Crowbar is an open source tool for deploying and managing OpenStack clouds. It uses a layered approach of discrete, versioned components compared to traditional virtual machine images. This allows for flexible, customizable, and portable cloud deployments. Crowbar handles both the software and operational aspects of OpenStack through automation and best practices to simplify cloud management.

1. Crowbar & OpenStack
OpenStack Boston Users Group

2. Picking an Installer
Deployment types Aspects
Experimentation Open source / proprietary
Kick the tires, exploratory
Live pull / Packaged
Development
Test internal logic All-In-One / Multi node
Simulate HW Real HW / Simulated
PoC / Testing - Internet Access / Stand
Just enough to run a handful of Alone
servers
Production Flexibility
Full Stack Completeness
Ops - Monitoring, management
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3. Some Installers
Aspects DevStack LiveCloud Stackops Crowbar
Open source / proprietary OS OS Prop OS
Live pull / Packaged Live Packaged Live Packaged
All-In-One / Multi node SAIO SAIO Both Both
Real HW / simulate Simulate Simulate HW Both
Flexibility Very Little Very Little Very
Tethered / Stand-Alone Tethered Stand-Alone Tethered Stand-Alone
Completeness full little little High
Target Devs Eval PoC Production
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4. Clouds require an Operational Focus
Clouds demand significant
operational and process controls
SW
Operational decisions drive
OPS
hardware and software decisions
HW
We are finding ways to productize
operations into best practices
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5. Dell OpenStack Cloud Solution
“Crowbar”
CloudOps
SW
SW Software
OPS
OPS
Reference HW
Architecture Services &
Consulting
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6. How DevOps is Different
Images vs. Layers
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7. What is DevOps?
DevOps is an operational approach that automates
system configuration and management.
To manage cloud systems, customers
Need to manage servers as groups
Must respond to rapid infrastructure changes
Have repeatable automated deployments
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8. Images vs. Layers
Soup Sandwich
Delicious! Delicious!
Fast! Fast!
Premixed Flexible
Hard to customize Easy to customize
Hard to change Configurable
Hard to carry Very portable
Every batch is unique Components can be common
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9. Images vs. Layers: Overview
Images: Single Unit Layers: Stacked Pieces
Configuration Integrations
Configuration
Application Foo
Integrations + Application Bar
Applications +
Utilities + Utilities
Operating System
Operating System
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10. Images vs. Layers: Details
Images Layers
Like a Compiled Language Like an Interpreted Language
Early Binding Late Binding
Tightly Coupled Loosely Coupled
Assembled as a package Assembled in parts
1-Step Deployment Multi-Step Deployment
Big Storage Footprint Small Footprint (packages)
Cloned from “Golden Image” Setup per instance
Single Version Discrete Versions
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11. Images vs. Layers: Lifecycle
Images: Replacement Layers: Upgrade
Config Config Config
I I
Foo Foo
Config
Config
I+A+U+ I+A+U+ I+A+U+
Bar v1 Bar v2
O/S O/S O/S
U U
OS OS
Config Bar v2
I+A+U+
O/S
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12. CloudOps for OpenStack
There are lot of pieces, but they share many elements!
I I I I I I
Crowbar Dash Nova Nova Nova
Config
Config
Config
Config
Config
Config
Nagios
Chef Board Cntrl DB API
U U U U U U
OS OS OS OS OS OS
I I I I I I
Nova Nova Nova Nova Nova Nova
Config
Config
Config
Config
Config
Config
Node Node Node Node Node Node
U U U U U U
OS OS OS OS OS OS
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13. CloudOps for OpenStack
Plus interconnections are highly complex and dynamic
I I I I I I
Crowbar Dash Nova Nova Nova
Config
Config
Config
Config
Config
Config
Nagios
Chef Board Cntrl DB API
U U U U U U
OS OS OS OS OS OS
I I I I I I
Nova Nova Nova Nova Nova Nova
Config
Config
Config
Config
Config
Config
Node Node Node Node Node Node
U U U U U U
OS OS OS OS OS OS
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14. Cloud Deployments are Complex
Crowbar has
scripts that install
the components
of OpenStack
Nova in a proven
pattern that can
be customized
after the fact.
Source: Ken Pepple
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15. What is Crowbar?
Mission: “A Zero Touch Cloud Installer”
Servers in boxes to full function cloud in under 2 hours
Fast & Flexible
Bare metal install including BIOS & RAID config
Users can choose how their system is configured (“barclamps”)
DevOps Embracing
Ongoing Operations Model (DevOps for Clouds)
Leverages & Wraps Opscode Chef
Open
Not specific to OpenStack – Dell using for other Apps
Not restricted to Dell hardware
Apache 2 licensed
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16. Crowbar Stages of Deployment
APIs, User Access,
Includes all the components required to implement
& Ecosystem an entire cloud infrastructure including ecosystems
Partners partners
Ops Management
Pluggable components deploy cloud infrastructure.
Dell “Crowbar”
Cloud
Allow for addition of Dell IP and expansion by the
Infrastructure &
Dell IP Extensions community services and customers
Can integrate with Dell existing products
Core Components & Delivers basic data center services and required
Operating Systems cloud infrastructure.
Provision bare-metal servers from box to cloud
WITHOUT user intervention (other than
Physical Resources racking/cabling and some minimal configuration
questions) NOT EXCLUSIVE TO DELL HARDWARE
* Crowbar has potential to service other programs beyond OpenStack
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17. Modular Design: Barclamps
APIs, User Access, Nagios Ganglia Dashboard
& Ecosystem
Partners
Ops Management
Nova Swift Glance
Dell “Crowbar”
Cloud
Infrastructure &
Dell IP Extensions Compellent EqualLogic
Crowbar DNS Logging
Core Components &
Operating Systems
Deployer NTP
Provisioner BIOS IPMI
Physical Resources
Network RAID
* Crowbar has potential to service other programs beyond OpenStack
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18. Crowbar = Install State Machine
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19. Dashboard
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20. Barclamps and Proposals
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21. Monitoring
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22. Supporting Services
A self contained cloud requires some supporting
services. Crowbar also includes:
DNS: Can be forwarded to an upstream server
NTP: Can be synced to an upstream time server
Logging: Can be sent to a centralized logging server
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23. New Features?
Support for additional HW platforms
Support for storage platforms
Compellent
Equalogic
DX
Networking
10 Gig
Integration with switching infrastructure
OpenStack
Volume
Networking service
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24. Questions?
More info:
• http://Dell.com/OpenStack - White Papers & More!
• http://github.com/dellcloudedge/crowbar - Source code and instructions
• http://lists.us.dell.com/mailman/listinfo/crowbar - Discussions and
questions