RackConnect is Rackspace's solution for building a hybrid cloud that connects a customer's dedicated servers to Rackspace's public cloud. It uses network devices and an automation system to securely pass network traffic between the environments and automatically configure servers. RackConnect allows customers to run sensitive or demanding applications on dedicated servers while using the public cloud for applications suited to it. It provides flexibility and elasticity without sacrificing performance or security.

1. Building A Hybrid Cloud With RackConnect
Filed in Product & Development by Jonathan Hogue | September 10, 2012 3:00 pm
I’ve seen at least a half-a-dozen different definitions for hybrid cloud. If you forced all of the cloud experts
into a room and demanded a clear definition, they would only agree on one thing: hybrid cloud is some
combination of dedicated compute resources and shared compute resources. The shared resource refers to a
public cloud, while the dedicated resource could be on-premise private cloud, hosted servers, off-premise
private cloud, etc, etc, etc… as long as it’s reserved for your use. No matter the combination hybrid cloud
delivers the flexibility and elasticity of the cloud without having to sacrifice the performance and security of
dedicated equipment.
Since there is no completely clear definition for hybrid cloud, the best I can do to explain it is to describe how
you can build a hybrid cloud at Rackspace. We have a unique enabler called RackConnect[1]. It’s our
organically grown spin on hybrid technology that creates a bridge between your dedicated, hosted network
and the Rackspace public cloud. RackConnect lets you store your most sensitive data (e.g. payment card
information and customer records), and run your most demanding applications (e.g. large databases or
financial applications) on dedicated gear; while you run applications that are well-suited for the cloud (e.g.
Database-driven web, messaging and collaboration applications) in the cloud. It brings the two solutions
together by allowing them to communicate with each other.
RackConnect has two basic parts: a network device or set of devices, and an automation system. The network
device can be a firewall, a load balancer, a combination of the two or a high availability combination (so up
to four devices if you’re doing the math). The device(s) passes network traffic between the dedicated and
cloud environments in a secure and efficient manner. For example, a firewall can be configured to allow a
dedicated database to speak with cloud web servers, but not the Internet.
The second component, the automation system, does most of this configuration for you. When you add new
cloud servers to your environment, the system automatically configures the network device to enforce the
network security policies you define. When you remove a cloud server, it cleans up. It also configures the
software firewall on each of the cloud servers, so that they can only communicate in the way you desire. For
example, the software firewall can be set to allow your cloud servers to only communicate with your
dedicated servers and the Internet, but not between each other.
To further evolve this solution and continue to meet the needs of our customers, we’ve recently built in some
new RackConnect capabilities. Now it can to do even more. RackConnect now has an Application
Programming Interface (API) that can be used to retrieve RackConnect status information, such as gateway
IP addresses, the automation status, automation status details and the automation features status (whether
automation is turned on or off). It also supports Rackspace Cloud Servers powered by OpenStack. New cloud
servers can be automatically added to load balancer pools, based on the server name or metadata.
This is just the first of several articles planned for the next few weeks that will cover hybrid cloud. Some of
the articles will also announce opportunities for you to come hear us talk about our growth in this space. And
if you’re in the Chicago area this week, stop by and see us at Cloud Connect[2]! Also, sign-up to attend our
Hybrid Clouds speaking session on Thursday, Sept. 13 at 11:30 a.m.
Stay tuned!
Endnotes:

2. 1. RackConnect: http://www.rackspace.com/cloud/hybrid/dedicated_cloud/rackconnect/
2. Cloud Connect: http://www.cloudconnectevent.com/chicago/
Source URL: http://www.rackspace.com/blog/building-a-hybrid-cloud-with-rackconnect/
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