OpenStack consists of several modules that interact via directory services. Today the platform includes the following instruments:
- hypervisor management tool (Nova);
- storage of virtual machine images (Glance);
- management web interface (Horizon);
- users and services directory (Keychain);
- network infrastructure management tool (Neutron);
- means for database provision.
Such features as provision of physical hardware on request are planned in the near future. OpenStack has a great potential, but today it is hard to consider it a finished product. Functional solutions are very often being transformed and complemented. You can download OpenStack absolutely free of charge. However, in order one could get a finished product that one could use for their own purposes a lot more needs to be done. Statistics on product development is as follows:
As you can see, many of the world’s leading companies are engaged in the development of this product.
There are no means in OpenStack to ensure high availability, and there are no specific plans for its implementation. There is no backup system for the VM. If the virtualization server fails the virtual machines will be lost, too.
Despite all above-mentioned features and shortcomings, OpenStack platform may still be used for different tasks. One of the options is to organize your own services that will work in the cloud. If there is a need for regular testing or a cloud platform for the development of new applications it makes sense to pay attention to OpenStack. Alternatively, you can use only some separate OpenStack modules. For example, you can use the work of several programmers to write and implement a sort of corporate Dropbox based on Swift.
