OpenStack
OpenStack is an open-source cloud computing platform that allows companies to create and manage public and private clouds. It provides infrastructure-as-a-service capabilities for managing compute, storage, and networking resources.
OpenStack: Open-Source Cloud Computing Platform
OpenStack is an open-source cloud computing platform that allows companies to create and manage public and private clouds. It provides infrastructure-as-a-service capabilities for managing compute, storage, and networking resources.
What is OpenStack?
OpenStack is an open-source cloud operating system that controls large pools of compute, storage, and networking resources. It is managed through a dashboard or via the OpenStack API. OpenStack works with popular enterprise and open source technologies, making it ideal for heterogeneous infrastructure.
OpenStack provides an Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) solution through a variety of complementary services. Each service offers an API that facilitates this integration. Users can choose any combination of OpenStack services needed for their enterprise cloud.
Some of the main services within OpenStack are:
- Nova: Manages pools of compute resources
- Swift: Provides object storage
- Cinder: Manages block storage resources
- Neutron: Enables networking connectivity between interface devices managed by other OpenStack services
By combining these services, users can quickly implement an IaaS cloud that offers advanced compute, storage, and networking. OpenStack has a modular architecture with various code names for its components.
OpenStack is designed to be used by both end users and administrators. It gives users the ability to provision resources through a GUI, CLI, or RESTful API. Administrators can control pools of resources and manage user access.
OpenStack Features
Features
- Virtual machine management
- Block storage management
- Networking management
- Dashboard for managing resources
- APIs for programmatic access
- Identity management
- Image management
Pricing
- Open Source
Pros
Open source and free to use
Highly scalable and flexible
Supports multiple hypervisors
Active open source community
Modular architecture
Cons
Complex installation and configuration
Steep learning curve
Requires expertise to manage and maintain
Upgrades can be disruptive
Limited documentation and support
Official Links
Reviews & Ratings
Login to Review3.6
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15 reviews
Rating Breakdown
Ease of Use
★
★
★
★
★
2.1
Features
★
★
★
★
★
4.8
Value for Money
★
★
★
★
★
4.2
Customer Support
★
★
★
★
★
2.7
Overall Experience
★
★
★
★
★
3.4
Recent Reviews
River Taylor
Mar 23, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Powerful and Flexible, But Steep Learning Curve
OpenStack is an incredibly powerful and flexible platform for building and managing private and public clouds. I've been using it for over a year to manage our company's on-premise infrastructure, and when configured correctly, it's a game-changer. However, implementing and …
J
Jordan King
Mar 23, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Powerful Foundation for Our Private Cloud, But Demanding Expertise
We've been running OpenStack for over two years to power our internal development and testing private cloud. The sheer flexibility and control it offers over compute, storage, and networking are unmatched for the price, allowing us to build a cloud …
A
Alex Taylor
Mar 21, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Powerful but Requires Deep Expertise
OpenStack delivers exceptional flexibility and control for building a private cloud, which is fantastic for avoiding vendor lock-in. However, the initial setup and ongoing maintenance are incredibly complex, requiring dedicated, skilled staff. The open-source community support is vast, but finding …
Riley Moore
Mar 20, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Powerful but Maddeningly Complex
As an infrastructure admin who's been trying to implement OpenStack in our company for a year, I can say it's a powerful solution but the learning curve is brutally steep. The initial setup took weeks to get right, and even …
Lisa Miller
Mar 17, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Powerful Open Source Cloud Platform, But Not For The Faint of Heart
We've been using OpenStack to manage our private cloud infrastructure for the past three years, and it's been a game-changer for our organization. The level of control and customization it provides is unparalleled for a private cloud solution. We've been …
Rating Distribution
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