AAP 2.6 RPM Deprecation — Planning Your Containerized Migration
By Luca Berton · Published 2024-01-01 · Category: installation
AAP 2.6 is the last RPM-installable release. Learn how to plan and execute your migration to containerized Ansible Automation Platform before AAP 2.7.
Introduction
Red Hat has announced that Ansible Automation Platform 2.6 is the last release that supports RPM-based installation. Starting with AAP 2.7, only containerized installations will be available. This article helps you plan and execute your migration.
Timeline • AAP 2.5 (Sept 2025) — RPM deprecation first announced • AAP 2.6 (Oct 2025) — Last RPM-installable release (RHEL 9 only) • AAP 2.7 (expected 2026) — Containerized only
Why Containerized?
Red Hat's move to containerized installations provides: • Consistency — Same deployment model across environments • Isolation — Better dependency management • Portability — Run on RHEL, OpenShift, or other container platforms • Easier upgrades — Container image updates vs package management • Modern architecture — Aligned with cloud-native practices
Migration Options
Option 1: Lift and Shift
AAP 2.6 supports a documented process to move your entire instance: Export existing configuration, jobs, and data Deploy containerized AAP 2.6 Import everything into the new environment Validate and switch over
Option 2: Fresh Containerized Install
For organizations wanting a clean start: Deploy a new containerized AAP 2.6 environment Recreate job templates and workflows Migrate credentials and inventories Rebuild EDA rulebooks
Option 3: OpenShift Deployment
For organizations already using OpenShift: Deploy AAP Operator on OpenShift Configure the platform via Custom Resources Migrate data from RPM-based installation Leverage OpenShift's built-in HA and scaling
Pre-Migration Checklist
Conclusion
Don't wait until AAP 2.7 to start planning. Use the AAP 2.6 timeframe to test containerized deployments, validate your migration process, and ensure a smooth transition.
For more Ansible tutorials and guides, explore the complete article collection on Ansible Pilot.
Related Articles • Ansible Vault Guide • Ansible Template Guide • Ansible Inventory Guide
Category: installation