5 Essential Steps for Building a Workstation for DevOps in 2021

Unlike conventional PC setups, developers need special systems configured for DevOps operations with enhanced data processing speeds and large storage capacity. 

Over the years, DevOps adoption has been accelerated across the globe. Computer hardware engineers in DevOps development company are working consistently to develop customized workstations tailored to the requirements of different technologies. Although it is difficult to define an absolute DevOps workstation configuration, some essential considerations must be kept in mind for better results. 

In this context, given below are 5 steps to building a workstation configured for the DevOps model. 

1. Computer Hardware

First of all, you need to define the hardware specifications that will be used to create a DevOps workstation. Having a machine with enlarged memory is essential to run virtual machines. The CPU power is very critical to successfully implement DevOps practices. 

If you have to work remotely, choose a laptop having a high-speed processor. There’s no need to buy fancy but useless features like a touchscreen. For security protection, it is highly recommended to add biometric authentication devices. Besides, SSD drives are useful to build or test code by using your DevOps workstations. 

2. Operating System

Since DevOps practices are not linked to any specific programming language, they do not use any specific operating system. Highly qualified and experienced DevOps engineers can work in both Windows- and Linux-based environments. The support servers and applications used in DevOps are compatible with both types of operating systems. 

Moreover, technological advancements have now enabled DevOps engineers to use both Windows and Linux on single devices. This approach offers standard tooling and environment configurations with better and more efficient results. 

3. Dev/test Environments

Besides using multiple general-purpose operating system environments, including a dev/test environment to your DevOps workstation is useful. 

For instance, while deploying production applications to Kubernetes, you can use your workstation to test new deployments and configurations by installing a local Kubernetes cluster. You can either keep Kubernetes isolated or install it directly to the host OS. 

4. Development Tools

DevOps environments involving comprehensive coding and testing require development tools on the workstation. In this case, you can install code management tools, IDE, and build tools depending on your development needs. For instance, installing Docker locally can help you deploy applications to your production systems and build container images for testing purposes. 

5. Storage and Backup

DevOps engineers realize the importance of backing up systems, data, and workstations. The management of backups depends on the workstation configuration. Virtual machines can be backed up with image snapshotting while the host operating system needs native backup tooling offered by that operating system for backup.  

You can also use a tool like rsync to set up a backup routine while Linux users can install /home on disk partition to reinstall the operating system without losing data and configurations in place. 

Final Words 

Building efficient workstations for the DevOps model is necessary to get the most out of this practice. You need to consider various points while designing a workstation in your DevOps development company. 

Some of the important considerations include hardware specifications, operating system, dev/test environments, development tools, and storage & backup. You can also seek expert advice for installing tools and applications in your DevOps workstation for better results. 

If you are seeking help from a trusted DevOps partner, contact Khired Networks to configure, install, and maintain the DevOps workstation at your company. You can also hire remote DevOps engineers to successfully implement DevOps practices for corporate growth and development.