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New Features
=========================

This release introduces significant enhancements to deployment flexibility, security, 
and high availability on the service clusters.

Containerization and Repository Management
------------------------------------------

- **Omnia containerization using Podman**  
   Core Omnia components are now containerized with Podman, improving portability 
   and lifecycle management.

- **Local repository creation with Pulp container**  
   A Pulp-based containerized repository service enables self-contained package 
   distribution without external dependencies.

Service Cluster Enhancements
-----------------------------

- **Service cluster configuration**  
   Automated configuration workflows for establishing dedicated service clusters.

- **High availability for service Kubernetes cluster**  
   Built-in HA capabilities ensure resilience and failover protection for Kubernetes-based control planes.

- **iDRAC Telemetry integration on service Kubernetes cluster**  
   Telemetry data from iDRAC interfaces can now be collected and processed natively within the cluster.

Functional Groups for Cluster Deployment
-----------------------------------------

- **Composable functional groups for nodes**  
   Nodes can be dynamically assigned roles based on modular functional profiles.

- **Support for image creation based on functional groups (Slurm and Kubernetes)**  
   Customized OS images can be generated automatically depending on workload type.

- **Multiple node types supported within functional groups, with support for single Slurm control node:**  
    - Login Compiler Node  
    - Login Node  
    - Slurm Node  
    - Service Kube Node

Platform and Security Updates
-----------------------------

- **Support for x86_64 and aarch64 architectures**
   x86_64 and aarch64 platforms are now enabled.

- **Support for RHEL 10.0 (diskless OS) using OpenCHAMI**  
   Diskless provisioning is now available using OpenCHAMI workflows.

- **Input templates**  
   Predefined templates allow customized deployments tailored to specific infrastructure configurations.

- **Input validator**  
   Early validation of configuration inputs reduces deployment errors.

- **Encrypted storage of input credentials**  
   Sensitive credentials are now stored securely using encrypted formats.