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Apache CloudStack (Incubating)

Apache CloudStack (Incubating) is an open-source (cloud infrastructure management) platform for deploying and managing IaaS-style private, public, and hybrid clouds.

  • Multi-tenant Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) cloud orchestration and management (cloud infrastructure management)
  • Virtual Machine (VM) lifecycle management across compute hosts and clusters (virtualization management)
  • Software Defined Networking (SDN), IP address management, and network services (network virtualization)
  • Block and object storage provisioning and management (storage orchestration)
  • REST-based Application Programming Interface (API) and UI for cloud administrators and end users (infrastructure self-service)

More About Apache CloudStack (Incubating)

Apache CloudStack (Incubating) is an open-source (cloud infrastructure management) platform that provides orchestration and control for IaaS environments. It targets operators that run private, public, or hybrid clouds and need a unified control plane for compute, storage, and networking resources. CloudStack manages data center infrastructure resources and exposes them through a self-service portal and programmable APIs, enabling users to provision and manage virtual machines and associated services.

The platform delivers capabilities for (virtualization management) by abstracting hypervisor hosts into clusters, pods, and zones. It supports the creation, deployment, and lifecycle management of virtual machines using templates and service offerings that define compute, storage, and networking characteristics. Administrators can model physical infrastructure hierarchies and define resource limits and allocations across tenants, projects, and accounts. CloudStack handles VM provisioning workflows, including placement, start, stop, reboot, and destruction operations.

For networking, Apache CloudStack provides (network virtualization) capabilities that include the definition and management of virtual networks, IP address ranges, and related network services. It supports constructs such as virtual routers, firewall rules, load balancing policies, and Virtual Private Network (VPN) services where available in the platform distribution. Network offerings describe different network service tiers and can be associated with guest networks, enabling administrators to present standardized network configurations to users.

In the storage domain, CloudStack offers (storage orchestration) for both primary and secondary storage. Primary storage hosts VM disks and volumes, while secondary storage holds templates, ISO images, and snapshots. The platform can manage multiple storage pools and associate them with clusters or zones, enabling flexible deployment architectures. Through storage offerings, administrators can define storage characteristics and present them as selectable options during VM creation.

Enterprises and service providers use Apache CloudStack as a (private and public cloud platform) to operate multi-tenant environments with quota, account, and project constructs. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and administrative domains allow separation of responsibilities between cloud operators, domain administrators, and end users. The system includes a web-based user interface for administrators and users, along with a REST-style API that integrates with external systems such as billing, monitoring, and configuration management tools.

CloudStack’s plugin and integration model supports extensibility (platform extensibility) across hypervisors, network devices, and storage systems, enabling operators to connect the control plane to diverse infrastructure stacks. Its architecture positions it in directories and taxonomies under categories such as IaaS cloud management platforms, cloud orchestration frameworks, and virtualization management systems. For organizations seeking an open-source approach to IaaS, Apache CloudStack (Incubating) functions as a central controller that coordinates resource pools, enforces policies, and exposes standardized services for compute, networking, and storage.