How to efficiently choose between OpenStack and Kubernetes with Rackspace

Cloud technology's growth has created many ways for companies to handle their workloads well. OpenStack and Kubernetes are two key solutions transforming how organizations manage their infrastructure and apps. Yet, picking the right one can be tough.

To clarify this subject, Twain Taylor recently talked to Victor Palma, Strategic Architect at Rackspace Technology, and Kevin Carter, Product Director at Rackspace. They shared useful insights on choosing the right platform and highlighted how Rackspace's know-how can make the decision easier.

In this blog post, we'll explore how Rackspace's tailored approach helps businesses make smart choices between OpenStack and Kubernetes.

Understanding OpenStack and Kubernetes

What is OpenStack?

OpenStack is a cloud operating system that helps manage compute, storage, and networking resources from one platform. It's flexible enough for businesses to set up virtual machines (VMs), handle bare-metal servers, and work with containers. OpenStack's ability to support multiple tenants and keep resources separate makes it a great choice for companies that want fine-grained control over their infrastructure.

What is Kubernetes?

Kubernetes, often called K8s, are platforms that orchestrate containers. It's built to watch over and grow containerized applications. K8s takes care of deployment, scaling, and operations, so many prefer it for modern microservices setups. Kubernetes shines when it comes to handling workloads in a cloud-native setting, giving developers the freedom to create and launch applications without hassle.

Key considerations when choosing between OpenStack and Kubernetes

1. The nature of your workloads

Rackspace emphasizes that the choice between OpenStack and Kubernetes depends significantly on your workloads:

• OpenStack: It works best for tasks that need separate resources, multiple tenants, and standard VMs. OpenStack’s strong support for different storage options, like Ceph, NetApp, and Pure Storage, makes it a good fit for setups where you need a range of storage choices and adaptability.
• Kubernetes is perfect for cloud-ready workloads that need to be flexible, automated, and easy to scale. It is unbeatable to handle containerized apps for microservices setups.

2. Day-one versus day-two operations

Day-one operations refer to a system’s initial setup, deployment, and configuration. Day-two operations encompass long-term management, updates, and maintenance.

• OpenStack: Provides a robust day-one experience, especially for organizations prioritizing multi-tenancy and resource segregation from the outset. Features like native support for multiple networks and availability zones reduce the complexity of the initial configuration.
• Kubernetes: While Kubernetes offers flexibility, achieving multi-tenancy or complex networking often requires additional configurations and tools, which can extend the setup time. However, once configured, Kubernetes excels in day two operations with seamless updates and scalability.

3. Multi-tenancy and resource segregation

Multi-tenancy is a cornerstone of OpenStack. Different teams or departments from day one can operate in isolated environments with separate networks, storage, and computing resources. On the other hand, Kubernetes achieves multi-tenancy through additional tools like Capsule, which introduces complexity and requires strict policy enforcement.

Rackspace highlights that if multi-tenancy is a priority, OpenStack’s native capabilities may make it a more efficient choice.

4. Hybrid workloads and flexibility

Rackspace’s experts emphasize that both OpenStack and Kubernetes are complementary rather than competitive. Organizations often need hybrid environments to handle diverse workloads:

• Use OpenStack for traditional, monolithic applications that require VMs or bare metal infrastructure.
• Use Kubernetes for modern, cloud-native applications.
• Leverage both platforms side by side, with OpenStack managing the infrastructure and Kubernetes orchestrating containers.

5. Long-term strategy and scalability

Victor Palma and Kevin Carter from Rackspace advise businesses to think strategically about their long-term goals. OpenStack’s ability to scale from small hyper-converged setups to massive global deployments makes it a versatile choice for organizations planning for growth. Kubernetes’ scalability is equally robust but is more suited for containerized workloads.

Rackspace’s approach to OpenStack and Kubernetes

Rackspace Technology leads the way in managed cloud services. They fully support OpenStack and Kubernetes. With their unique approach, companies can pick the right platform to meet their needs without compromising flexibility or support.

1. Build, Operate, Transfer model

Rackspace’s “Build, Operate, Transfer” model stands out as a key differentiator. This approach provides end-to-end support:

• Design and architecture: Rackspace helps organizations design and architect their OpenStack or Kubernetes environments based on their workloads and business needs.
• Implementation and operations: Once designed, Rackspace’s experts implement and operate the platform, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
• Transfer and training: After implementation, Rackspace transfers operational control to the organization and provides training to ensure a smooth transition.

This model ensures flexibility and avoids vendor lock-in, allowing organizations to take ownership of their infrastructure at their own pace.

2. Expertise in OpenStack

Rackspace has a long history with OpenStack, contributing to its development and operating large-scale deployments. Their expertise includes:

• Managing global clouds with tens of thousands of hypervisors.
• Supporting hyper-converged infrastructures for small-scale setups.
• Integrating OpenStack with Kubernetes for hybrid environments.

3. Managed Kubernetes services

Rackspace’s managed Kubernetes platform goes beyond basic control plane management:

Day-two operations: Rackspace handles updates, security patches, and scalability for Kubernetes environments.

Customization: Rackspace’s experts tailor Kubernetes deployments to meet specific business needs.

Support for hybrid solutions: Rackspace enables seamless integration of Kubernetes with OpenStack or bare metal environments.

Conclusion

OpenStack and Kubernetes stand out as strong platforms, each with its key features, and you'll need to pick one based on your organization’s needs, workloads, and long-term strategy. Rackspace has the know-how and the tools to help businesses make smart choices and get the most out of their cloud infrastructure. Whether you’re looking for multi-tenancy, scalability, or seamless hybrid environments, Rackspace offers the guidance and support you need to succeed.