# OpenShift CLI (oc) ## About this Install Guide | | | |----------------------------|---------------------| | Reading time: | 10 min | | Last updated: | 4 Aug 2026 | | Ecosystem dashboard: | [View](https://developer.arm.com/ecosystem-dashboard/linux?package=OpenShift) | | Author: | Jason Andrews, Arm [GitHub](https://github.com/jasonrandrews) [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/in/jason-andrews-7b05a8) | | Official docs: | [View](https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/openshift_container_platform/4.22/html/cli_tools/openshift-cli-oc#cli-getting-started) | This guide shows you how to install and use the tool with the most common configuration. For advanced options and complete reference information, see the official documentation. Some install guides also include optional next steps to help you explore related workflows or integrations. You can use the OpenShift command-line interface (CLI) to work with OpenShift Container Platform projects from a terminal. You can use OpenShift CLI (oc) to create applications, manage OpenShift Container Platform projects, and perform administrative tasks. The OpenShift CLI is a superset of the Kubernetes `kubectl` command. When you install `oc`, you get OpenShift-specific functionality such as `oc login`, `oc new-project`, and `oc new-app` to manage OpenShift resources. You also get all standard Kubernetes `kubectl` commands in a single tool. This means you can use `oc` to manage both OpenShift and standard Kubernetes resources. The OpenShift CLI is available for macOS and Linux and supports the Arm architecture. In this guide, you’ll learn how to install the latest version of OpenShift CLI for Ubuntu on Arm and macOS with Apple Silicon. ## Before you begin Confirm that you are using an Arm-based computer by running: ```bash uname -m ``` If you are on Arm Linux, the output should be: ```bash __output__ aarch64 ``` If you are on macOS with Apple Silicon, the output should be: ```bash __output__ arm64 ``` ## Download and install the OpenShift CLI There are multiple ways to install the OpenShift CLI. The following methods download the latest stable version directly from the OpenShift mirror. ### Install on Arm Linux To install the OpenShift CLI on Arm Linux: ```bash curl -LO https://mirror.openshift.com/pub/openshift-v4/clients/ocp/stable/openshift-client-linux-arm64.tar.gz tar -xzf openshift-client-linux-arm64.tar.gz sudo mv oc kubectl /usr/local/bin/ rm openshift-client-linux-arm64.tar.gz README.md ``` ### Install on macOS To install the OpenShift CLI on macOS with Apple Silicon: ```bash curl -LO https://mirror.openshift.com/pub/openshift-v4/clients/ocp/stable/openshift-client-mac-arm64.tar.gz tar -xzf openshift-client-mac-arm64.tar.gz sudo mv oc kubectl /usr/local/bin/ rm openshift-client-mac-arm64.tar.gz README.md ``` Both installations include both `oc` and `kubectl` commands. The `oc` command provides the full OpenShift functionality, while the `kubectl` command gives you compatibility with standard Kubernetes clusters. Because `oc` is a superset of `kubectl`, you can use `oc` for all Kubernetes operations, but having both commands available gives you flexibility in your workflow. > You can use either `oc` or `kubectl` to manage standard Kubernetes resources. However, `oc` includes OpenShift-specific features and is preferred for working with OpenShift clusters. ## Verify the OpenShift CLI installation Verify the OpenShift CLI is installed by checking the version: ```bash oc version --client ``` The output shows the client version information and is similar to: ```bash __output__ Client Version: 4.22.7 __output__ Kustomize Version: v5.7.1 ``` You can also verify that `kubectl` is available and shows the same version (because it’s the same binary): ```bash kubectl version --client ``` The output shows the kubectl client version and is similar to: ```bash __output__ Client Version: v1.35.2 __output__ Kustomize Version: v5.5.0 ``` Both commands are now available for managing Kubernetes and OpenShift resources. ## Get started with the OpenShift CLI To get help with available commands, run: ```bash oc help ``` This displays the main command groups and options: ```plaintext __output__ OpenShift Client __output__ __output__ This client helps you develop, build, deploy, and run your applications on any __output__ OpenShift or Kubernetes cluster. It also includes the administrative __output__ commands for managing a cluster under the 'adm' subcommand. __output__ __output__ Usage: __output__ oc [flags] __output__ __output__ Basic Commands: __output__ login Log in to a server __output__ new-project Request a new project __output__ new-app Create a new application __output__ status Show an overview of the current project __output__ project Switch to another project __output__ projects Display existing projects __output__ explain Get documentation for a resource __output__ __output__ Build and Deploy Commands: __output__ rollout Manage the rollout of a resource __output__ rollback Revert part of an application back to a previous deployment __output__ new-build Create a new build configuration __output__ start-build Start a new build __output__ cancel-build Cancel running, pending, or new builds __output__ import-image Import images from a Docker registry __output__ tag Tag existing images into image streams __output__ __output__ Application Management Commands: __output__ create Create a resource from a file or from stdin __output__ apply Apply a configuration to a resource by file name or stdin __output__ get Display one or many resources __output__ describe Show details of a specific resource or group of resources __output__ edit Edit a resource on the server __output__ set Commands that help set specific features on objects __output__ label Update the labels on a resource __output__ annotate Update the annotations on a resource __output__ expose Expose a replicated application as a service or route __output__ delete Delete resources by file names, stdin, resources and names, or by resources and label selector __output__ scale Set a new size for a deployment, replica set, or replication controller __output__ autoscale Autoscale a deployment or replica set __output__ secrets Manage secrets __output__ serviceaccounts Manage service accounts in your project __output__ __output__ Troubleshooting and Debugging Commands: __output__ logs Print the logs for a resource __output__ rsh Start a shell session in a pod __output__ rsync Copy files between a local file system and a pod __output__ port-forward Forward one or more local ports to a pod __output__ debug Launch a new instance of a pod for debugging __output__ exec Execute a command in a container __output__ proxy Run a proxy to the Kubernetes API server __output__ attach Attach to a running container __output__ run Run a particular image on the cluster __output__ cp Copy files and directories to and from containers __output__ wait Experimental: Wait for a specific condition on one or many resources __output__ __output__ Advanced Commands: __output__ adm Tools for managing a cluster __output__ create Create a resource from a file or from stdin __output__ replace Replace a resource by file name or stdin __output__ patch Update fields of a resource __output__ process Process a template into list of resources __output__ export Export resources so they can be used elsewhere __output__ extract Extract secrets or config maps to disk __output__ observe Observe changes to resources and react to them (experimental) __output__ policy Manage authorization policy __output__ auth Inspect authorization __output__ image Useful commands for managing images __output__ registry Commands for working with the registry __output__ idle Idle scalable resources __output__ api-versions Print the supported API versions on the server, in the form of "group/version" __output__ api-resources Print the supported API resources on the server __output__ cluster-info Display cluster information __output__ diff Diff the live version against a would-be applied version __output__ kustomize Build a kustomization target from a directory or URL __output__ __output__ Settings Commands: __output__ logout End the current server session __output__ config Modify kubeconfig files __output__ whoami Return information about the current session __output__ completion Output shell completion code for the specified shell (bash, zsh, fish, or powershell) __output__ __output__ Other Commands: __output__ help Help about any command __output__ plugin Provides utilities for interacting with plugins __output__ version Print the client and server version information __output__ __output__ Use "oc --help" for more information about a given command. __output__ Use "oc options" for a list of global command-line options (applies to all commands). ``` To connect to an OpenShift cluster, you need to log in: ```bash oc login ``` Replace `` with the URL of your OpenShift cluster. You’ll be prompted for your username and password. You are now ready to use the OpenShift CLI to manage your OpenShift Container Platform projects and applications.