Open-source cloud frameworks: A work in progress

Anthony Roby, a senior executive in Accenture's advanced systems and technology group, says the word "framework" is often misused, and offerings such as Eucalyptus or OpenStack are "not frameworks at all," but "products you can extend or use to build your own infrastructure cloud." However, most observers define frameworks as software building blocks used to create cloud-based services for users.

Three Steps

Choosing an Open-Source Framework

1. Evaluate which components of a "framework" you need, as well as the level (i.e., infrastructure, platform or both) at which you need to reduce your workload.

2. Evaluate the level of support and professional services you'll need.