---
title: "Building a VAST DataEngine Lab/Demo Environment from scratch - Omnibus Guide"
slug: "building-a-vast-dataengine-lab-demo-environment-from-scratch-omnibus-guide"
description: "Deploy a VAST DataEngine cluster with this step-by-step guide for lab environments, covering setup, security, and essential prerequisites."
tags: ["DataEngine"]
updated: 2026-10-28T02:14:35Z
published: 2026-10-28T02:14:35Z
canonical: "docs.vastdata.com/building-a-vast-dataengine-lab-demo-environment-from-scratch-omnibus-guide"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vastdata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Building a VAST DataEngine Lab/Demo Environment from scratch - Omnibus Guide

Deploy a non-production VAST DataEngine lab, from VAST tenant setup through a running scheduled function.

> [!NOTE]
> ⚠️ Warning
> 
> **Lab use only.** This path omits production security controls and is not supported as a production architecture.

## Supported environment

- VAST AI OS 5.4.3-SP5 or 5.4.4-SP6, or a later supported 5.4.x release
- Ubuntu 24.04 virtual machines, four to seven in total, each with access to both the VAST management (VMS) network and the VAST storage network

Size the virtual machines as follows.

| **Role** | **Count** | **vCPU** | **RAM** | **Storage** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RKE2 control-plane node | 3 | 4 | 8 GB | 80 GB |
| RKE2 worker node | 0 to 3 | 8 or 12 | 16 or 24 GB | 80 GB |
| Container registry node | 1 | 2 | 12 GB | 80 GB |

> [!NOTE]
> 📝 Note
> 
> VAST AI OS 5.5.x and the single-node microk8s/k3s path are not covered by this guide.

## Procedure

1. [Collect VAST DataEngine Lab Values](/develop/docs/dataengine-before-you-begin)

Complete the worksheet of names, VIPs, credentials, and generated values.
2. [Set Up VAST Tenants and VIP Pools](/develop/docs/initial-vast-setup)

Create the DataEngine tenant, optional CSI tenant, VIP pools, policies, and users.

*Alternate path:* Set Up VAST Tenants and VIP Pools for the CSI Driver Only — for environments that need only the VAST CSI driver.

*Alternate path:* Enable DataEngine with vastpy-cli — command-line setup of the tenant, event broker, and DataEngine registration with vastpy-cli.
3. [Install an RKE2 Cluster](/develop/docs/rke2-cluster)

Build an RKE2 cluster and verify that every node is Ready.
4. [Create a Podman Registry for the RKE2 Cluster](/develop/docs/create-a-registry-with-podman-self-signed-tls-with-rke2-cluster)

Create a TLS registry that every RKE2 node can use.
5. [Install the VAST CSI Driver](/develop/docs/installing-vast-csi-driver)

Optional: install CSI and verify dynamic PVC provisioning.

*Alternate path:* Install the VAST CSI Driver on OpenShift from the Software Catalog — for Red Hat OpenShift clusters.
6. [Install DataEngine Prerequisites on the Kubernetes Cluster](/develop/docs/install-the-de-prerequisites-on-the-kubernetes-cluster-5-4-x-and-5-3-x)

Install namespaces, Zarf prerequisites, and the DataEngine operator.

*Alternate path:* Install DataEngine Prerequisites on an OpenShift Cluster — for Red Hat OpenShift clusters running VAST AI OS 5.4.3 or 5.4.4.
7. [Connect DataEngine to the Kubernetes Cluster and Registry](/develop/docs/connecting-vast-dataengine-to-kubernetes-cluster-and-registry)

Link DataEngine to the broker, cluster, namespaces, and registry.

*Alternate path:* Enable DataEngine with vastpy-cli — command-line setup of the tenant, event broker, and DataEngine registration with vastpy-cli.
8. [Install the VAST DataEngine CLI Tools](/develop/docs/install-the-vast-dataengine-cli-tools)

Install and configure the vastde CLI.
9. [Run a “Hello World” Pipeline](/develop/docs/run-a-hello-world-pipeline)

Build, deploy, and run a scheduled “Hello World” pipeline.

## Alternate paths

These procedures are also available for environments that differ from the RKE2 lab above. Each one lists the outcome it produces, when it applies, and where it rejoins the main series.

1. Set Up VAST Tenants and VIP Pools for the CSI Driver Only

Creates a CSI tenant, VIP pool, view policy, VMS roles, and manager accounts for environments that need only the VAST CSI driver.
2. Install the VAST CSI Driver on OpenShift from the Software Catalog

Installs the certified VAST CSI Operator from the OpenShift Software Catalog and creates a VAST-backed StorageClass.
3. Install DataEngine Prerequisites on an OpenShift Cluster

Installs the namespaces, Zot registry, and VAST DataEngine operator on a Red Hat OpenShift cluster running VAST AI OS 5.4.3 or 5.4.4.
4. Enable DataEngine with vastpy-cli

Creates the tenant, group, user, VIP pool, view policy, broker view, and topics with vastpy-cli, then enables DataEngine and registers the cluster and registry through the API.

## Completion criteria

The lab is complete when the RKE2 nodes are Ready, the registry accepts images, DataEngine appears under VAST Admin, and the scheduled Hello World pipeline is Running.