Installing and Configuring Helm

Helm provides a mechanism for deploying Kubernetes manifest files in a controlled manner, and facilitates application upgrade, scaling, and where necessary, rollback. To use the MATRIXX Helm chart, install the Helm software, create a chart repository, and load the MATRIXX Helm chart and sub-charts into your repository.

The Helm software can be downloaded as a binary release, obtained and installed using a Helm-provided script, or obtained and installed using several common package managers. For instructions and links, see the discussion about installation in the Helm documentation.

Configuring a MATRIXX Chart Repository

Helm accesses charts from a chart repository, similar to the way that Docker containers are created from images hosted in a registry. Name your Helm chart repository matrixx to facilitate sub-chart aliasing.

Configure Helm to use your Chart Repository with a command similar to the following:

 helm repo add matrixx https://your_repository_domain

Where your_repository_domain is the domain name for your local, private repository.

You may also need to specify credentials using the --username and --password command-line options.

For complete instructions, see the discussion about Helm chart repositories in the Helm documentation.

Important: To make use of the MATRIXX Helm chart and sub-charts at your site you must upload them to your own private chart repository. MATRIXX Helm charts must not be uploaded to any public-facing chart repositories.

Loading the MATRIXX Helm Charts into Your Repository

When you have a private matrixx chart repository configured in Helm, the next step is to upload the MATRIXX charts. The chart files (including a values.yaml file) are delivered in the product_helm_chart-version-build.tgz file, where product is the product prefix, for example matrixx or chf_charging_bridge, and version-build is the version number and build number, separated by a hyphen.

Upload the charts with commands similar to the following:

mkdir matrixx-charts
mv product_helm_chart-version-build.tgz matrixx-charts/
helm repo index matrixx-charts --url https://your_repository_domain

Where your_repository_domain is the domain name for your local, private repository.

Note: Some chart repository vendors may offer alternative methods for uploading chart files, including via a GUI. For more information, see the Helm documentation.

Updating Helm

Before installing or reinstalling MATRIXX Digital Commerce, download the latest chart information from your repository with the helm repo up command. Perform this step any time the charts are updated in your charts repository. This information is not automatically updated.