Apache CloudStack for Beginners – Part 3: Getting Started and What Comes Next

In this series, we introduced Apache CloudStack—a robust, open-source platform for building Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) clouds, and explored its key components and architecture, demystifying terminology such as zones, pods, clusters, and storage types.

Now it’s time to put this knowledge into action. This final instalment will help you take your first steps toward using CloudStack in a lab or test environment. We will walk through installation options, highlight where to find reliable documentation and community support, and explain how to stay informed as CloudStack evolves. This is not just the end of the series—it’s the beginning of your hands-on journey with cloud infrastructure.

Setting Up CloudStack: Where to Begin

Apache CloudStack can be deployed in both small and large environments, but if you’re new, starting with a minimal test setup is recommended. This allows you to explore the features without the overhead of configuring complex infrastructure.

The easiest way to start is with a single-node or “all-in-one” installation, which runs all components—management server, database, hypervisor, and storage—on one machine. This is ideal for personal testing or classroom learning.

Installation Resources:

Download Apache CloudStack: https://cloudstack.apache.org/downloads.html
PoC Guide: https://www.shapeblue.com/apache-cloudstack-poc-guide/
CloudStack Install video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlJg3LYvIIs

This approach typically uses Ubuntu or Rocky Linux and the KVM hypervisor. It allows you to explore the interface, launch virtual machine instances, test networking, and experiment with templates—all from one physical or virtual server.

If you’re setting this up in a home lab, tools like VirtualBox or VMware Workstation can simulate an infrastructure needed to deploy CloudStack.

Learn from the Community and Shared Knowledge

Apache CloudStack has a strong open-source community. Getting support and learning from others is an essential part of the journey—especially for beginners. Fortunately, the community offers several helpful resources where you can ask questions, share experiences, and get direct advice from developers and advanced users.

Community Resources:

Slack Workspace: https://cloudstack.apache.org/slack.html
Mailing Lists: https://cloudstack.apache.org/mailing-lists.html
Video Tutorials and Webinars: https://www.youtube.com/c/ApacheCloudStack

You can also follow ShapeBlue’s blog for practical use cases and deployment tips, especially from those managing large-scale production environments.

Staying Current: Releases and Roadmap

Apache CloudStack is under active development, with frequent improvements and clearly defined release cycles. Minor and major versions are typically released every 6 to 9 months. These releases may include new features, hypervisor integrations, enhanced performance, or critical security updates.

Every version is accompanied by detailed documentation, which includes upgrade guides and changelogs. There are no “paid” versions or limited editions—everyone has access to the full platform, including support for new technologies as they are added.

Key Links:

Release Notes and Version History: https://docs.cloudstack.apache.org/en/latest/releasenotes/index.html
News and Announcements: https://cloudstack.apache.org/blog

Next Steps for Beginners

Once you have installed Apache CloudStack in a lab environment, you can begin experimenting with the features you’ve read about in this series. Here are a few practical actions you can take right away:

Log in to the CloudStack web interface as the administrator to explore the main dashboard.
Navigate to the Templates section and upload your own ISO or pre-configured template.
Create an isolated network, then deploy two virtual machine instances connected to it.
Verify network connectivity by pinging between the instances from their internal IPs.
Install a web server (like Apache or Nginx) on one of the instances.
Create a firewall rule and port forwarding rule to allow external HTTP access to the web server.
Access the web server from your browser to confirm everything is working.
Take a snapshot of the running instance and practice restoring it.
Monitor instance activity, resource usage, and logs using the CloudStack dashboard and logging tools.

These activities will help you build a real-world understanding of cloud orchestration and infrastructure management. The interface is designed to be intuitive, even for beginners, while still offering the depth needed for complex deployments.

Looking Ahead

Apache CloudStack is not just a platform—it’s a foundation for building future-ready, self-managed cloud environments. Whether you are exploring cloud concepts for the first time or planning a larger infrastructure project, the skills you develop using CloudStack are highly transferable to the broader world of cloud engineering.

As you grow more comfortable, you may want to explore topics like:

ShapeBlue has also developed a step-by-step video guide to speed up your journey with the CloudStack Demo. Explore the playlist on YouTube, which covers:

To explore more, see all CloudStack packages.

Apache CloudStack offers a complete, scalable cloud management platform that is freely available to everyone. For beginners, it provides an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience with modern cloud technologies. By starting in a controlled lab environment, learning from the community, and staying current with new releases, you can build the skills to design and manage real-world cloud infrastructures.

You are now equipped with the foundation to take your next step in cloud computing. Whether you’re a student, IT enthusiast, or entry-level sysadmin, CloudStack is a powerful tool to add to your toolkit.

Antonia Shehova

Antonia is a dedicated Marketing Assistant who genuinely enjoys her work. Since joining the team, she has been actively involved in the marketing activities.

In her spare time, Antonia enjoys spending time with her family and discovering new places.