OpenStack

UnixGuy

Has anyone here worked with OpenStack?

I have few physical servers and I'm thinking of configuring a private cloud. I haven't worked with OpenStack before, so I'm wondering if it's a good solution for a small number of servers? How's the installation process like? How stable is the solution?

Note that I don't want pay RackSpace or any cloud provider, I want to set it up for free!

chanakyajupudi

It is not very difficult. Having said that its not too easy either. Installation and other stuff can be found online via documentation. Also can be done via Orchestration tools like Heat and Puppet.

Neutron or Network part of OpenStack is a little complicated though if you have VPN and other requirements as such.

Muhammad Abaid

Hey UnixGuy,

As per I know used one of openstack envorinement Openstack havana is so far stable. I used if on Ubuntu 12.04 and Ubuntu 14.04 is support openstack heavily still not tested on ubuntu 14.04 . And yes absolutely it is a good solution for small number of servers, If you used Amazon Web Services its interface is same here is the link for Ubuntu 14.04

OpenStack packages - OpenStack Installation Guide for Ubuntu 12.04/14.04 (LTS)  - icehouse

Hope it will helpful and its Freeeeeeee

UnixGuy

Thanks guys!

Now I'm thinking whether to use Ubuntu or CentOS (RHEL is not an option, no money for License). I will be setting it up on my own, and I'm thinking one controller node, and the rest as compute nodes.

How's the performance for OpenStack? Also, what is the easiest way to go on about setting up it, like with Ubuntu I read about Juju, and with RHEL I saw PackStack, have tried either one of those?

darkerosxx

CentOS and packstack is what I would recommend. Do a lot of trial and error, figure stuff out. You will likely hit walls, just keep pushing, don't let it get you down. That's how you learn.

UnixGuy

CentOS and Packstack was my initial choice but from what I'm reading, looks like Ubuntu has some advantages! What do you think?
OpenStack with Ubuntu | Cloud | Ubuntu

I'm thinking of Ubuntu 14 LTS + Open Stack icehouse...any thoughts?

Also, have you used CentOS + Packstack? looks like it's more suited for RHEL rather than CentOS

darkerosxx

I actually used centOS + packstack + foreman + puppet to set up a production environment with 2 geo-redundant sites with approx 32 nodes. I've literally never used Ubuntu, so no clue on comparisons.

UnixGuy

Ok decision made, I'm going to use CentOS + Packstack. I already have a Puppet server (but no Foreman).

It'd be great if you can share with me the resources that you have used. I have fewer nodes than you, but they definitely will be scaled in the future.


My Installation starts this Monday

UnixGuy

Update: Decision made, CentOS 6.5 will be the OS of choice. I'm using Cobbler, puppet, and Packstack. I'll keep you posted

lsud00d

Sounds awesome, let us know how it goes!

LinuxCon 2013 had some really interesting presentations on OpenStack, automation tools, and cloud services--it sounds like it will be a lot of fun.

darkerosxx

Sorry I just now saw your response, but there are foreman/puppet modules for deploying via packstack that may be helpful, but honestly if you don't have much foreman experience, I'd go with cobbler, puppet, and packstack.

UnixGuy

I don't have any foreman experience. I read little bit about it and it seems that installs its own puppet master. I have an existing puppet server so I didn't want things to get more messy.

darkerosxx

You can specify in the foreman install whether to install a puppet master or not. Just saying, so you know. You're not really missing much, IMO, by not using it.

UnixGuy

Just to let you guys know, so it took me about a week or so to finish this. I didn't use PackStack as I didn't find sufficient documentation. I ended up using the official guides at Open Stack website, and they worked well.


Once the solution was done with the dashboard and everything, I showed it to my boss and we concluded that that's not what we want

Anyway, it was a good experience (glad it's over though).