8.Locks HexConnections CodeGlobe Esm W900

The LOKI stack is a powerful infrastructure that combines Linux, OpenStack, and Kubernetes in the ever-changing landscape of cloud infrastructure. OpenStack reports that Kubernetes was now used on more than 85% of OpenStack installations, indicating how these technologies are becoming increasingly integrated, as opposed to the idea of either-or choices.

Let's have a look at the benefits of integrating Linux, OpenStack, and Kubernetes infrastructure. 

Linux: The Solid Foundation

Linux is the foundation of the LOKI stack, allowing for a unified management experience across physical and virtual devices. Linux is an open-source operating system that is a crucial layer between hardware and software. It is the de facto operating system standard.

OpenStack: Orchestrating Cloud Resources

OpenStack, which was created in 2010 by Rackspace and NASA as a joint effort, has now become the open-source cloud standard. OpenStack, written in Python, constantly evolves and has regular releases every six months (like Bobcat or the upcoming Caracal). It manages servers, whether they are physical or virtual, and plays a crucial role in LOKI’s infrastructure. OpenStack is a cloud-based operating system that runs on top of Linux to create the space needed for the application layer.

Kubernetes: Container Orchestration Excellence

Google handed Kubernetes over to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation in 2014. Kubernetes' latest version, 1.28, enables the re-architecting and scaling of containerized applications, as well as automating deployment. Kubernetes was once thought to be a replacement for OpenStack, but it actually requires something similar to OpenStack to provide the infrastructure abstraction required by Kubernetes to run.

Integrating LOKI Components

Integrating OpenStack and Kubernetes into the LOKI stack offers a multifaceted solution to increase agility, security, and flexibility. Here are three ways that they work together:

OpenStack Container

OpenStack-Helm enables the containerization of the OpenStack Control Plane, simplifying the deployment, maintenance, and upgrading of individual OpenStack Services. This allows for flexibility when managing complex environments. OpenStack Helm can be used to orchestrate LOKI's stack. OpenStack Helm is closely associated with this project. However, there are many other open-source solutions that are being developed in the same space.

Kubernetes Containers on OpenStack

Kubernetes is able to run in an OpenStack cloud using OpenStack Magnum and the Kubernetes Cluster API. This approach allows for multi-tenant separation between Kubernetes Clusters and offers a robust solution to deploy container frameworks.

Cloud Provider OpenStack Plugins for Kubernetes

OpenStack services such as Cinder and Manila are independent of an OpenStack cloud. They provide storage solutions for containers without having to rely on Nova (the compute component within OpenStack). Additional OpenStack service plugins enhance Kubernetes functionality, including auto-healing (Magnum), ingress load balancing (Octavia), and secrets/authentication management (Barbican and Keystone) through the use of cloud provider OpenStack, which is maintained inside the Kubernetes community under SIG Cloud Provider.

Our Final Thoughts on the Significance of the LOKI Stack

The adoption of LOKI is evident in the statistics--Kubernetes is deployed on over 85% of OpenStack setups, with a notable 21% running production workloads using Magnum for container orchestration. The LOKI stack is a testament to Linux, OpenStack, and Kubernetes' collaborative power. It has been able to create an open-source, end-to-end infrastructure stack that can meet diverse use cases and workloads.

Are you using the LOKI stack? We'd love to hear about your experience! Connect with us on X @lnxsec, and let's chat!