Last Updated on October 11, 2023
OpenStack is an open source cloud computing project to provide an infrastructure as a service (IaaS). This integration is facilitated through public application programming interfaces (APIs) that each service offers (and in turn can consume).
OpenStack controls large pools of compute, storage, and networking resources throughout a datacenter, all managed through a dashboard that gives administrators control while empowering their users to provision resources through a web interface. It delivers a massively scalable cloud operating system.
The technology consists of a series of connected projects that control pools of processing, storage, and networking resources throughout a datacenter, all managed through a dashboard that gives administrators control while empowering its users to provision resources through a web interface.
OpenStack is written in Python.
Features include:
- Compute (Nova) – provides virtual servers upon demand with a flexible architecture:
- Start, resize, stop and query virtual machines (“instances”) in a live environment.
- Manage Local Area Networks (LAN) – Flat, Flat DHCP, VLAN DHCP, IPv6.
- Assign and remove public IP addresses.
- Attach and detach block storage.
- Add, modify and delete security groups.
- Role Based Access Control (RBAC).
- Show instance consoles.
- Snapshot running instances.
- API with rate limiting and authentication.
- Distributed and asynchronous architecture.
- Projects & Quotas.
- Object Storage (Swift) – allows you to store or retrieve files. It is designed to provide large scale storage of data that is accessible via APIs:
- Stores and retrieves objects (files).
- Sets and modifies metadata on objects (tags).
- Versions objects.
- Serve static web pages and objects via HTTP.
- HDD/node failure agnostic.
- Multi-dimensional scalability.
- Built-in replication.
- Built-in management utilities.
- Drive auditing.
- Block Storage (Cinder) – provides persistent block storage to guest VMs:
- Create, modify and delete volumes.
- Snapshot or backup volumes.
- Query volume status and metadata.
- Networking (Neutron) – provides “network connectivity as a service” between interface devices managed by other OpenStack services:
- Users can create their own networks and then attach server interfaces to them.
- Pluggable backend architecture lets users take advantage of commodity gear or vendor supported equipment.
- Extension framework allows additional network services like load balancing.
- Pluggable backend architecture.
- Dashboard (Horizon) – a modular Django web application that provides an end user and cloud operator interface to OpenStack services. It provides an overall view of the size and state of your cloud, and provides users a self-service portal to provision their own resources within the limits set by administrators.
- Identity Service (Keystone) – provides authentication and authorization for all the OpenStack services. It also provides a service catalog of services within a particular OpenStack cloud:
- Authenticate users and issue tokens for access to services.
- Store users and tenants for a role-based access control (RBAC).
- Provides a catalog of the services (and their API endpoints) in the cloud.
- Create policies across users and services.
- Image Service (Glance) – provides a catalog and repository for virtual disk images:
- Stores public and private images that users can utilize to start instances.
- Users can query and list available images for use.
- Delivers images to Nova to start instances.
- Snapshots from running instances can be stored so that virtual machines can be backed.
- All the services authenticate with Identity.
Website: www.openstack.org
Support: Documentation
Developer: OpenStack Foundation
License: Apache License 2.0
Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
| Popular series | |
|---|---|
 | The largest compilation of the best free and open source software in the universe. Each article is supplied with a legendary ratings chart helping you to make informed decisions. |
 | Hundreds of in-depth reviews offering our unbiased and expert opinion on software. We offer helpful and impartial information. |
 | Replace proprietary software with open source alternatives: Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Autodesk, Oracle, Atlassian, Corel, Cisco, Intuit, and SAS. |
 | Awesome Free Linux Games Tools showcases a series of tools that making gaming on Linux a more pleasurable experience. This is a new series. |
 | Machine Learning explores practical applications of machine learning and deep learning from a Linux perspective. We've written reviews of more than 40 self-hosted apps. All are free and open source. |
 | New to Linux? Read our Linux for Starters series. We start right at the basics and teach you everything you need to know to get started with Linux. |
 | Alternatives to popular CLI tools showcases essential tools that are modern replacements for core Linux utilities. |
 | Essential Linux system tools focuses on small, indispensable utilities, useful for system administrators as well as regular users. |
 | Linux utilities to maximise your productivity. Small, indispensable tools, useful for anyone running a Linux machine. |
 | Surveys popular streaming services from a Linux perspective: Amazon Music Unlimited, Myuzi, Spotify, Deezer, Tidal. |
 | Saving Money with Linux looks at how you can reduce your energy bills running Linux. |
 | Home computers became commonplace in the 1980s. Emulate home computers including the Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, ZX81, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum. |
 | Now and Then examines how promising open source software fared over the years. It can be a bumpy ride. |
 | Linux at Home looks at a range of home activities where Linux can play its part, making the most of our time at home, keeping active and engaged. |
 | Linux Candy reveals the lighter side of Linux. Have some fun and escape from the daily drudgery. |
 | Getting Started with Docker helps you master Docker, a set of platform as a service products that delivers software in packages called containers. |
 | Best Free Android Apps. We showcase free Android apps that are definitely worth downloading. There's a strict eligibility criteria for inclusion in this series. |
 | These best free books accelerate your learning of every programming language. Learn a new language today! |
 | These free tutorials offer the perfect tonic to our free programming books series. |
 | Linux Around The World showcases usergroups that are relevant to Linux enthusiasts. Great ways to meet up with fellow enthusiasts. |
 | Stars and Stripes is an occasional series looking at the impact of Linux in the USA. |