📖 blog: Guided OCM Install with KubeStellar Console (#553)

* blog: Guided OCM Install with KubeStellar Console

Signed-off-by: Andrew Anderson <andy@clubanderson.com>

* add UTM tracking params to all console.kubestellar.io links

Signed-off-by: Andrew Anderson <andy@clubanderson.com>

---------

Signed-off-by: Andrew Anderson <andy@clubanderson.com>

Author: clubanderson

content/en/blog/kubestellar-console-guided-ocm-install/index.md

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+---
+title: "Guided Open Cluster Management Install with KubeStellar Console"
+date: 2026-03-18
+authors:
+  - Andy Anderson
+toc_hide: true
+---
+
+Installing Open Cluster Management (OCM) involves multiple steps — adding Helm repos, installing the control plane, registering managed clusters, and verifying everything works. [KubeStellar Console](https://console.kubestellar.io?utm_source=ocm-blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=cncf_outreach&utm_term=open-cluster-management) now includes a guided install mission that walks you through the entire process step-by-step, with built-in validation and troubleshooting.
+
+## What is KubeStellar Console?
+
+KubeStellar Console is a standalone, open-source Kubernetes dashboard with 30+ dashboards and 150+ monitoring cards. It connects to your clusters via kubeconfig and includes an AI-powered mission system that provides guided workflows for installing and managing CNCF projects.
+
+> **Note:** KubeStellar Console is unrelated to the KubeStellar multi-cluster orchestration project — they share a name but have zero shared code.
+
+## The OCM Install Mission
+
+The [OCM install mission](https://console.kubestellar.io/missions/install-open-cluster-management?utm_source=ocm-blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=cncf_outreach&utm_term=open-cluster-management) runs against your live cluster. Each step includes:
+
+- **Pre-flight checks** — verifies prerequisites (Kubernetes >=1.24, Helm, kubectl)
+- **Exact commands** — shows the `helm install` and `kubectl apply` commands with flags explained. Copy-paste or run directly from the console
+- **Validation** — after each step, queries your cluster to verify success (pod phase, CRD registration, service endpoints)
+- **Troubleshooting** — on failure, reads pod logs, events, and resource status and suggests fixes
+- **Rollback** — each step includes the corresponding `helm uninstall` / `kubectl delete` to undo
+
+It also works as read-only documentation — no cluster connection required to browse the steps.
+
+## Try It
+
+### Option 1: Browse Online
+
+Open the mission directly at:
+
+**[console.kubestellar.io/missions/install-open-cluster-management](https://console.kubestellar.io/missions/install-open-cluster-management?utm_source=ocm-blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=cncf_outreach&utm_term=open-cluster-management)**
+
+### Option 2: Run Locally
+
+Install KubeStellar Console locally (connects to your current kubeconfig context):
+
+```bash
+curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kubestellar/console/main/start.sh | bash
+```
+
+Then navigate to the OCM install mission from the Missions page.
+
+## Contributing
+
+The mission definition is open source at [console-kb](https://github.com/kubestellar/console-kb/blob/master/solutions/cncf-install/install-open-cluster-management.json). PRs to improve the OCM install steps are welcome.
+
+KubeStellar Console currently has 180+ install missions covering CNCF projects across the landscape. If you'd like to see missions for other OCM-related projects or have suggestions for improving the OCM mission, open an issue on [kubestellar/console-kb](https://github.com/kubestellar/console-kb/issues).