proxy#prerequisites), such as `cloud.google.com`.\n\nIf Docker fails to run, check that the Docker daemon is running with the following command: \n\n sudo systemctl start docker"]]