What is MicroCloud?
MicroCloud is Canonical’s lightweight, low entry barrier open source cloud. It combines virtualization, software defined storage, and networking into an efficient platform for anyone who needs a straightforward path to production-grade clusters. Deploy a MicroCloud in minutes, and manage with ease.
What makes up a MicroCloud?
MicroCloud brings together three core components, each responsible for a key layer of the stack: virtualization with LXD, software defined storage with MicroCeph, and software defined networking with MicroOVN.
Open source virtualization with LXD
LXD provides KVM/QEMU VMs and system containers for running workloads across the cluster. It acts as the control plane for workloads, with a user-friendly GUI, CLI, or API for managing your environment.
Distributed software defined storage with MicroCeph
MicroCeph combines block, object, and file storage within a single cluster, removing the need for multiple storage solutions. MicroCeph is scalable and reliable, making it the perfect storage solution for any cloud.
Trusted software defined networking with MicroOVN
MicroOVN provides virtual network abstractions, such as virtual L2 and L3 overlays, security groups, DHCP, and other networking services. It separates logical network topology from physical infrastructure, making the cloud easier to operate.
What does a MicroCloud cluster look like?
A typical MicroCloud cluster consists of three or more machines, each running the same MicroCloud stack. One or two member clusters are also supported, but will not be highly available. Within a MicroCloud, all services are distributed, and the cluster operates as a single system.
During bootstrap, MicroCloud automatically discovers peer nodes, forms the LXD cluster, creates the distributed storage pool, and sets up the virtual network.
Once initialized, workloads can be scheduled on any cluster member, storage is replicated across the cluster, and networking is available everywhere by default. If a member goes down, instances can be restarted on another member, and data remains available, minimizing the risk of data loss.
The result is a compact, resilient cloud: simple to deploy, easy to manage, and ready for production.
External storage integrations
MicroCloud supports a variety of external storage options, natively integrated through LXD.
Through Canonical’s partnership with Dell, PowerFlex is natively supported as an external storage option in both standalone LXD and MicroCloud deployments.
Canonical, in collaboration with Pure Storage, have created a unified virtualization and storage platform. It combines the open source virtualization of Canonical LXD, or full MicroCloud, with the high-performance, always-on storage of Pure Storage FlashArray.
HPE Alletra is designed to deliver mission-critical storage at an accessible price point, offering a consistent data experience across various cloud environments. With this integration, Canonical LXD and MicroCloud users can now provision and manage Alletra block storage.