OpenStack goes live with Diablo release of cloud platform

The OpenStack project has released the fourth stable build of its open source cloud platform, adding a self-service portal and identity management layer, while previewing new networking capabilities that promise greater power and flexibility.

Available to download now, the Diablo release of OpenStack includes nearly 70 new features and enhancements across its three core modules - Compute, Object Storage and Image Service - while adding the Dashboard portal and OpenStack Identity modules.

However, OpenStack said that Dashboard and Identity will not become core modules until the next stable release, known as Essex.

Dashboard makes it easier for users and administrators to access and provision resources within an OpenStack cloud via a browser-based console, which OpenStack contributors hope will drive wider adoption of its platform.

"We want to ensure that the OpenStack user interface architecture is flexible enough to support the requirements of service providers, businesses, and the rich ecosystem of emerging products and services that are compatible with OpenStack," said Devin Carlen, project technical lead for Dashboard.

Meanwhile, Identity provides unified authentication across OpenStack projects, and integrates with existing authentication systems so that customers can use local identities and passwords for cloud-based resources.

Ziad Salwalha, director of product at Rackspace and technical lead for Identity, said that the module will eventually support Microsoft's Active Directory, while OpenStack users are also requesting standards such as OAuth and Security Assertion Markup Language that allows users to extend to other OpenStack-compatible clouds if necessary.

Among enhancements to the core modules, Compute now has a distributed scheduler allowing for virtual machines to be deployed globally, plus a new high-availability mode to prevent downtime if a server fails.

The Object Storage module adds the ability to replicate data on a container-by-container basis, while Image Service now includes new search and filter capabilities aimed at service providers with a large number of customers.

A further new project, OpenStack Quantum, is to be added to the next Essex release. This will provide the ability to configure virtual networks dynamically, and is being developed by Cisco and Citrix, as well as Rackspace.

OpenStack was founded by Rackspace, but the project is now backed by many familiar names in the IT industry, such as Dell, Intel and Canonical, as well as Cisco and Citrix.