OpenStack Basics – Overview
IaaS and PaaS Cloud Computing Models
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) are popular cloud computing models that allow users to access computing resources over the internet.
IaaS provides users access to virtualized computing resources, such as servers, storage, and networking, that they can use to deploy and manage their applications and services. Examples of IaaS providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
PaaS provides a higher-level abstraction than IaaS, allowing users to focus on developing and deploying applications rather than managing infrastructure. PaaS providers typically offer a preconfigured development environment, application deployment tools, and scalable infrastructure. Examples of PaaS providers include Heroku, Google App Engine, and Microsoft Azure.
OpenStack
OpenStack is an open-source cloud computing platform that provides IaaS functionality for private and public clouds. OpenStack is designed to be highly scalable and flexible, allowing users to build and manage large-scale cloud infrastructure using various hardware and software components.
OpenStack provides a range of core services, including computing, storage, and networking, that can be used to build IaaS clouds. It also provides a dashboard interface and an API for users to manage their cloud infrastructure.
One of the critical differences between OpenStack and existing IaaS and PaaS providers is that OpenStack is an open-source project, which means that users have greater control over their cloud infrastructure and can modify and customize it as needed. OpenStack also provides greater flexibility regarding hardware and software choices, allowing users to mix and match components from different vendors.
Another difference is that OpenStack is a self-managed platform, meaning users are responsible for managing and maintaining their cloud infrastructure. Depending on the user’s expertise and resources, this can be a strength and a weakness.
OpenStack is a powerful and flexible cloud computing platform that provides IaaS functionality and greater control over cloud infrastructure than existing IaaS and PaaS providers. However, deploying and managing requires more technical expertise and resources.
High-level whiteboard session discussing the difference between existing IAAS / PaaS Cloud Computing models and OpenStack.