Demystify the terminology of OpenShift hosted control planes

70 · Red Hat · July 1, 2026, 10:07 a.m.
Summary
This article clarifies the terminology surrounding Red Hat OpenShift hosted control planes, addressing common confusions between terms like 'management cluster' and 'hosted cluster'. It delineates the architecture differences of OpenShift deployments, particularly focusing on the cost efficiency and management benefits of hosted control planes compared to standalone systems. Additionally, it outlines practical considerations for adopting HCP, emphasizing its suitability for multi-cluster environments while noting the challenges involved.