Cloud.com boosts interoperability with CloudStack upgrade

Cloud.com has upgraded its open-source CloudStack software with more than 100 additions to let systems administrators build public/private hybrid cloud systems.

CloudStack 2.2 lets system administrators run VMware vSphere 4, Citrix XenServer 5.6 and the KVM hypervisors separately, or integrate them into a single cloud system. Support for Linux and Windows virtual machines has also been added within Cloud.com systems via an Ajax interface.

The new software also includes CloudBridge, which gives interoperability with other cloud operators like Amazon EC2 and S3 APIs as well as the OpenStack API when it is finalised. Cloud.com has already announced it is working on integration with Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V for the forthcoming OpenStack API, which should open up the options for additional cloud support further.

"Deploying an on-premise, private cloud gives end users the flexibility they demand around IT services while offering the potential for far greater utilisation within the datacentre," said Cloud.com chief executive Sheng Liang.

"With the advancements around usability, scalability and management, CloudStack 2.2 offers enterprises the fastest path to successfully deploying and managing their own infrastructure cloud."

Systems management tools have also been augmented so that geographically diverse and/or multiple datacentres can be run from a central console, with resources allocated on the fly as needed.

The company has also allowed commercial add-ons to the code, such as a single sign-on (SSO) system from Symplified.

"For service providers with public cloud offerings, single sign-on, access control and user management become critical capabilities they must provide to their customers," said Eric Olden, chief executive at Symplified.

"By combining our identity and access management service with Cloud.com's comprehensive open-source platform, we can deliver secure SSO along with other core cloud management functions, including end-user self administration, service offering management, and billing and reporting."