{ When to use Openstack }

AWS the public cloud giant: is on its way to achieve the same status as Windows in Desktop. Currently they have no competitors, they are on a free run to greatness. Recently, we came to know what happened to Cisco InterCloud , Rack Space ,HP Cloud and Verizon .They all fall short either in terms of costing or in terms of features where they were not in a condition to compete with AWS .

So, given AWS is the default first option for cloud implementation, does Openstack stand any chance or will they have the same fate of Linux Desktops. Its too early to predict who's the winner here even though AWS has a giant lead. OpenStack as a public cloud has very less chance of competing with AWS in terms of features or costing OpenStack already lost it, if you have doubts, check out what happened to Rackspace and HP cloud.

Is there any use case where we can consider OpenStack or it provides better options . Answer, is an astounding yes.Reason, why most of the people won't have a look at OpenStack is complexity. Even I do accept it Openstack is complex, but again here we are going to buid a private cloud set up, not trying to install a windows application by the famous next-next-finish approach. Implementing google style cloud require planning and patience, installation and configuration of OpenStack is pretty much straight forward in most of the cases.This same argument goes to Desktop Linux which for decades bear the bad name for not easy to use. OpenStack is complex because of the flexibility it provides. we can integrate almost any hardware/software appliances to OpenStack ,in short there can be no vendor lock-in .Try this with AWS once you are in AWS you are there forever ,coming out of it is nearly impossible task.

When you are a startup it makes sense to host your servers in AWS, everything works fine and the issue comes when you start growing your server count will increase and with that, your monthly AWS bill will keep skyrocketing.And here your data is in cloud and to migrate it to other cheap cloud is altogether a different herculean task. This is a good reason to consider Openstack, the moment your company start growing beyond 100 servers, weigh down the options and calculate ROI, you will be surprised to find how much flexibility an open source cloud offers you.

Again , opensource is an acquired taste like wine , When you start using it you will get addicted!!!!!

Sreejith Keeriyattil