OpenNebula vs OpenStack: What are the differences?

Introduction

OpenNebula and OpenStack are both open-source cloud computing platforms that provide similar functionalities but also have some key differences. In this article, we will explore the main differences between OpenNebula and OpenStack in six specific areas.

1. Architecture: OpenNebula follows a single-server architecture where a single instance manages all the resources and services. On the other hand, OpenStack follows a multi-server architecture where various components are distributed across multiple nodes for better scalability and fault tolerance.

2. Focus: OpenNebula primarily focuses on providing a more simplified and user-friendly interface for managing virtualization resources. It aims to provide a comprehensive solution for managing both virtual machines (VMs) and containers. On the other hand, OpenStack focuses more on providing a scalable and feature-rich Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) platform. It offers a wide range of services for building and managing the entire cloud infrastructure.

3. Supported Hypervisors: OpenNebula supports a wider range of hypervisors compared to OpenStack. It includes popular hypervisors like KVM, Xen, VMware, and even Docker containers. OpenStack, on the other hand, primarily focuses on supporting the KVM hypervisor, but also provides support for other hypervisors like Xen and VMware.

4. Networking: OpenNebula offers a more simple and straightforward networking model. It provides basic networking features and allows users to easily create and manage virtual networks. OpenStack, on the other hand, offers a more advanced networking model with features like software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV). It provides more flexibility and granular control over the network configuration.

5. Community and Ecosystem: OpenStack has a larger community and ecosystem compared to OpenNebula. It is backed by a large number of companies and has a strong open-source community. This results in a wider range of available plugins, extensions, and integrations with other tools and platforms. OpenNebula, although it has a smaller community, is known for its stability and simplicity.

6. Ease of Deployment: OpenNebula provides a simple and straightforward installation process. It can be easily deployed and configured on a single server without any complex setup. OpenStack, on the other hand, requires more effort and expertise for installation and configuration. It typically requires a multi-node setup and a detailed understanding of the underlying components.

In summary, OpenNebula and OpenStack differ in terms of their architecture, focus, supported hypervisors, networking capabilities, community and ecosystem, and ease of deployment. While OpenNebula aims to provide a simple and user-friendly interface for managing virtualization resources, OpenStack focuses more on providing a scalable and feature-rich infrastructure-as-a-service platform.