New Technologies Target OpenStack Private Clouds

There’s no question that data center and private cloud environments have struggled to obtain highly available scale-out object storage and a seamless data management capability that extends all the way to the endpoint. Conversely, public cloud architectures are growing more mature and provide low-cost, scale-out object storage and innovative backup functionality. Data centers and private clouds need these public cloud types of storage and data management capabilities. Fortunately, there are a handful of companies stepping up to address this need.

One such company is Druva, which released a new version of its inSync managed data offering Thursday. Along with file storage, inSync now provides highly available scale-out object storage based on the OpenStack SWIFT storage access protocol and has the capability to backup both file and object storage, as well as remote data on endpoint devices (that is, laptops and handheld devices.). Druva is primarily targeting the OpenStack private cloud environment; however, it will continue to support the traditional data center deployment model.

A handful of other companies are trying to provide innovative new technologies in the OpenStack framework. Some provide pure backup software products, some offer provide tighter network security, and some provide integrated backup from remote servers within the OpenStack private cloud.

Examples include All9s, which is looking for beta customers for its pre-release OpenStack pure software backup and disaster recovery solution. All9s is a newcomer and beta tests should be conducted in a non-production environment. CloudBerry Lab provides support for OpenStack Keystone Identity Service, an OpenStack secure authentication project that provides identity, token, catalog and security policy services. In addition, Zamanda offers its Amanda Enterprise network backup software for use in an OpenStack framework for backups from the remote server layer.

[Public and private clouds can present challenges for file-based applications that use NAS. Find out how several vendors are helping companies meet those challenges in "NAS Options for Public and Private Clouds."]

I recently spoke with Druva CEO and co-founder Jaspreet Singh about the struggles of IT management in the data center and those trying to deploy a private cloud.

"Enterprise customers want public cloud type storage as they build their private clouds. It's been hard to find a true scale-out object storage solution, and block storage is limited in its scalability," Singh said.

He said Druva's updated technology provides its customers with the benefits of the cloud within their data centers. InSync's integrated backup capability is designed to provide continuous data protection. "We see this as disruptive technology," Singh said.

Druva shared a diagram of its enhanced architecture, and it was easy to see Singh's point. InSync manages file shares and objects within it and has built-in intelligence to seamlessly backup all of the data it manages. This promises to cut costs by negating the need for multiple backup products (that is, for the core data center, remote servers and end point devices). Druva will have the new architecture topology diagram on its website within 30 days.

It’s exciting to see new storage and data management products for the data center and OpenStack framework. These technologies make it easier for you to architect, plan and deploy innovative IT solutions for your organization or business, as well as ease you into the cloud and make the path less bumpy.

Are you planning a private OpenStack cloud? If so, how is it going? Have you tried any of the products mentioned here? Have you been struggling with object storage offerings or end-to-end data management? I would love to read your comments below. All of us can benefit from our shared experiences.