The difference and connection between deep analytic openstack and KVM

OpenStack and KVM are the two most popular words in the IT world today. They are open source, and Linux are inextricably linked. But there is a big difference between the two.

OpenStack: Open Source management project

OpenStack is an open source project designed to provide software for public and private cloud construction and management. It is not a software, but a combination of several major components to accomplish some specific work. The OpenStack is composed of the following five relatively independent components:

OpenStack Compute (Nova) is a set of controllers for virtual machine computing or the use of groups to start virtual machine instances;

OpenStack Mirroring Service (glance) is a set of virtual machine image lookup and retrieval system, which realizes virtual machine mirroring management.

OpenStack Object Storage (Swift) is an object-specific storage system, similar to Amazon S3, used in large-scale scalable systems with built-in redundancy and fault-tolerant mechanisms;

OpenStack Keystone for user Identity services and resource management, and

OpenStack Deepwater, based on the Django dashboard interface, is a graphical management front-end.

The Open-source project, originally developed by NASA and Rackspace at the end of 2010, aims to build a cloud computing platform that is easy to deploy, feature-rich, and easily scalable. The first task of the OpenStack project is to simplify the cloud deployment process and bring it good scalability, attempting to become the operating system of the data center, the cloud operating system.

KVM: Open Virtualization Technology

KVM (kernel-based virtual Machine) is an Open-source system virtualization module that requires hardware support, such as Intel VT Technology or AMD V technology, which is hardware-based full virtualization and completely built into Linux.

In 2008, the Red Hat acquisition Qumranet acquired KVM Technology and promoted it as part of a virtualization strategy, supporting KVM as the only hypervisor when RHEL6 was released in 2011. KVM is featured with high performance, scalability, high security, and low cost.

The fate of Linux

Linux, a cloud-era by some enthusiastic supporters, is an open-source operating system for public and private clouds. One is part of the Linux kernel, transforming Linux into a Type-1 hypervisor that can enjoy existing Linux kernel process scheduling, memory management, and device support without any changes.

OpenStack is hot, like Linux, designed to build a kernel where all software vendors work around it. Many of OpenStack's subprojects provide agile management of various resources in the cloud computing platform, such as computing power, storage, and networking. In addition, OpenStack provides support for virtualization technology.

The KVM is integrated in all major Linux distributions and is managed using Linux's own scheduler. KVM focus on becoming the best virtual machine monitor, is the choice of using Linux Enterprise, plus it also supports the Windows platform, so it is also the best choice for heterogeneous environments.

OpenStack and KVM are booming

OpenStack is a big project with many supporters. Today, more than 180 companies and more than 400 developers have actively contributed to the project, and the ecosystem is even bigger, with more than 5600 people and 850 institutions. The OpenStack was formally established in September this year. Platinum members have red hats, IBM and HP, and Gold members include Cisco, Dell and Intel.

OpenStack is basically a software project with nearly 550,000 lines of code. Broken down into core projects, incubation projects, and support projects and related projects. In addition to the five major components mentioned above, the virtual network-related quantum was first listed as a core project.

KVM is an open virtualization technology that stands out. It was developed by a large, active and open community, with Red Hat, IBM, SuSE and so on as its members. 2011, IBM, Red Hat, Intel and HP set up Open Virtualization Alliance (OVA) to help build a KVM ecosystem, improve the KVM adoption rate. Today, OVA has more than 250 member companies, of which IBM has more than 60 programmers working exclusively in the KVM Open source community.

OpenStack and KVM Solutions

Following the release of Diablo last September 22, the OpenStack community began the design and development of a new version, code-named Essex. The previous release has four versions: Austin, Bexar, Cactus and Diablo. The new release includes the Cloud Control center Nova, mirroring service glance, authentication services Keystone and dashboard project Deepwater, and also the object storage Project Swift.

As you can see, OpenStack is a framework, an infrastructure that can build public and private clouds. It's not a ready-made product, and businesses need consultants and developers to work on infrastructure. Many times, there is a need for third-party integration tools.

KVM can be purchased either by purchasing a Linux version or as an independent hypervisor. Recently, the IBM KVM (Beijing) Center for Excellence has been located in Beijing to showcase IBM and its partners ' KVM based products, including IBM SmartCloud Entry, IBM System Director VMControl, Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization and SuSE clouds.

OpenStack and KVM to each other

OpenStack virtually supports all virtualization management programs, whether open source (Xen and KVM) or vendor (Hyper-V and VMware). But previously, OpenStack was developed on a KVM basis, and KVM is often the default hypervisor for virtual machines. Both use the same open source concept and development approach.

Today, most enterprise users use more than one type of virtualization software in the IT environment, and half of them choose open Source as a more cost-effective virtualization alternative. IDC reports that OpenStack is a huge opportunity for KVM growth. OpenStack is a huge industry development power, and has a vibrant community of cloud computing platform, with 95% of the OpenStack platform by the KVM Drive. Therefore, as the OpenStack grows, the KVM will grow accordingly.

Summary

Although OpenStack and KVM are more concerned in the IT world, they all have some disadvantages. For example, OpenStack caused a conflict of interests between manufacturers, in terms of compatibility to be provided, development costs are high, service support is also a bit behind. KVM market share is low, maturity is not enough. However, both have a strong development momentum, but also the major IT vendors continue to support. It is inevitable that open source will prevail after all.