Getting Started with OpenStack from Pluralsight

OpenStack, one of the largest open-source projects, has captured the imagination of many IT professionals. This course will teach you how to create an application on an OpenStack cloud and will explore the fundamentals of this technology.

OpenStack, started by Rackspace and NASA in 2010, remains the best known open-source cloud operating system. It is not hard to set up your own cloud at home or in your lab, and use it to explore cloud computing technologies. In this course, Getting Started with Openstack, you’ll discover OpenStack from a user perspective, creating virtual machines, networks, and volumes.

First, you'll start with an overview of the OpenStack architecture, and the main types of resources an OpenStack cloud presents to the user.

Next, you'll go in-depth on the concepts of Compute, Image, Identity, Block Storage, and Object Storage. Then, you'll create multi-tier networks on which you launch virtual machines. Moving on, you'll use cloud-init to automatically customize your instances in various ways, such as setting up users and installing additional software. Finally, you'll persist your data with Block Storage volumes and Object Storage objects. When you’re finished with this course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge of needed to launch a fully functional and moderately complex application in an OpenStack cloud.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Overview and Logging On

Launching Instances

Managing Networks

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Covers the fundamentals of OpenStack, including Compute, Image, Identity, Block Storage, and Object Storage

Suitable for beginners who want to create an application on an OpenStack cloud

Taught by Bernd Bausch, an experienced instructor in cloud computing

Provides a hands-on approach to learning through the creation of virtual machines, networks, and volumes

Reviews summary

Solid openstack introduction for beginners

According to students, Getting Started with OpenStack provides a solid and practical introduction to the cloud operating system. Many learners praise the instructor's clear explanations and the course's well-structured content, making complex topics accessible. The hands-on labs and practical exercises are frequently highlighted as a major strength, effectively reinforcing theoretical concepts. While it is particularly well-suited for absolute beginners to OpenStack, some experienced cloud professionals found the content to be somewhat basic. Older reviews noted challenges with lab environment setup and occasional slowness, though recent feedback suggests these issues may have been addressed or are less prevalent.

Recent reviews indicate improvement in course delivery.

"The content felt somewhat outdated, and setting up the lab environment locally was a nightmare... Needs an update."

"The virtual lab environment worked well for me, which was a huge relief. Great starting point!"

"Compared to what I've heard from others about past lab issues, I found the practical guidance robust enough now."

"I found the course overall to be more current and stable than some earlier comments might suggest."

Serves as an excellent entry point for new learners.

"Excellent introduction to OpenStack for beginners. Highly recommend for anyone starting out!"

"I had zero OpenStack experience and this course was perfect. The clear demos made it easy to follow."

"This is exactly what I needed to get productive with OpenStack."

"It sets a good base, though a follow-up course would be beneficial for more in-depth knowledge."

Practical exercises greatly enhance understanding.

"The hands-on labs were incredibly useful and the instructor explained complex concepts clearly."

"I especially liked the sections on storage and automating application launches. This is exactly what I needed."

"The explanations are clear, and the practical exercises reinforce the concepts."

"The virtual lab environment worked well for me, which was a huge relief. Great starting point!"

Instructor delivers concepts with notable clarity.

"The instructor explained complex concepts clearly. I feel much more confident working with OpenStack now."

"The instructor's explanations were spot on, and the progression from concept to practical application was seamless."

"The explanations are clear, and the practical exercises reinforce the concepts."

"The clear demos and step-by-step instructions made it easy to follow."

Content may be basic for those with prior cloud exposure.

"Decent course, but felt a bit basic for someone with prior cloud experience."

"The content was accurate, but I was hoping for more depth in advanced networking or automation."

"I was hoping for more depth in advanced networking or automation."

Some learners experienced issues with lab setup or performance.

"The labs were a bit clunky to set up on my own machine, and the provided lab environment was sometimes slow."

"Disappointed. The course felt somewhat outdated, and setting up the lab environment locally was a nightmare."

"The lab environments were a constant source of frustration. Many errors and inconsistencies."

"I had to spend too much time troubleshooting instead of learning OpenStack concepts."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Getting Started with OpenStack with these activities:

Organize course notes and resources

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Strengthen knowledge retention and organization.

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Review course notes and identify key concepts.
Create a digital or physical folder to store course materials.
Categorize and organize notes, assignments, and other relevant resources.

Hands-on demonstration with OpenStack CLI

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Familiarize yourself with OpenStack CLI to run commands smoothly during the course.

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Install the OpenStack CLI on your local machine.
Authenticate to your OpenStack cloud using the CLI.
Create a virtual machine using the CLI.

Explore OpenStack documentation

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Enhance understanding of OpenStack concepts and features.

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Visit the official OpenStack documentation website.
Browse through the documentation for different services, such as Compute, Network, and Storage.
Read tutorials and examples to gain practical insights.

Eight other activities

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Join an OpenStack Community or Forum

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Connect with other OpenStack users, ask questions, share knowledge, and enhance your learning through peer support.

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Identify and join an active OpenStack community or forum.
Participate in discussions and ask for assistance when needed.
Share your own knowledge and expertise with the community.

Create virtual machines

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Reinforce knowledge of compute and virtualization concepts.

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Spin up a new virtual machine instance in your OpenStack cloud.
Configure the instance's settings, such as its size, storage, and network.
Test the instance by connecting to it via SSH.

Use cloud storage services

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Strengthen knowledge of data management and storage.

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Create a new storage volume in your OpenStack cloud.
Attach the volume to a virtual machine.
Store data on the volume and verify its accessibility.

Manage virtual networks

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Deepen understanding of networking concepts.

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Create a new virtual network in your OpenStack cloud.
Configure the network's settings, such as its subnet, gateway, and DNS.
Connect your virtual machines to the network.
Test the network connectivity by pinging between instances.

Design and Implement a Multi-tier Network on OpenStack

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Build a fully functional multi-tier network on OpenStack, reinforcing your understanding of network concepts and OpenStack's capabilities.

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Plan the architecture of your multi-tier network.
Implement the network using OpenStack's networking services.
Test and troubleshoot the network to ensure proper functionality.

Deploy a simple application

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Apply gained knowledge to real-world scenarios.

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Create a new application server instance in your OpenStack cloud.
Install the necessary software and dependencies on the instance.
Deploy your application to the instance.
Test the application's functionality.

Contribute to OpenStack projects

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Gain hands-on experience and contribute to the OpenStack community.

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Identify an OpenStack project that interests you.
Join the project's mailing list and follow their documentation.
Contribute in a meaningful way, such as reporting bugs, submitting patches, or providing documentation updates.

Deploy a Real-World Application on OpenStack

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Gain valuable experience by deploying a real-world application on OpenStack, putting your knowledge into practice and building a portfolio project.

Browse courses on Cloud Application Development

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Choose a real-world application to deploy.
Design the architecture of your application deployment.
Deploy and configure the application on your OpenStack cloud.
Monitor and maintain the deployed application.

Career center

Learners who complete Getting Started with OpenStack will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Getting Started with OpenStack

What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Solid openstack introduction for beginners

Activities

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