How to Build a Private Cloud Computing Infrastructure Using OpenStack

OpenStack is an open-source software platform for building and managing cloud computing infrastructure. It is designed to be scalable, flexible, and easy to use. The platform is made up of a number of interconnected components that work together to provide services such as compute, storage, and networking. OpenStack is typically deployed on a cluster of servers, and can be managed through a web-based dashboard or a command-line interface. It is widely used in public, private, and hybrid cloud deployments, and has a large and active community of developers and users.

What are OpenStack components?

OpenStack is made up of a number of interconnected software components, which are organised into core services and optional services.

The core services include:

• Compute (Nova): This service is responsible for managing and provisioning virtual machines.
• Identity (Keystone): This service is responsible for authenticating users and managing access control for the other OpenStack services.
• Image (Glance): This service is responsible for managing and storing virtual machine images.
• Block Storage (Cinder): This service is responsible for managing block storage devices such as hard disks.
• Networking (Neutron): This service is responsible for configuring virtual networks, and for providing advanced networking functionality such as load balancing and VPNs.

The optional services include:

• Object Storage (Swift): This service is responsible for storing and managing objects such as files and images.
• Dashboard (Horizon): This service provides a web-based interface for managing the OpenStack cloud.
• Telemetry (Ceilometer): This service is responsible for collecting and analysing usage and performance data.
• Orchestration (Heat): This service is responsible for automating the orchestration of multiple composite cloud applications using templates, through both an OpenStack-native ReST API and a CloudFormation-compatible Query API.
• Database (Trove): This service provides scalable and reliable Cloud Database-as-a-Service provisioning capabilities.

It’s worth noting that OpenStack has a modular architecture and services can be configured, added or removed to match the use case. Also, with OpenStack being open-source, new and updated features and services are continuously released.

How does OpenStack work?

OpenStack is a collection of interconnected software components that work together to provide a range of cloud computing services. At a high level, OpenStack can be thought of as having two main components: the control plane and the compute plane.

The control plane is responsible for managing and coordinating the overall operation of the cloud. It includes components such as the OpenStack Dashboard, which provides a web-based interface for managing the cloud, and the OpenStack Identity service (Keystone), which is responsible for authenticating users and managing access control. Other important components of the control plane include the OpenStack Image service (Glance), which is used to manage virtual machine images, and the OpenStack Networking service (Neutron), which is used to configure virtual networks.

The compute plane is responsible for running and managing virtual machines, and is made up of several components such as the OpenStack Compute service (Nova), which is responsible for managing virtual machines, and the OpenStack Block Storage service (Cinder), which is responsible for managing block storage devices such as hard disks.

In addition to these two main components, OpenStack also includes a number of additional services such as the OpenStack Object Storage service (Swift), which is used to store and manage objects such as files and images, and the OpenStack Telemetry service (Ceilometer), which is used to collect and analyse usage and performance data.

When a user wants to create a new virtual machine, for example, they will use the OpenStack Dashboard or command-line interface to request the creation of a new virtual machine. This request is sent to the OpenStack Compute service (Nova), which will create the virtual machine and start it running. The virtual machine will then be able to access the network and storage resources that have been configured for it, and will be able to run the software and applications that the user has installed on it.

OpenStack’s modular architecture allows for easy scaling and customisation of services according to the needs of the deployment. It also allows for integrating different technologies and/or third-party services and plugins.

Building a Bulletproof OpenStack Cloud

Building a cloud infrastructure using OpenStack typically involves the following steps:

1. Hardware planning and procurement: The first step is to determine the hardware requirements for the cloud, such as the number and type of servers, storage devices, and networking equipment that will be needed. Once the hardware has been procured, it is installed and configured according to best practices.
2. Software installation: The next step is to install the software components of OpenStack on the servers. This typically involves installing an operating system, configuring networking, and installing the OpenStack software itself.
3. Configuration and customisation: Once the software is installed, it needs to be configured to work with the hardware and to meet the specific requirements of the deployment. This may include configuring security settings, setting up virtual networks, and creating virtual machine images.
4. Testing and validation: Before going into production, the cloud infrastructure should be thoroughly tested to ensure that it is working as expected. This may include performance testing, stress testing, and functional testing.
5. Deployment and management: Once the cloud infrastructure is built and tested, it is ready to be deployed into production. This typically involves migrating existing workloads to the cloud, and then managing and maintaining the cloud infrastructure on an ongoing basis.
6. Scalability: Once the cloud infrastructure is built, it can be scaled up or down as needed to meet changing requirements.

Keep in mind that the steps might vary depending on the size and complexity of the cloud infrastructure, and also on whether you are building a private, public or hybrid cloud. It is highly recommended to follow best practices and guidelines from OpenStack community and also to have enough expertise and experience before start building a cloud.

Here is the official guide from Openstack: https://docs.openstack.org/ha-guide/

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