Understanding Open Source Cloud Solutions
A tech enthusiast learns and explores open source cloud platforms and tools.
What is Open Source Software for Cloud Solutions?
Given my background and current job, I’ve been around the cloud and have possessed some basic knowledge for a while. However, this week, I’ve been studying and digging into open source software cloud solutions, so I’m sharing my notes and what I’ve learned here for personal reference later and your interest (if you have any).
According to Wasabi, “The phrase “open source” refers to a unique software-licensing agreement that allows end users to freely use or modify said software in any way they wish. Therefore, open-source software is any software designed to be used, modified, and integrated by the public into any independent projects, completely free of charge or legal ramifications. This is because open-source licenses make the entirety of a software’s code fully available to the public, allowing that code to be used for any number of purposes.”
So, open source software cloud solutions refer to cloud-based services and platforms that are built to allow users to store data on remote servers and access it anywhere with an internet connection.
Open source cloud providers can cover any private, public, or hybrid cloud models, as well as the full array of SaaS, IaaS, PaaS, and other service solutions.
Software as a Service (Saas). SaaS is a cloud computing service model that delivers software applications over the internet. Instead of installing and maintaining software locally, users access applications through a web browser. Examples you may be familiar with include Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). IaaS provides virtualized computing infrastructure over the Internet. It offers virtual machines, storage, and networking resources as services. Users can deploy and run their applications on these virtualized resources without the need to invest or maintain physical hardware. Examples of IaaS providers you might know include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, IBM Cloud, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
Platform as a Service (PaaS). PaaS is a cloud computing service model that provides a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage applications without dealing with the complexity of building and maintaining the underlying infrastructure. Some PaaS offerings Heroku, Google App Engine, and Microsoft Azure App Service.
I’ll cover SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS more in-depth in another post in the future.
Key Characteristics of Open Source Software Cloud Solutions
Open source encourages collaboration among developers and communities because users can contribute to the development, enhancement, and bug-fixing of the software. This fosters a collective effort to consistently improve the solution. In addition to collaboration, open source means the source code is openly available, allowing users to inspect and review the code. Transparency enhances trust and enables users to verify the security and integrity of the software they’re using.
Cost-effectiveness is another huge pro of open source software. Open source solutions are often free, which significantly reduces the cost of implementing and maintaining cloud solutions. In addition to its affordability, open source solutions provide flexibility, allowing users to customize the software to meet their specific needs. This is particularly valuable in cloud environments where customization may be necessary to align with unique requirements.
Finally, and most importantly (in my opinion), open source projects typically have active communities of developers and users who contribute to forums, provide support, and share best practices. Community support can be valuable for anyone adopting open source cloud solutions. Especially as more and more organizations are switching to a hybrid cloud environment; it’s good to know there are other developers and engineers out there with knowledge to share.
4 Popular Open Source Cloud Platforms and Tools
Technology has come a long way over the years…
But effectively handling a variety of services and providers can be challenging without the appropriate cloud management software or services. As a result, numerous solutions for cloud management have emerged. You can either directly oversee cloud architecture or consolidate various cloud services through a single third-party platform for simplified management.
An optimal cloud management platform should encompass:
Robust integration with IT infrastructure
Automation of manual tasks
Efficient service management
Effective governance and security measures
Here are 4 popular open source cloud platforms and tools I think are worth being familiar with.
OpenStack. OpenStack is an open source cloud computing platform that provides IaaS for building and managing public and private clouds. Users can control computing, storage, and networking resources throughout a data center. This is operated from a dashboard or through OpenStack’s API. Backed by the most influential companies in software development and hosting, many think that OpenStack is the future of cloud computing.
Kubernetes. Kubernetes is an open-source platform that automates the management, scaling, and deployment of containerized applications. Containers are great for modernizing applications and optimizing IT infrastructure. It’s also the fastest-growing project in the history of open source software, after Linux. I suggest reading this IBM blog post to learn more about the benefits of using Kubernetes.
Docker. Docker is another popular open platform for building, shipping, and running applications in containers. It’s particularly popular in cloud computing. A significant benefit of utilizing Docker containers in cloud computing lies in their portability. Docker Containers package all the necessary dependencies, configurations, and runtime environments essential for running an application, making them exceptionally portable across diverse environments. Docker Images, serving as blueprints for containers, can be easily shared and deployed on any cloud provider or on-premises infrastructure, eliminating concerns about compatibility issues.
Eucalyptus. Eucalyptus is open source, Linux-based software for building AWS-compatible private and hybrid clouds. This platform allows you to utilize your resource collections through a self-service interface whenever required. Functioning as an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Eucalyptus empowers users to provision compute and storage resources on-demand.
Conclusion
Organizations adopting open source software cloud solutions benefit from the flexibility, affordability, and community-driven innovation associated with the open source model. There are a myriad of platforms and tools available to learn about and use, you just have to find what’s right for you and your business. The platforms and tools I’ve listed here are all of personal interest to me and I plan to learn and understand more than just the basics as time ticks on.
Cloud computing and open source solutions are an ever-evolving story. New tools surface every day so if there are any you’re interested in that you’d like to share, please do. Knowledge is power and I like to consider myself a career learner.