OpenStack deployments can be easily managed and deployed using open-source DevOps tools and networking solutions, as demonstrated in a new proof-of-concept (PoC) by Cumulus Networks, Dell Inc. and Red Hat Inc.

The three vendors teamed up to create a massive 300+ node OpenStack cluster using Dell’s servers and networking switches, Red Hat’s OpenStack platform, and Cumulus’ Linux network OS. By using open source tools like Ansible and Git, the companies fired up the cluster in just six hours.

In normal situations, OpenStack clusters are installed by an entire team of network engineers and system admins who’re separated into siloed environments that provide scope for them to collaborate. As such, the vendors say using DevOps methodologies significantly increases collaboration and efficiency.

The demonstration represents an “important step” as it showcases OpenStack’s ability to “scale without compromising on performance or manageability”, said Red Hat’s general manager of OpenStack, Radhesh Balakrishnan.

The vendors “have demonstrated the ability to scale with Red Hat OpenStack Platform and we’re looking forward to bringing this powerful solution to our customers,” he added.

For the proof of concept, Dell provided its PowerEdge servers and its Open Networking switches, which were introed two years ago and can run a variety of operating systems and software from multiple vendors. Dell created its Open Networking switches in response to the industry’s shift towards software-defined networking (SDN) and network-functions virtualization (NFV) technologies.

Dell’s rack-mount servers were boxed up in nine racks for the proof-of-concept, interconnected by 24 open Dell switches, together with dual attached 10 Gigabit Ethernet server connections and 8.6TB of bandwidth. The configuration leveraged Red Hat’s OpenStack, Ansible and Git to create a development tool chain and virtual environment that were used to prototype and test components. The vendors also used an all-IP VXLAN networking topology running on Cumulus Linux in the cluster, as well as OpenStack Neutron networking technology.

The end result of the demo was that the open VXLAN architecture allowed more than 1,000 tenant networks to run, without any proprietary SDN controllers or IPv4 and VLAN bookkeeping, the vendors said.

“It’s powerful to witness the software-defined data center at work,” said JR Rivers, co-founder and CTO of Cumulus, in a statement. “This project tied together automation, virtual testing environments, tight deployment schedules, and ‘Linux all the way down’ to deliver a production-ready OpenStack pod.”

Image credit: zephylwer0 via pixabay