In short
OpenStack is a powerful open-source cloud platform, but it requires significant expertise to deploy and maintain. whitesky provides similar infrastructure capabilities with a simpler deployment model, managed service delivery, and built-in features that organizations typically have to build themselves when using OpenStack.
Overview
OpenStack has been a cornerstone of private cloud infrastructure for over a decade. It provides a comprehensive set of services for compute, storage, and networking. However, the complexity of deploying and maintaining OpenStack has led many organizations to seek simpler alternatives. whitesky addresses this by providing a production-ready cloud platform without the deployment complexity.
Key differences
Deployment and operations
| Aspect | whitesky | OpenStack |
|---|---|---|
| Time to production | Days to weeks | Often months (depending on scope) |
| Required expertise | Basic IT skills | Deep OpenStack expertise |
| Deployment model | Turnkey platform on commodity x86 | Custom integration |
| Operations | Managed service (by whitesky) | Self-managed (or via a commercial distribution) |
| Updates and upgrades | Handled by whitesky | Manual, complex process |
Feature completeness
| Aspect | whitesky | OpenStack |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-tenancy | Built-in | Requires configuration |
| Billing system | Built-in | DIY or third-party |
| Portal experience | Modern, unified | Horizon (basic) or custom |
| Kubernetes | Built-in | Self-configured |
| Object storage | Built-in | Swift (OpenStack object service) or Ceph |
Total cost of ownership
| Aspect | whitesky | OpenStack |
|---|---|---|
| Initial deployment | Professional services | Significant engineering time |
| Ongoing operations | Managed service | Dedicated team required |
| Support | Single vendor support | Community or paid support |
| Updates | Included (managed) | Manual, risky upgrades |
| Integration work | Minimal | Significant |
Feature comparison
Core services
| Service | whitesky | OpenStack equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual machines | Cloudspaces | Nova |
| Block storage | Cloudspaces vDisks | Cinder |
| Object storage | Objectspaces | Swift or Ceph |
| Networking | Built-in | Neutron |
| Identity | Built-in | Keystone |
| Kubernetes | Containerspaces | Self-managed Magnum or DIY |
| VDI | Built-in | Requires third-party integration |
Built-in capabilities
whitesky includes these features that OpenStack requires additional setup for:
- Billing and metering: built-in usage tracking and invoicing
- Multi-tenant isolation: secure separation of customer environments
- Portal and self-service: user-friendly interface for customers
- Backup and restore: integrated backup to S3-compatible storage
- Load balancers: built-in L4/L7 load balancing
- VDI: integrated virtual desktop infrastructure
When to choose whitesky
Consider whitesky if:
- You want managed operations - reduce the burden on your IT team
- You need faster deployment - get to production in days, not months
- You lack OpenStack expertise - avoid building specialized skills
- You want billing included - avoid building invoicing systems
- You need VDI or containers - built-in rather than DIY integration
- You’re an MSP - multi-tenant billing and portal are essential
When OpenStack may still fit
OpenStack may remain appropriate if:
- You have deep OpenStack expertise - team can maintain it effectively
- You need maximum flexibility - OpenStack is highly customizable
- You want no dependency on a vendor - fully open-source stack
- You’re building a large public cloud - OpenStack scales well with investment
- You have specific integration requirements - OpenStack’s API is well-documented
Migration from OpenStack
If you’re currently running OpenStack and considering whitesky:
- Assessment - evaluate current workloads and OpenStack configuration
- Migration planning - identify which VMs and services to migrate
- Parallel operation - run both platforms during transition
- Cutover - migrate workloads with minimal downtime
- Decommission - retire OpenStack when migration is complete
Get started
Contact whitesky to discuss migrating from OpenStack to a simpler, managed cloud platform.
Request a demo to see whitesky in action and understand how it can simplify your cloud operations.