The acquisition of VMware by Broadcom has raised concerns among customers and led to an increase in costs, prompting many companies to seek alternatives. In this context, OpenStack, an open-source project for managing cloud infrastructure, is experiencing a new surge in users and interest.
An unexpected turn in the market
Jonathan Bryce, Executive Director of the OpenInfra Foundation, expressed surprise at this turn of events: “I didn’t have ‘VMware sparks the resurgence of OpenStack’ on my 2024 bingo card.” Bryce noted that the uncertainty introduced by Broadcom in the enterprise IT market has been a key factor in this renewed interest in OpenStack.
Increasing migrations
Reports indicate that most providers helping companies adopt and manage OpenStack have received inquiries about migrating from VMware. By mid-last summer, over half had already completed a migration from VMware. Thierry Carrez, General Manager of OpenInfra, stated that these migrations are now less complicated than before. However, for many companies, the change is not just about switching platforms but part of a broader transition to cloud-native workloads.
Challenges in the transition
Despite technical improvements, the main challenge for companies lies in adapting their operations teams to a new management paradigm. Carrez explained: “The hard part is the tools they are used to. When you’re used to VMware’s vCenter and end up with something more programmatic and API-driven, it’s less natural.”
Long-term growth
Mark Collier, CTO of the OpenInfra Foundation, pointed out that this change could signify a wave of growth for OpenStack lasting several years. Some companies are already initiating new projects in OpenStack, even as they negotiate their final contract extensions with VMware.
Continuous improvements in OpenStack
With the release of its version 30, dubbed “Dalmatian,” OpenStack continues to enhance its functionalities. New features include improved support for AI workloads and high-performance computing, as well as new functions for reserving GPU instances and security updates.
A revitalized ecosystem
The renewed interest in OpenStack is also revitalizing its entire ecosystem. Companies like Mirantis, which had retained their existing OpenStack customers but had not seen much new interest, are now gearing up to support these new companies interested in the platform. Collier concluded: “There’s an open alternative that we’ve been improving over 30 versions, and it works quite well. And you can really pick it without having to choose just one provider.”