Discussing Open-Source Cloud and Virtualization Management at CloudFest 2026
The ShapeBlue team once again will be supporting the Apache CloudStack project at CloudFest 2026, taking place in Rust, Germany from 23rd to 26th of March. CloudFest is one of the world’s leading events dedicated to cloud infrastructure and cloud technologies, with 10,000+ attendees. Each year, it brings together leading industry professionals to exchange ideas, […]
How Apache CloudStack Finds a Suitable Deployment Destination
When you click “Deploy Virtual Machine” in Apache CloudStack, you trigger a cascade of intelligent placement decisions. Behind that single click, CloudStack evaluates every layer of the infrastructure — from zone to pod to cluster to host to storage — before choosing the most optimal location for your new instance. This post is a storytelling walkthrough of that journey, […]
Integrating Proxmox VE with Apache CloudStack using the Extensions Framework
Apache CloudStack 4.21 introduces the Extensions Framework, a lightweight and flexible mechanism that allows operators and developers to integrate external systems into CloudStack’s resource lifecycle management. The Extensions Framework also ships with a built-in orchestrator for Proxmox VE, written entirely in Shell script. This script handles instance lifecycle operations such as Deploy, Start, Stop, Restart, […]
VMware to KVM Migration Improvements | CloudStack Feature Deep Dive
The VMware to KVM migration tool was introduced in CloudStack 4.19.0 to help CloudStack Administrators move existing VMware-based workloads into KVM-based environments in a controlled and automated way. This is particularly relevant for operators looking to reduce dependency on proprietary hypervisors, consolidate infrastructure, or modernize their virtualization stack using open-source technologies. While the initial implementation […]
Running Firecracker MicroVMs with Apache CloudStack
This how-to article explains how to integrate Firecracker microVMs with Apache CloudStack using the XaaS Extensions Framework. Firecracker provides fast-booting, secure, and lightweight microVMs ideal for edge and ephemeral workloads. This guide covers the following steps: • Prepare the Host: Set up a VLAN-aware bridge, install Firecracker and the Firecracker Agent, and enable TLS/auth. • […]
How Cloud and Virtualisation Market Reshaped in 2025
2025 was a year of significant restructuring of the cloud and virtualisation market. Uncertainty with vendors, rising need for better cost control, rapid adoption of AI workloads and new requirements around data sovereignty pushed organisations to reassess long-established assumptions about where and how their workloads should run. After years of “cloud-first” enthusiasm, many companies shifted […]
Deploying Windows 11 Best Practice | CloudStack Feature First Look
Deploying a Windows 11 virtual machine Instance on Apache CloudStack requires compliance with Microsoft’s system requirements. These include a compatible CPU (notably, the default KVM CPU model qemu64 is unsupported in Windows 11 24H2), UEFI firmware with Secure Boot, and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0, typically implemented as a vTPM. In CloudStack 4.20.0.0 […]
Async Agent Command Reconciliation | CloudStack Feature First Look
Apache CloudStack 4.21 introduces Async Agent Command Reconciliation, a mechanism designed to improve the reliability and accuracy of long-running operations (such as Instance and Volume migrations) when interruptions occur involving the Management Server, Agent, or the network. The Feature tracks and reconciles key Commands—CopyCommand, MigrateCommand, and MigrateVolumeCommand—by utilizing Agent heartbeats and a new reconciliation workflow. […]
A Guide on Choosing GPUs for Your Cloud
Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) are no longer just for gaming or graphics rendering. In today’s cloud environments, GPUs power artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), high-performance computing (HPC), and even virtual desktops. For cloud service providers (CSPs), system integrators, and enterprises, choosing the right GPUs can directly influence performance, scalability, and cost-efficiency. This guide will […]
Apache CloudStack vs. Proxmox for Your Virtual Environment: A Comprehensive Comparison
Apache CloudStack and Proxmox are two widely used platforms for managing virtualisation environments, each catering for different use cases and organisational needs. While Proxmox is designed as a robust virtualisation platform suitable for small and medium-sized businesses, CloudStack is a fully-fledged cloud management platform designed for scalable and multi-tenant cloud environments across businesses of all […]
