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Apache CloudStack

cloudstack.apache.org

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Spec score 9.0 #1 of 34 in Virtualization Management Software

What it is

Apache CloudStack is free, open-source software for deploying and managing networks of virtual machines as a highly available, scalable IaaS cloud platform. Organizations can use it to build public, private, or hybrid clouds. Its features include compute orchestration, network services, account management, resource accounting, a web interface, and an open API. Operators can manage clouds through a web UI, command-line tools, or REST API, with optional AWS EC2- and S3-compatible APIs. Supported hypervisors include XenServer or XCP, KVM, Hyper-V, and VMware ESXi with vSphere. Storage options include iSCSI, NFS, Ceph RBD with KVM, volume encryption, snapshots, and storage tiering. Authentication options include OAuth2 single sign-on, two-factor authentication, TOTP, SAML, and LDAP. The project says CloudStack can manage tens of thousands of physical servers across geographically distributed data centers. Long Term Support releases receive bug and security fixes for 18 months after the main release. Operators remain responsible for protections such as monitoring, host security, and defenses against DoS and brute-force attacks.

Spec sheet

What it does
Apache CloudStack deploys and manages large virtual-machine networks as a highly available, scalable IaaS platform.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Purpose
Apache CloudStack deploys and manages large networks of virtual machines as a highly available, scalable IaaS cloud platform.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Intended users
The project identifies cloud solution providers, managed service providers, telcos, and enterprises as audiences for CloudStack.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Deployment
Organizations use CloudStack to build public, private, and hybrid clouds.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
API
CloudStack exposes a documented, extensible REST-like API and supports Amazon EC2 and S3-compatible APIs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Integrations
The integrations page lists Terraform, Ansible, Kubernetes, Prometheus, VMware NSX, Ceph, MinIO, and billing portal integrations.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Support
Users can seek community help through the project mailing list, and the project says some companies offer commercial support.Read 29 Sep 2026 · docs.cloudstack.apache.org
License
The project website states that Apache CloudStack is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Founded
2008Read 23 Sep 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Access
Clouds can be managed through a web UI, command-line tools, or a RESTful API, with optional AWS EC2 and S3 compatible APIs.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
API documentation
API references are published for every major feature version from 4.0 through 4.23.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Authentication
Security features include OAuth2, TOTP, two-factor authentication, SAML, LDAP and role-based accounts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Automation integrations
The integrations catalog lists Puppet, Terraform, Ansible and Chef automation integrations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Backup integrations
The project describes API-based backup and disaster-recovery integrations and lists Acronis, Dell, Backroll and CloudStack options.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
CLI
CloudMonkey is the project’s command-line and shell environment for interacting with CloudStack clouds.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Company founding
The Apache Software Foundation was established in 1999 and is funded by individual donations and corporate sponsors.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Company legal entity
Crunchbase identifies the legal name as The Apache Software Foundation, an active nonprofit.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Container integrations
CloudStack provides a Container Service and lists Kubernetes and Cluster API Provider CloudStack integrations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Core features
The platform includes compute orchestration, network services, account management, resource accounting, a web interface, and an open API.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Core stack
CloudStack includes compute orchestration, Network-as-a-Service, account management, resource accounting, a native API and a web interface.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Current release
The downloads page identifies 4.23.0.0 as the latest regular release and 4.22.1.1 as the current LTS release.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Deployment models
The project supports public, private, on-premises and hybrid cloud deployments.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Documentation depth
Official documentation covers concepts, topology, quick installation, full installation, administration and complex configurations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.cloudstack.apache.org
Extensibility
A pluggable adapter framework supports custom hypervisor, storage, network and authentication integrations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
High availability
Management servers can run in a load-balanced multi-node installation and MySQL can use replication for failover.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.cloudstack.apache.org
Hypervisors
Supported technologies include BareMetal via IPMI, Hyper-V, KVM, LXC, vSphere, XenServer and Xen Project.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.cloudstack.apache.org
Installation
Management servers can be installed with RPM or DEB packages, while official mirrors distribute source releases.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.cloudstack.apache.org
Licence
The project is open source under the Apache License 2.0.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: operations
Reviewers cite unfriendly server logs, a need for command-line intervention and slower graphical-interface performance in large environments.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Limit: support and ecosystem
A reviewer says the lack of an official support channel can require self-diagnosis and that third-party integrations can be harder to find.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Limit: upgrades and bugs
Reviewers report undocumented bugs, regressions in releases and upgrades that are not straightforward.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Monitoring
Usage metering, alerts, audit logs, capacity thresholds and webhooks are built in.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Networking
Networking features include VLANs, virtual routers, firewalls, load balancers, VPN, IPv6, static routing, BGP and VNF support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Praise: cost and openness
TrustRadius reviewers repeatedly praise CloudStack as low-cost, open source and supported by an engaged community.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Praise: usability and reliability
Reviewers describe the orchestration as reliable, robust, simple to use and suitable for private and public clouds.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Project history
CloudStack began at VMOps in 2008, was acquired by Citrix in 2011, entered the Apache Incubator in 2012 and graduated in 2013.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Project profile
LinkedIn lists Apache CloudStack as a software-development partnership founded in 2013, headquartered in Wakefield, Massachusetts, with a stated company size of 10,001+ employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Rating on Capterra
5.0 out of 5 from 1 reviewRead 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Rating on G2
4.4 out of 5 from 27 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on TrustRadius
9.4 out of 10 from 18 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Release support
LTS releases receive bug and security fixes for 18 months; regular releases receive only critical fixes for a shorter period.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Scale
The documentation says CloudStack can manage tens of thousands of physical servers across geographically distributed data centers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.cloudstack.apache.org
Security reporting
Vulnerabilities in released versions are reported to the Apache security team at [email protected].Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Security responsibility
Operators remain responsible for DoS protection, monitoring, host and management-server access control, and the safety of custom integrations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
Storage
Storage capabilities include iSCSI, NFS, Ceph RBD with KVM, block volumes, encryption, snapshots, templates and ISO management.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org
System requirement
CloudStack 4.23 requires Java 17 JRE for the management server and KVM agent.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.cloudstack.apache.org
User interface
The product provides administrator and end-user web interfaces, with customizable branding and browser-based noVNC console access.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org

Plans and prices

Apache CloudStack Free Open-source IaaS cloud software · no commercial plan pricing listed Read 29 Sep 2026 · cloudstack.apache.org

Every Apache CloudStack plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports public, private, and hybrid cloud deployments.
  • Management options include web UI, CLI, and REST API.
  • Supports several hypervisors and storage options.
  • Long Term Support releases receive fixes for 18 months.

Limits

  • Operators must handle host security and monitoring.
  • Operators are responsible for DoS and brute-force defenses.
  • No commercial plan pricing is listed.

Who it suits

CloudStack is aimed at cloud solution providers, managed service providers, telcos, and enterprises building public, private, or hybrid clouds. It is self-hosted software for operators managing virtual-machine infrastructure.

Verdict

Apache CloudStack provides broad infrastructure management for organizations running their own cloud environments. Operators should account for the security responsibilities that remain with them.

Where Specifiction places it

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