Appliance Deployment Featured Article

On-demand IT provider rPath has just deployed the OpenStack Compute Appliance to the open-source cloud-computing industry.

The appliance can be downloaded for free in multiple formats including ISO or VMware format, and was created to make it easier for IT organizations to deploy and upgrade OpenStack software. The rPath appliance allows users to automatically deploy, configure and update to the OpenStack cloud platform on both physical and virtual infrastructures, a press release revealed.

"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 in a statement.

OpenStack software, a nonprofit organization, has designed a cloud operating system with scalability that can be utilized instead of commercially available software stacks. According the release, the three major components of the system include computing, object storage and image servicing.

"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,” Adam said.

rPath’s website claims that a version-controlled model works in conjunction with appliance deployment to provide continuous updates, rollback, and audit of the deployed appliances. Obstacles in typical appliance deployment including out of band and unauthorized changes can now be erased due to rPath’s consistent environment that enables fully synchronized systems and enables proper deployment.

Adam also revealed that rPath will leverage staff and company technology for a test cloud based on equipment provided by Rackspace (News - Alert).