Introduction
What is it?
Open source cloud computing software that has 3 main components: computing, storage, and networking resources
What is cloud computing?
Hardware, software or applications that are provided to a user through a web browser
Who made it?
Rackspace contributed the code that enables storage, content delivery and production servers while NASA provided the technology to allow for high performance computing, networking, and data storage clouds
Relevance of component to user
COMPUTING
•Allows restriction and management of large networks of virtual machines
•Offers an infrastructure as a service (Iaas) to create own policies/services
•IT departments can provide cloud services to business units and teams
•Processes large data with tools like Hadoop http://hadoop.apache.org/
•Accommodates to the demand of web resources or applications
•Processes diverse and intensive workloads (High Performance Computing)
STORAGE
•Object Storage –used for scale out-storage (adjusts storage to changing data needs at a low cost) and is used for saving hardware backup with snapshots of the computer system overtime;
•Block Storage –allows block devices (tool that permit reading and writing in sections e.g. CD -ROM) to be exposed and connected for extra storage; now users can manage storage needs with other storage programs; good for use with databases, large file systems or providing access of storage to servers
NETWORKING
•Provides a fast adapting system with application programming interface (that allows OpenStack to interact with other software) for flexible management of large networks/IP addresses
Advantages
•Option of having private or public clouds
•Available anytime at any computer or location through a web browser
•Low costs per megabyte of storage and customers pay for what they use
•Simple to integrate (any organization can offer cloud computing services using their standard hardware e.g. amazon)
•Can be upgraded easily (scalable)
•Provides an infrastructure as a server (Iaas) for managing large groups of public or private clouds
•Has “Dashboard” for letting users organize and access data/resources
•Unlimited storage
•Built in storage management tools
•Can limit storage access to users
•Protects drive failures by preventing and controlling data corruption
•Users can set an expiration time (e.g. expiry for sales offers in amazon)
Disadvantages
•Servers are not always reliable and issues could dissatisfy customers
•Technical support is offered ONLY through email and chat
•Uploads are time consuming
•Software still being produced
•Software is constantly changing and the user must keep up with up to date with changes
•Is not compatible with multi-languages or multi-currency
•Does not have billing and monitoring systems
•Lack of development compared to other software
Prevalence of OpenStack
OpenStack is widely used with many major corporations at the moment however this could be a disadvantageous for OpenStack. As OpenStack becomes more recognized through diffusion of innovation, its competitive market value will decrease and companies will turn to newer alternatives (especially due to the fast changing nature of this software)Some popular supporters
The Future of OpenStack
The main barriers of adoption for this software are the disadvantages of the product and deciding whether the technology suits the system of the company. A user must also consider the products competitors e.g. Eucalyptus, Apache Cloud Stack and Flexiant (the former leader of OpenStack Brian Garvey switched to Flexiant due to better services provided). Lastly, OpenStack is still being developed (according to InfoWorld) and investing in underdeveloped software could be a risk.
