OpenStack Dalmatian 2024.2, the 30th release for the OpenStack cloud platform features major improvements for AI and high-performance computing workloads, enhanced security and use experience updates. Some of the key updates include expanded GPU support in Blazar for reserving compute instances, persistent virtual GPU handling in Nova and security updates in Ironic, Neutron and Nova.  

High performance computing refers to the use of powerful computers and parallel processing techniques to solve complex computational problems. HPC is typically used for tasks that can include: running larging-scale simulations, financial models, big data analytics and AI which  require considerable processing power, memory and storage. Private OpenStack clouds offer several key features such as scalability, flexibility, integration and cost-efficiency that make them suitable to for running HPC workloads. 

Cloud storage is more than just a digital filing cabinet. It’s a powerful tool that helps businesses manage data efficiently, securely, and cost-effectively. By separating storage from computational infrastructure, organizations can scale resources independently, ensuring optimal performance and cost-efficiency. This blog will explore the benefits of cloud storage, compare popular solutions like Amazon S3 and Google Cloud Storage, and introduce an open-source alternative.

In today’s world, the vast majority of organizations have adopted either a public cloud or private cloud, however, within these organizations, their IT professionals face the challenge of determining the best ROI with placement of their dollars against Cloud Services provided by either Public Clouds or Private Clouds.

Being surprised by cloud cost overruns when your budget is already stretched thin by high infrastructure costs can put you in a difficult position. Now you need to make cut backs – you can reduce resources for your projects, cut back on personnel, or take a FinOps approach to develop a comprehensive solution for your business.

In this blog we will explore cost-effective alternative cloud solutions to Amazon Web Service. 

Without question, VMware has a good reputation for cloud security and virtualization within a single management framework. But, given its high price point compounded with new acquisition uncertainties, now may be a good time to reevaluate your options. Let’s explore OpenStack as an alternative VMware Workstation with a complete guide on how to set up a virtualized workstation with OpenStack.

ELIZA (created by Joseph Weizenbaum) was one of the first natural language processing programs designed to simulate conversation. But it wasn’t until nearly 50 years later that AI tools like Siri allowed broad adoption so that many users could use natural language to interact with their devices. And while Siri had its time, never before have we had this many significant consecutive releases (ChatGPT, Gemini, Alexa) that transformed our daily lives. AI now plays a pivotal role in our daily lives, answering our questions, articulating and documenting our ideas in written and even artistic forms, driving our vehicles, cooking our food, analyzing our patterns, and recommending ads to us, etc. So what do you need to know about AI? And where do you begin if you want to leverage the endless possibilities of AI for your organization?

OpenStack Alternatives

Explore alternatives to OpenStack – Apache CloudStack, VMware vCloud, Proxmox, Google Cloud Platform and Amazon Web Services. OpenStack is an open source platform composed of several independent components. These components interoperate with each other through Application Programming Interface (API).

Incorporating private clouds into your organization’s FinOps strategy offers numerous strategic advantages, particularly in terms of cost optimization and resource management. In addition to cost control and visibility that the private cloud, fixed cost model provides, private clouds offer flexibility in resource allocation and customization, enabling organizations to tailor hardware configurations for their specific workloads.

What Is Clickhouse?

ClickHouse is an open source columnar database management system created by Yandex in 2016. ClickHouse was designed to provide users with a rapid and efficient system for processing large-scale analytical queries on enormous  volumes of data. Today, organizations use ClickHouse for data warehousing, business intelligence, and analytical processing.

FinOps is more than shopping for the right price and then getting surprised by variable bandwidth costs, FinOps requires proactive management of variable cloud costs. FinOps is a cultural shift which fosters a collaborative culture within an organization, it requires all teams responsible for decision-making on cloud resources and optimizing the spend with carefully monitoring and reporting.

Who Is Using OpenStack?

Many organizations from various industries are using OpenStack as part of their cloud computing infrastructure. It may be surprising to see large scale use cases such as Walmart or China Mobile, or use cases in organizations like NASA who have stringent security regulations, but the ability of organizations to fine tune and customize OpenStack in the code makes it the ideal infrastructure software for organizations with the skills on hand to optimize their cloud as needed.

Cloud Cost Optimization

Cloud cost optimization is the practice of efficiently managing the cost of your business’ cloud computing resources. An effective cloud cost optimization strategy ensures that your business gets the best value from its cloud investments. This strategy will find the right balance between performance, cost, compliance, and security for each workload or application your business has in the cloud.

Migrate from GCP to On Premise

Considering a shift away from Google Cloud Platform (GCP)? While GCP is undeniably a major player in the cloud computing scene, the market is brimming with alternative solutions that might offer better value for your investment. With the increasing availability of cost-effective options, you might be questioning whether GCP aligns seamlessly with your current needs.

Explore this comprehensive guide on how Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) and technical executives can harness the power of on-demand private clouds for their organizations. In this blog post, we’ll explore the insights about the benefits and strategies of leveraging on-demand private clouds provided by Todd Robinson, President of Open Metal.

High unpredictable cloud bills are leading more organizations to search for more cost effective infrastructure solutions. To stay ahead of the competition without hemorrhaging capital organizations need efficient, scalable and cost-effective cloud solutions. In this blog, we’ll explore what Proxmox and OpenStack are, with a high-level comparison to help you decide which solution is best for your organization’s needs. 

CloudStack and OpenStack are two prominent open source solutions for cloud infrastructure management; understanding the key differences between them is crucial when choosing the right infrastructure for managing your workloads. In this blog, we will explore the differences between OpenStack and CloudStack, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and best use cases.

Many organizations are using Kubernetes to containerize their workloads because of the numerous benefits. These benefits include portability, scalability, reliability, automation and ecosystem. Running Kubernetes workloads on the wrong type of infrastructure can lead to a range of undesirable consequences such as: performance degradation, reliability issues, security vulnerabilities, and increased cost.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the key considerations you should keep in mind when choosing the right infrastructure to host your Kubernetes workloads.

OpenStack is one of the most popular open-source software solutions for cloud infrastructure. If you are tired of unpredictable public cloud bills or want more control over your infrastructure, you may be considering migrating workloads to an OpenStack cloud. Private OpenStack clouds are increasing in popularity as organizations seek to reduce cloud costs and have root level access to optimize their infrastructure for their workloads. This blog will cover everything you need to know about OpenStack and provide you with a step by step guide on how to get started on OpenStack. 

Security and access control are paramount to ensure the safety of data and resources when using clouds. If you’re running workloads on OpenStack clouds, then you will find Keystone to be a crucial project that will play a significant role in managing authentication and authorization for your cloud. In this blog, we will dive deep into Keystone’s Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) process, its importance, and how it empowers a stateless and scalable cloud infrastructure.

The blog delves into the technical intricacies of OpenStack Swift, a versatile data storage solution, explaining its features, use cases, and functionalities. Picture a virtual universe where your crucial files are kept safe, accessible, and effortlessly organized. That’s the remarkable world of OpenStack Swift – a potent tool that not only secures your data but also streamlines its management. At its core, OpenStack Swift is like a friendly bridge that connects people like you and me with object storage

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have been prominent topics within the technology landscape for an extended period. However, the emergence of AI such as OpenAI’s GPT-3 and Google Bard has elevated the excitement surrounding these advancements. GPT-3 stands as a language model capable of generating remarkably human-like text, garnering significant attention as a transformative force in the AI realm. Yet, how do these AI and ML technologies integrate with the realm of cloud computing? Moreover, what role do open-source cloud platforms like OpenStack play in propelling the progress of such sophisticated technologies?

vGPUs with OpenStack Nova

Virtualization has revolutionized the way we use computer resources. One particular element is virtual GPU (vGPU) that has ability to deliver high-performance graphics and accelerate complex tasks. vGPU has become indispensable in industries like desktop virtualization (VDI) and remote workstations, ML/AI workloads, and scientific research.  Within OpenStack clouds, the project Nova acts as a bridge between physical GPUs and the VMs that need GPU resources. Nova  efficiently manages and allocates virtual GPUs. In this blog, we will explore Nova and vGPUs, their practical applications, and the process of setting up vGPUs with OpenStack Nova.

Ready to dive into the world of cloud computing but not sure which cloud computing platform is best to learn? With the ever-increasing demand for cloud computing skills, a career in cloud computing is a safe bet, but the decision of which platform to learn can be overwhelming for anyone planning a career in cloud computing. In this article, I will compare AWS vs Azure vs GCP vs OpenStack and explore their pros and cons can why you may want to pursue a career working on one of these cloud platforms.

In this article, we’ll delve into the advantages and disadvantages of GCP, and then highlight an alternative solution for businesses seeking flexibility and scalability.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a prominent player in the cloud computing landscape. But, not without competition from other mega providers like AWS. With the recent rise in lower cost alternative solutions available, anyone considering GCP may wonder if they are getting the best value for their dollar. GCP like every platform has its pros and cons. And when considering committing  to a cloud provider, it is best practice to thoroughly evaluate various options before committing.

AWS and GCP are leading players in cloud computing, offering a wide range of services and attractive pricing. However, choosing the right platform requires understanding their strengths, customer pain points, and alternatives. Comparing and shopping around for cloud products can be complex, with varying names and pricing structures. Transparent pricing is crucial, but some providers could improve in this area.

Octavia is an open-source load balancing solution designed for use with OpenStack. Octavia distinguishes itself by dynamically scaling up a fleet of virtual machines, containers, or bare metal servers, known as amphorae, to deliver load balancing services as needed. This on-demand horizontal scaling capability makes Octavia well-suited for cloud environments.

While Harvester, Nomad, and Kubernetes share many similar app native features, their deployment and management approaches, as well as additional capabilities like distributed computing, can influence the best fit for your specific use case within the context of OpenStack.

If you’re searching for a solution to take full control of your infrastructure, you might have come across the term “open source cloud.” But what exactly is it? In this comprehensive blog, we’ll dive deep into the concept of open source clouds and explore why they are the ultimate key to empowering organizations.

With profitability top of mind, many organizations are looking for efficient and cost-effective platforms to host their cloud applications. Open source solutions like OpenStack and OpenShift are becoming more popular because platforms offer flexible and scalable cloud computing solutions. However, each is better suited for specific use cases.

OpenStack is a powerful cloud computing platform that is backed by a vast community of developers who continuously update and improve the software. In this blog, we will discuss OpenStack projects and open source software that can be used to create a cloud environment that’s ideal for building, testing, and managing AI.

Kubernetes on OpenStack is a powerful combination. It helps organizations manage their applications and services. This power duo provides the flexibility to scale up or down as needed, while also allowing for easy deployment and management of applications. This is essential for an organizations success in today’s fast paced digital age where organizations must be able to deploy their applications quickly and efficiently, at scale, and across multiple environments.

OpenShift is a powerful and flexible platform that can help you simplify the deployment and management of container-based applications, accelerate application delivery, and work with different types of infrastructure. If you’re looking for a comprehensive and easy-to-use platform for building and managing cloud-based applications, this offering is an excellent choice.

With public and private clouds as the traditional options, innovative alternative clouds have emerged and are making waves. Deciding which cloud to use for your organization requires careful consideration of factors such as your unique business needs, budget, security and compliance requirements, and other important factors. 

With automation tools such as Terraform, Kolla Ansible and Heat, organizations can automate their OpenStack cloud operations and reduce the time and effort required to manage their cloud environment. When organizations automate many of the functions within their OpenStack cloud, they can benefit from increased agility, scalability, reliability, security, cost savings, and improved customer experience.

There are many OpenStack projects that you can use to build a cloud that can handle your use case and workloads. While OpenStack projects work well together, they also work with other popular software because the open source community continually work on ways to optimize OpenStack and ensure that it is seamless to use other open source software that you may need.

What Is OpenStack?

OpenStack is an open source platform composed of several independent components. These components interoperate with each other through Application Programming Interface (API). These components are complementary, but do not depend on all other components to function properly. This grants you the ability to build your cloud with only the components you need.

OpenStack is an open source cloud computing infrastructure software that can be used to manage and control large scale deployments of virtual machines or to manage storage and networking resources in a cloud. Many organizations are turning to OpenStack because it is scalable, reliable, and grants you a great degree of control over the underlying infrastructure.