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Open Source: Article

Microsoft to Support Open Source CloudStack

The move gives the nascent OpenStack an added veneer of enterprise respectability
By Maureen O'Gara
Article Rating:
November 1, 2010 08:00 AM EDT
Reads:
 9,083

Microsoft says it's going to help open source cloud orchestration software start-up Cloud.com integrate and support its Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V in the OpenStack project, the Rackspace/NASA-started open source cloud platform.

Microsoft muttered something about obliging organizations and service providers running a mix of Microsoft and non-Microsoft infrastructure with more flexibility when using OpenStack. It pointed out that Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V can run multiple different operating systems (like Linux) in parallel.

Cloud.com CEO Sheng Liang said that as the cloud catches on "there is an increased demand from customers for support of their existing technologies, such as Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V."

Cloud.com became one of founding members of OpenStack when it kicked off in July right after Cloud.com came out of stealth mode.

The move gives the nascent OpenStack an added veneer of enterprise respectability.

OpenStack, which just hit its first "Austin" milestone last week, currently supports enterprise leader VMware's ESX Server and Red Hat's KVM hypervisor. Hyper-V and Xen are supposed to get on its roadmap at some point. Citrix was anxious that OpenStack support Xen so it's been kicking in manpower.

Microsoft says it will give Cloud.com architectural and technical guidance and Cloud.com will develop the code to support OpenStack on Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V. Once complete, the project code will be checked into the public code repository at http://openstack.org.

OpenStack uses virtualization to create and manage large groups of virtual machines. It means to be able to run on a thousand physical servers and support scads of VMs.

OpenStack general manager Jim Curry is quoted as saying, "We're extremely pleased to welcome Microsoft to the OpenStack community. Its contributions to the open cloud platform will expand the opportunities for customers, vendors and channel partners."

Eucalyptus, the other open source cloud platform, doesn't support Hyper-V. Eucalyptus Systems CEO Mårten Mickos says it will, it just hasn't set a date for that yet, at least not publicly.

Published November 1, 2010 – Reads 9,083
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Maureen O'Gara the most read technology reporter for the past 20 years, is the Cloud Computing and Virtualization News Desk editor of SYS-CON Media. She is the publisher of famous "Billygrams" and the editor-in-chief of "Client/Server News" for more than a decade. One of the most respected technology reporters in the business, Maureen can be reached by email at maureen(at)sys-con.com or paperboy(at)g2news.com, and by phone at 516 759-7025. Twitter: @MaureenOGara

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