Cloud computing is one of today’s most popular computing models because it leverages the power of network connectivity to create powerful and flexible storage, processing, and software execution infrastructure. A cloud installation typically delivers virtualized storage and computing (through virtual machines) in response to administrative and user requests. Traditionally viewed as a pay-as-you-go-model supported by a variety of Internet software and infrastructure vendors, cloud computing can also be installed and supported in a local network environment to deliver those same capabilities without relying on third-party vendors. The Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (UEC) installation that is supported on the Ubuntu Server installation CDs enables you to set up and configure a cloud computing environment on your own systems thanks to Eucalyptus, an open source cloud computing package.
Cloud computing is a topic that deserves, and already has, many books dedicated to its concepts and configuration. This section highlights the differences between installing a traditional Ubuntu Server and a UEC Server, but does not provide a detailed discussion of all of the components of a Eucalyptus-based cloud. Links to more detailed information, including user and administrator guides, are provided at the end of this section.
A minimal Eucalyptus cloud installation typically involves at least two systems, a front-end system that runs cloud-related server processes such as the cloud controller, cluster controller, the network-based storage service manager (known as Walrus), and the storage controller; and another system that runs a node controller, functions as a node within the cloud, and delivers virtual machine instances.
As a server installation that provides cloud services and virtual machine instances in an entire computing environment, the suggested installation requirements for a UEC installation are much larger than those of a standard Ubuntu Server. Recommendations are:
Front-end system:
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L Multi-core or multiple processors at 1.7 GHz or better, 2 GB or more of system memory, 200 GB or more of disk space (depending on the number of virtual machine images you will be supporting), Gigabit Ethernet
Node:
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L 64-bit, multi-core processor with hardware virtualization support (Intel VT or AMD-V), 4 GB or more of system memory, 100 GB or more of disk space (depending on the number of virtual machine images that will be running at one time on each node), Gigabit Ethernet
The installation process for an Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud Server is very similar to that of a standard Ubuntu Server, with the exception of some screens that are specific to configuring Eucalyptus. When installing an Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud Server, the following screens display after the screen shown in Figure 3-6, which prompts for the name of your server system:
1. Figure 3-33 shows the initial Cloud Installation Mode dialog that prompts you for the network address of the system that is running the Eucalyptus cloud controller pack-age. This system coordinates activities between all systems that are members of a single Eucalyptus cloud. If this is your first Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud installation (and you are not already running Eucalyptus in your environment), you will not have an existing cloud controller, and you should leave the address field empty (which implies that the system that you are installing will be the cloud controller). If you already have a system serving as a Eucalyptus cloud controller in your environment, enter its IP address. Press return to continue.
Figure 3-33
Identifying any existing cloud controller
2. The second Cloud Installation Mode dialog shown in Figure 3-34 displays if you did not identify the IP address of a cloud controller in the screen shown in Figure 3-33 — in other words, if you are installing a UEC system that will function as a cloud control-ler. As mentioned earlier in this section, a minimal cloud installation requires at least two systems, so this screen identifies the processes that should be running on a cloud controller if you did not identify an existing system that functions as a cloud controller.
If you did specify the IP address of a cloud controller system, the screen that displays
is very similar to the screen shown in Figure 3-34, except that only the Node controller entry is highlighted.
Figure 3-34
Identifying cloud-related server processes to install
At this point, the normal server installation process resumes with the screen shown in
Figure 3-7, as discussed in the section entitled “Installing an Ubuntu Server.” The only significant differences between the remainder of the Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud and standard Ubuntu Server installation processes are the following:
The cloud controller system in an Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud installation automatically
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installs the Postfix Mail Server. The installation process will therefore display the stan-dard Postfix configuration dialogs, which are discussed in Chapter 30, “Setting Up a Mail Server.”
The dialog shown in Figure 3-35 displays, prompting you for the name of the Ubuntu
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Enterprise Cloud that you are installing. Enter a logical name for the cloud, and press Return to continue.
The dialog shown in Figure 3-36 displays, prompting you for a pool of IP addresses that
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can be used as the publicly visible IP addresses of virtual machines that will be created and made available in the cloud. Enter a range of IP addresses that are not already in use or are already available through a DHCP server in your computing environment, and press Return to continue.
Figure 3-35
Specifying the name of your Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud
Figure 3-36
Specifying IP addresses for virtual machines in your Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud
For general information about the Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud and comparisons with third-party cloud computing environments, see www.ubuntu.com/cloud. For more detailed information about UEC, the topology and configuration of a Eucalyptus cloud, and the processes that control the behavior of a Eucalyptus-based cloud, see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEC. For specific information about Eucalyptus, see www.eucalyptus.com, the commercial arm of Eucalyptus, or http://open.eucalyptus.com, the Eucalyptus open source site where you can find extensive documentation including guides for administrators and users.