Sardina Systems has been successfully upgrading OpenStack-based systems with zero downtime for the past 7 years. Our secret is to bring value to FishOS customers, which we have achieved with our upgrade solution called FishOS Upgrader.
Entering Comprehensive Markets as a New Company
For new companies trying to enter comprehensive markets where big corporations are already operating, the key is to focus on providing real value to customers. This is what Sardina Systems did in 2016 with an idea to present its own upgrading solution.
Our flagship product FishOS comes with industry-first seamless zero-downtime rolling upgrades for OpenStack. Our component provides an upgrade of the system when the system is already working. As a result, our clients upgrade their systems without wasting time and disrupting workflow.
Background
OpenStack is released in cycles, with each release cycle typically lasting around 6 months. Every second release is a Release with Skip Level Upgrade Release Process (SLURP). Moreover, the platform may announce Series-Independent Releases. After the initial release, additional stable point releases will be released in each release series.
Each update results in a new version that includes new features, bug fixes, and improvements. Staying up to date with them is a way to have a smooth operating system.
Each OpenStack release is supported for a certain period of time, after which users are encouraged to upgrade to a more recent release to continue receiving support and updates.
But here is the issue. OpenStack is a complex platform that consists of many different components, each with its own set of configuration options and dependencies. It can be challenging for operational teams to understand and use it effectively.
Challenges
OpenStack requires significant technical expertise and a deep understanding of the platform’s components and dependencies. Enterprises must be prepared to invest time and effort in learning the intricacies of OpenStack to be able to effectively leverage its capabilities.
Every update can involve a lot of resources because of its specifics. So what are the main challenges of the OpenStack upgrading?
- The main issue with the OpenStack upgrade process is that the system may temporarily become inaccessible to users, potentially adversely affecting business processes and productivity;
- New versions of OpenStack may contain changes that are incompatible with other versions. It can create compatibility issues with upgrading existing OpenStack installations;
- Upgrading OpenStack can be complex and labor intensive, as many components of OpenStack must be updated and tuned to the new version;
- During the upgrade process, OpenStack settings may be changed, which may result in inconsistencies with the current settings of applications and systems;
- New versions of OpenStack may contain new features and functionality that require new skills and knowledge. An operating team must spend time learning to use new features properly;
- Not only are new features added during OpenStack upgrades, but old features are also removed. Operators with extensive experience are needed to identify these changes and implement them effectively;
- Upgrading must be systematically processed. In conjunction with SLURPs and Series-Independent Releases, regular OpenStack Upgrades are the key to ensuring a smooth operating system;
- A prolonged absence of upgrades can not only impact the system’s workload but also limit the support from the OpenStack community in case of any questions or issues.
Solution
From day one, Sardina has been focused on providing customers with the best possible technological solutions and services. By prioritizing technical solutions that provide real value to our customers, we have established ourselves as a reliable and innovative partner in the industry.
Our solution to this task is the FishOS Upgrader – a specialized component of the FishOS software. With this tool, we are able to perform upgrades regularly and seamlessly without causing any interruptions to the client’s business operations.
How it works
We must highlight that FishOS Upgrader operates only with FishOS. So for the zero-downtime solution, enterprises should migrate. The migration enables customers to have regular upgrades with no hidden cost.
The challenge is not only the deep knowledge of OpenStack requirements but to understand the individual settings of every system and being able to apply updates in a proper way.
When the OpenStack release came out, our technical team set up FishOS Upgrader for the smooth operation of the process. After that the whole process is automatic and it is executed under technical supervision by the Sardina team.
After the Upgrader is launched, it automatically scans all the components of every functional block and breaks the process into subtasks. FishOS Upgrader is starting from updating controllers up to compute nodes without any interruption of processes.
The superpower of the Upgrader is the ability to plan the updating process in such a way that it would not affect the operation of the workload of the system.
The FishOS Upgrader empowers us to upgrade clients’ systems with one of the most efficient timings in the market, taking us up to one month on average.
OpenStack upgrading is simple
This is the approach that Sardina Systems has been promoting and implementing for over seven years, with a proven retention rate. Our technical solution is driven by a business approach, recognizing the importance of offering cost-effective options in a market dominated by world-famous brands.
Rather than relying on an individualized approach with countless hours of accounting and consultations, we have taken a systematic approach to the problem. We offer a full-service solution with a unified price and no hidden costs. Our solution involves a universal, automated process that allows operators to focus on more critical tasks while FishOS Upgrader updates the system to the latest OpenStack release.
FishOS users not only enjoy benefits such as zero-downtime upgrading but also receive a transparent plan during the license expiration. Sardina Systems provides a full-service solution that guarantees a fixed price for regular and systematic upgrading.