Multi-Cluster and Hybrid Setup

The Multi-Cluster and Hybrid Setup distributes subgraphs across multiple Kubernetes clusters or external systems while centralizing supergraph deployment. This pattern requires partial: true in SupergraphSchema because not all subgraphs are available in the central cluster.

How It Works

The Operator's Role

1. Subgraph Discovery: Discovers subgraphs in the central cluster and external endpoints

2. External Subgraph Management: Subgraphs in remote clusters are published via external endpoints, external systems publish via rover

3. Hybrid Authoritative: Uses partial: true to compose supergraphs with available subgraphs in the cluster and externally in Studio

4. Centralized Deployment: Supergraphs are deployed only in the central cluster

Operator Behavior With partial: true

When partial: true is set, the Operator:

• Discovers and includes Subgraph resources available in the cluster

• Ignores subgraphs that exist in GraphOS Studio but not in the cluster

• Sends composition requests to GraphOS Studio when local subgraphs change

• Updates automatically when subgraphs become available/unavailable

When to Use This Pattern

Use this pattern when:

• Subgraph implementations are deployed in different clusters

• Some services run in Kubernetes, others don't

• You need service isolation for compliance

• You have multiple Kubernetes clusters

• You want centralized supergraph management

• You're migrating from external to Kubernetes

• You're adopting the Operator from an existing implementation

What's Different About This Pattern

Hybrid Authoritative

• The Operator ignores subgraphs in GraphOS Studio that aren't defined as Subgraph resources in the cluster and will not remove them

• GraphOS Studio will compose all subgraphs together, that is, composition is the union of all subgraphs in Studio and the Cluster

Cross-Cluster Communication

• Subgraphs in remote clusters expose external endpoints

• The Operator uses these endpoints to inform Routers where to send requests

Centralized Supergraph Management

• Supergraphs deploy only in the central cluster

• Teams manage their own subgraph clusters independently

• Unified supergraph configuration and monitoring

Mixed Subgraph Management

• Kubernetes subgraphs managed by the Operator

• External subgraphs published via rover

• Different update frequencies and workflows