On-demand IT provider rPath added a key contribution to the open-source cloud-computing community July 13 when it launched its new OpenStack Compute Appliance.
The freely downloadable appliance in either ISO or VMware format was developed to make it easier for IT organizations to deploy and upgrade OpenStack software. The rPath appliance enables users to automatically deploy, configure and update to the OpenStack cloud platform on both physical and virtual infrastructures.
OpenStack software, a nonprofit organization, provides a massively scalable cloud operating system as an alternative to commercially available software stacks. Its three major components are computing, object storage and image servicing.
“While building and deploying OpenStack compute servers has been somewhat of a challenge for the OpenStack dev team, this arduous process is both unavoidable and essential for continuous test purposes,” said Brett Adam, CTO at Raleigh, N.C.-based rPath.
“Since automated build, deployment and configuration of complex, multitier applications that include full OS and middleware stacks is precisely what we specialize in here, we knew that we were in a great position to help.”
As part of this initiative, rPath will donate staff time and company technology for a test cloud based on equipment from Rackspace, Adam said.