Custom Cluster Attributes for Enhanced Environment Management

Feature Request: Custom Cluster Attributes for Enhanced Environment Management

Summary:

This feature request proposes the addition of customizable cluster attributes within Redpanda Console to better manage and distinguish different environments (e.g., staging, production) and their usage in Redpanda Connect. This functionality will help prevent accidental operations on production clusters, ultimately enhancing administrative control and operational safety.

Background:

In complex data environments, maintaining clear boundaries between different deployment stages (e.g., development, staging, production) is critical. Mistakes such as running development processes on a production cluster can have significant repercussions, including downtime, data loss, and other serious impacts. By allowing the assignment of environment-specific attributes to each Redpanda cluster, administrators can more easily and intuitively manage operations and eliminate the risk of confusion.

Proposed Feature:

1. Attribute Assignment:

   • Allow administrators to assign custom attributes or tags to each cluster within Redpanda Console.
   • Example attributes include env=stage and color=red, indicating environment type and a visual cue.

2. Visibility in Console:

   • Display these attributes prominently in the Redpanda Console interface, enabling quick identification of each cluster's role and environment.

3. Integration with Redpanda Connect:

   • Utilize these attributes within Redpanda Connect to enforce rules or alerts.
   • Implement safeguards to prompt or warn against potentially destructive actions when operations span across different environments.

4. Color Coding:

   • Optional: Introduce a color-coding scheme in the UI based on the color attribute for an immediate visual understanding of the environment.

The issue names no files, tests, or entry points. Start by locating the cluster configuration and environment-management flows in Redpanda Console, then clarify the intended scope with maintainers before implementation. Done would require assigning and displaying custom attributes, with an agreed approach for Redpanda Connect safeguards and optional color coding.