As a cloud service provider, staying ahead of the competition and delivering exceptional cloud services to your customers is paramount. To achieve this, you need a robust and feature-rich cloud computing platform that not only ensures high availability and scalability but also provides a seamless user experience.
Apache CloudStack 4.18, the latest version of the open-source cloud computing software, is designed to meet these requirements and empower cloud service providers with an array of cutting-edge features.
In this article, we will explore the key enhancements in Apache CloudStack 4.18 and discuss how they can benefit cloud service providers. But before we talk about the key enhancements, let’s talk about the Cloudstack features which are already there:
Cloudstack Features
- Multiple Hypervisor Support – Apache CloudStack can run a variety of hypervisor and hypervisor-like technologies, including VMware, KVM, Citrix XenServer, Xen Cloud Platform (XCP), Oracle VM server, and Microsoft Hyper-V.
- Rich User Interface – Apache CloudStack provides an easy-to-use web interface for managing your cloud.
- Built-in High Availability – Apache CloudStack provides built-in high availability for hosts and virtual machines to ensure that your data is always available.
- Compute Orchestration – Apache CloudStack provides powerful features for enabling a secure multi-tenant cloud computing environment, allowing end-users to provision resources with one click.
- Network-as-a-Service – Apache CloudStack provides a full range of networking services, including firewalls, VPNs, load balancers, and more.
- User and Account Management – Apache CloudStack provides features for managing users and accounts, including role-based access control and resource limits.
- Full and Open Native API – Apache CloudStack provides a full-featured RESTful API for managing your cloud.
- Resource Accounting – Apache CloudStack provides features for tracking resource usage and generating usage reports.
- AWS EC2/S3 Compatible API – Apache CloudStack provides an API that is compatible with AWS EC2 and S3 for organizations that wish to deploy hybrid clouds.
- First-class User Interface (UI) – Apache CloudStack provides a first-class user interface for managing your cloud.
Cloudstack Features Key Enhancements
Here are the key enhancements in cloudstack features, have a look:
Edge Zones: Reducing Latency, Enhancing Connectivity
Edge Zones in Apache CloudStack 4.18 introduce lightweight zones that bring computation and data storage closer to the data source and end consumers. By reducing response times for applications and minimising connectivity costs, Edge Zones enable cloud service providers to deliver faster and more responsive services to their customers.
This enhancement improves user experience and strengthens customer satisfaction, setting you apart from the competition.
Autoscaling: Dynamic Resource Management
Apache CloudStack 4.18 introduces Autoscaling, a feature that enables the dynamic adjustment of the number of running instances based on load. With Autoscaling, cloud service providers can automatically scale resources up or down, optimising resource utilisation and ensuring high performance during peak demand.
By intelligently managing resource allocation, you can deliver consistent performance to your customers while reducing costs and maximising efficiency.
Managed User Data: Empowering Users
One of the key enhancements in Apache CloudStack 4.18 is the Managed User Data feature. It allows users to register and manage their own UserData scripts as a CloudStack resource. By providing this capability, cloud service providers empower their customers with greater control over their cloud environment.
Users can customise and automate their deployments, streamline operations, and enhance productivity. This feature fosters a strong sense of ownership and enables customers to leverage the full potential of your cloud services.
Volume Encryption: Strengthening Data Security
In today’s digital landscape, data security is of utmost importance. Apache CloudStack 4.18 introduces Volume Encryption, a feature that allows you to encrypt your data volumes, providing an added layer of security.
By encrypting sensitive data, cloud service providers can ensure the confidentiality and integrity of customer data, meeting compliance requirements and building trust with customers. Volume Encryption enhances your reputation as a reliable and secure cloud service provider.
SDN Integration – Tungsten Fabric: Streamline Networking
With the increasing adoption of Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Apache CloudStack 4.18 offers support for Tungsten Fabric, an open-source SDN solution. This integration eliminates the need for a virtual router, simplifying network management and reducing complexity.
Cloud service providers can leverage the benefits of SDN, such as enhanced network flexibility, scalability, and programmability. By adopting Tungsten Fabric, you can offer advanced networking capabilities and provide a solid foundation for your customers’ network infrastructure.
API Driven Console Access: Improved Manageability
Apache CloudStack 4.18 introduces API-Driven Console Access, enabling cloud service providers to access the console of virtual machines through the API. This feature enhances manageability by providing seamless remote access to VM consoles, facilitating troubleshooting, and simplifying administrative tasks.
Additionally, Console Access Security Improvements enhance the overall security of console access, ensuring that your customers’ virtual machines are protected.
Visual Resource Metrics: Gain Insights at a Glance
In the fast-paced world of cloud computing, having a clear understanding of resource usage and metrics is crucial for effective management. Apache CloudStack 4.18 introduces Visual Resource Metrics, a powerful feature that provides visual representations of resource usage and metrics.
This enhancement empowers cloud service providers with intuitive graphical insights, enabling them to monitor and analyse resource allocation, utilisation, and performance with ease. Visual Resource Metrics not only simplifies the monitoring process but also enhances decision-making by providing actionable data-driven insights.
With this feature, you can optimise resource allocation, identify bottlenecks, and proactively address performance issues, ensuring that your cloud infrastructure operates at peak efficiency.
Configurable MTU for VR: Tailor Network Performance
Network performance is a critical aspect of any cloud environment. Apache CloudStack 4.18 introduces the Configurable Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) for Virtual Routers (VR), allowing cloud service providers to fine-tune network settings according to their specific requirements.
The MTU represents the maximum size of data packets transmitted over a network, and by configuring it, you can optimise network performance and reduce latency. This feature grants you greater control over your cloud infrastructure, enabling you to tailor the network environment to achieve the best possible performance for your customers.
By optimising the MTU for virtual routers, you can deliver faster and more responsive network communication, ensuring a superior user experience and customer satisfaction.
Adaptive Affinity Groups: Flexibility in a Dynamic Environment
In a dynamic cloud environment, the ability to adapt quickly to changes is vital. Apache CloudStack 4.18 introduces Adaptive Affinity Groups, a feature that allows cloud service providers to create affinity groups that automatically adapt to changes in the environment.
Affinity groups provide a way to logically group resources and ensure they are deployed together or apart based on defined rules. With Adaptive Affinity Groups, you can dynamically adjust resource assignments, move workloads to different hosts, and maintain optimal resource allocation as your environment evolves.
This flexibility enables you to efficiently manage your cloud infrastructure, optimise resource utilisation, and respond swiftly to changing customer demands.
Custom DNS Servers for Networks: Enhanced Network Configuration
Network configuration plays a crucial role in providing reliable and secure cloud services. Apache CloudStack 4.18 offers the Custom DNS Servers for Networks feature, enabling cloud service providers to specify custom DNS servers for their networks.
By having the ability to define custom DNS servers, you can integrate your cloud infrastructure seamlessly with existing network environments and ensure consistent and reliable name resolution. This feature allows you to align your cloud services with established network configurations, simplifying DNS management and enhancing network connectivity for your customers.
With Custom DNS Servers for Networks, you can provide a seamless user experience and streamline network operations.
Networker Backup Plugin for KVM Hypervisor: Robust Data Protection
Data protection is a top priority for both cloud service providers and their customers. Apache CloudStack 4.18 introduces the Networker Backup Plugin for KVM Hypervisor, providing a backup solution for KVM hypervisors using Networker.
This feature enhances data protection capabilities by seamlessly integrating with Networker, a leading enterprise backup and recovery solution. With the Networker Backup Plugin, you can ensure the reliable backup and recovery of virtual machine data, safeguarding critical information and providing peace of mind to your customers.
This robust backup solution strengthens your cloud infrastructure’s resilience, minimises data loss risks, and reinforces your reputation as a trustworthy cloud service provider.
Secure VNC for KVM: Strengthening Remote Access
Secure remote access to virtual machines is essential for efficient cloud management. Apache CloudStack 4.18 enhances the security of VNC (Virtual Network Computing) connections when using KVM hypervisors with the Secure VNC for KVM feature.
VNC allows users to access virtual machine consoles remotely, but security concerns have been raised in the past. With Secure VNC for KVM, cloud service providers can establish encrypted connections, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of remote console access.
By implementing this feature, you can protect sensitive information, mitigate potential security risks, and provide a secure remote access mechanism for your customers. Secure VNC for KVM enhances the overall security posture of your cloud infrastructure, promoting customer trust and confidence.
Conclusion
Apache CloudStack 4.18 is a feature-rich cloud computing platform that offers an array of cutting-edge features designed to empower cloud service providers with enhanced cloud performance. With enhancements such as Edge Zones, Autoscaling, Managed User Data, Volume Encryption, Tungsten Fabric, and many more, Apache CloudStack 4.18 enables you to stay ahead of the competition and deliver exceptional cloud services to your customers.
Shiv calls himself an “Open Source Enthusiast, Linux Lover and Perl Addict”. With over 25 years experience in open-source software development with companies like NIIT and Spectranet, Shiv’s is a rate breed of technologist with a deep understanding of business, and his presence lends a lot of solidity to IndiQus’ offerings. He drives the technology strategy at IndiQus and also leads the R&D team.