Discover key OpenStack deployment methods for networks

As organizations require more generalized network engineer skills to operate effectively, siloed IT teams may be unequipped to handle changing technology capabilities.

This is especially true for various OpenStack deployment methods. Because OpenStack is an open source software, OpenStack network deployments may be daunting for disconnected IT teams, according to author V.K. Cody Bumgardner. Bumgardner's book, OpenStack in Action, is available now from Manning Publications Co. and delves into essential OpenStack requirements and best practices for IT teams and organizations.

Below is an excerpt from the book: Chapter 6, "Walking through a Networking deployment." This chapter explores OpenStack deployment methods specifically for OpenStack networking services. It covers prerequisites for network nodes, as well as how to deploy, configure and set up various OpenStack networking technologies.

V.K. Cody Bumgardner

While Bumgardner said he believes OpenStack brings various benefits to organizations and IT teams, he warned of challenges traditionally siloed teams could face, whether from a lack of generalized skills or single-vendor network infrastructure. Instead of IT careers that focus in a single area of computing, he said engineers should aim to develop broader skill sets to understand all aspects of IT, rather than skills specific to storage or networking.

Another important element of OpenStack deployment is that IT teams should know how to deploy and operate their own private cloud environments, whether those include a single machine or thousands of them. A crucial move for organizations to make their services more dynamic is for IT teams to understand infrastructure more broadly, as opposed to remaining in individual areas of IT operations, Bumgardner said. This understanding can enable IT teams to determine how infrastructure components work together and provide self-service or faster management to users.

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A broader understanding of infrastructure can lead to more seamless and efficient OpenStack deployment methods for teams to implement. However, one challenge with OpenStack deployments is people in traditionally siloed roles need to relinquish some control over to people in other areas.

Yet, if an organization's culture supports this dynamic change to OpenStack networking, it can attain more infrastructure flexibility and IT agility, while enabling vendor-agnostic networks, Bumgardner said.