Apiculus 2.0 – Faster, Better, More Resilient

In the ever-evolving landscape of cloud computing, businesses constantly seek cutting-edge solutions that offer superior performance, reliability, and cost-efficiency. With the continuous advancement of technology, Apiculus has emerged as a game-changer with its latest release, Apiculus 2.0.

We are always looking to enable our customers to gain an edge over other providers in the market, and with Apiculus 2.0 we have done just that. Apiculus 2.0 embraces a competitive advantage that combines high-performance cloud capabilities with exceptional reliability, all at a remarkably low cost.

By harnessing the power of its revamped architecture and embracing improved networking capabilities, Apiculus outshines the competition with a comprehensive suite of features tailored to meet the evolving needs of modern enterprises.

Here’s how we have done it:

Revamped Architecture

Apiculus 2.0 is our revamped architecture wherein we have optimized our stack to deliver best-in-class performance and resiliency. Here is a high-level overview of the stack

The cornerstone of Apiculus 2.0’s upgraded infrastructure lies in its adoption of KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) and Storpool technologies. This revolutionary combination delivers exceptional speed that surpasses industry giants such as AWS, fuelling a cloud environment that is up to 3x faster.

KVM

The first stack component that we have worked on is standardising our hypervisor on KVM. There are several compelling reasons why an IT organisation may contemplate migrating to KVM.

• First and foremost, KVM stands out as a cost-effective solution. As an open-source technology, KVM eliminates the need for licensing, making it an appealing choice for organisations seeking to reduce their IT costs, especially as their requirements expand.
• In addition, KVM delivers exceptional performance and scalability. Since KVM is seamlessly integrated into the Linux kernel, it can leverage the inherent performance and scalability advantages of Linux. With the ability to support a large number of virtual machines (VMs), each with dedicated resources, KVM offers a high level of flexibility and scalability.
• Moreover, KVM places a strong emphasis on security. By leveraging the security features of the Linux kernel, such as SELinux, KVM provides robust protection for VMs. Additionally, KVM enables the isolation of VMs from one another and the host system, thereby enhancing security measures.
• Furthermore, KVM enjoys extensive support and boasts a large user community. Thanks to its open-source nature, KVM benefits from the contributions of a diverse group of developers and users.
• This results in the rapid identification and resolution of bugs and security issues, along with a wealth of resources available for troubleshooting and support. It’s worth noting that KVM is backed by all major Cloud Management Platforms (CMPs).
• As the leading open-source virtualisation platform, KVM holds a prominent position among other open-source CMPs such as CloudStack, OpenStack and OpenNebula. It has gained particular popularity among larger-scale operations, including cloud service providers, hosting providers, and major managed service providers.
• Notably, some larger enterprises are also turning to KVM as a means of cost reduction and transitioning toward a more cloud-like operating model.
• Additionally, concerns surrounding Broadcom’s imminent acquisition of VMware have led individuals to explore alternatives within the open-source community, with a specific focus on KVM as a viable alternative.

Storpool

Our search for the perfect storage for KVM ended with Storpool. In our opinion, Storpool is the fastest cloud block storage in the world and delivers the best price: performance ratio for cloud operators.

To gain a better understanding of Storpool’s performance, refer to the Public Cloud Performance Measurement Report presented by Storpool. This report provides a way to test the storage performance of any cloud.

In this report you can find the performances of block storage offerings of well-known public clouds; Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Linode & OVHCloud and compare them against Storpool-based public cloud, Katapult.

The performance of storage significantly influences the overall performance of applications. Even when virtual machines (VMs) share similar specifications such as CPU and memory, there can be substantial variations in application performance. Both IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) and latency play crucial roles in determining application performance.

Notably, end-user applications hosted on StorPool-based public clouds exhibit noticeably superior performance. In certain cases, they outperform the second-best public cloud offering by a factor of 3x. This consistent trend highlights StorPool’s ability to deliver exceptional performance in large-scale cloud infrastructures.

The integration of StorPool with CloudStack introduces a powerful and advantageous combination that enhances the storage capabilities of the CloudStack cloud management system. By seamlessly integrating StorPool’s high-performance storage solution, CloudStack gains access to a robust and scalable storage infrastructure.

Know More – Fully secure, highly available and completely scalable cloud solutions – Download Case Studies

This integration enables CloudStack users to benefit from StorPool’s exceptional speed, reliability, and data protection guarantees. StorPool’s advanced storage technology optimises data performance and ensures high availability with multiple copies of data.

This integration also equips CloudStack with the ability to handle demanding workloads and large-scale cloud infrastructures efficiently. With StorPool and CloudStack working in harmony, businesses can leverage a unified and efficient cloud environment, benefiting from enhanced storage performance, increased data protection, and improved overall operational efficiency.

As a result, StorPool remains the fastest and most reliable data storage platform for demanding workloads, reaffirming its position as a superior choice for high-performance cloud environments.

Hence, the adoption of KVM and StorPool technologies in Apiculus 2.0 has been a conscious choice to help our customers gain an edge against their competition, including hyperscalers like AWS.

Improved and Powerful Networking

In the realm of cloud computing, networking capabilities play a pivotal role in delivering exceptional services and ensuring customer satisfaction. As an industry leader, Apiculus understands the importance of improved and powerful networking.

By harnessing advanced networking features, Apiculus empowers its customers with seamless connectivity, enhanced security, scalability, and flexibility. These robust networking capabilities enable us to stand out among our competitors, providing a superior service experience to our customers.

With a focus on delivering reliable, high-performance networking solutions, Apiculus sets the stage for optimised data transmission, superior network performance, and unparalleled customer satisfaction.

CloudStack and Tungsten Fabric

Overcoming networking challenges has long been a focal point for cloud computing platforms. In comparison to industry leaders like VMware and OpenStack, CloudStack has faced persistent hurdles in this regard.

However, with its latest integration, CloudStack has unlocked the potential for improved and powerful networking capabilities. By incorporating a comprehensive Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) stack, CloudStack now boasts a robust infrastructure capable of addressing the networking limitations that have hindered its competitiveness.

This integration not only bridges the gap but also empowers CloudStack to offer a complete networking solution, enhancing its standing among cloud computing platforms and providing users with a more seamless and efficient network environment.

Tungsten Fabric

Integrating Tungsten Fabric into CloudStack introduces a game-changing network and security orchestrator, enabling secure connectivity for cloud-native environments. With Tungsten Fabric, developers, network, and security operations staff can seamlessly deploy zero-trust micro-segmentation within their DevOps workflow, streamlining application deployment and reducing friction.

Tungsten Fabric has a proven track record of delivering exceptional performance and security, catering to the needs of Tier 1 service providers, major research centres, and global enterprises with extensive operations.

By leveraging Tungsten Fabric, security and network engineers gain the ability to build secure microservices that can be deployed across various container orchestration platforms, all while seamlessly integrating into the DevOps workflow.

This integration brings about a wide array of benefits, including enhanced security against sophisticated attacks, increased development velocity, and improved site reliability. Tungsten Fabric’s advanced analytics provide flow-level visibility, while application-level visibility is achieved through port mirroring.

These features empower network and security operations staff, enabling streamlined troubleshooting and reducing mean time to resolution (MTTR).

With Tungsten Fabric managing and implementing both physical and virtual networking and security, CloudStack users can ensure a consistent and secure environment across cloud deployments. The seamless integration of Tungsten Fabric enables secure connectivity between workloads managed by different orchestrators, whether they are virtual machines or containers.

Cloudstack and Tungsten Fabric Integration

Apache CloudStack has been known for its flexibility in network configuration, catering to diverse use cases. While it offered built-in functionality and supported various Software Defined Networking (SDN) controllers like VMware NSX multi-hypervisor and Nuage, it lacked a fully-featured open-source SDN controller to deliver advanced networking capabilities.

However, with the integration of Tungsten Fabric, Apache CloudStack has bridged this feature gap, fulfilling long-awaited requirements. The integration brings sought-after features such as BGP, MPLS, service stitching, and robust security policy capabilities, meeting the stringent demands of the industry.

CloudStack now seamlessly manages these advanced functions by tightly integrating with the best-of-breed network controller, while Tungsten Fabric handles the network fabric, providing a comprehensive and robust networking solution.

Apiculus and CloudStack Networking Benefits

The integration of Tungsten Fabric with CloudStack assists us to empower our customers in leveraging both the open-source flexibility of CloudStack and advanced networking features through the Apiculus stack.

Apiculus, in collaboration with the CloudStack cloud management system, offers an array of networking benefits through its fully revamped network architecture.

Know more – CloudStack + apiculus – a combination for effectively securing your public cloud

With features like VXLAN support, IPv6 support, and NFV functionalities such as micro-segmentation and Virtual Network Functions (VNFs), Apiculus and CloudStack empower businesses with a robust and flexible networking infrastructure.

Let’s explore the key networking benefits that Apiculus and CloudStack bring to the table:

VXLAN Support

VXLAN support within Apiculus enables the creation of virtual networks that span across physical boundaries. By leveraging VXLAN’s network virtualization technology, businesses can achieve scalable and flexible network deployments, efficiently handling the increasing number of connected devices.

VXLAN expands the available address space, allowing for virtually unlimited unique IP addresses and overcoming the limitations of traditional VLANs. This scalability and flexibility pave the way for dynamic and agile network architectures.

IPv6 Support

With the adoption of IPv6 support, Apiculus enables businesses to transition smoothly into the future of networking. As the world exhausts IPv4 addresses, IPv6 provides an expansive address space to accommodate the growing number of devices and services.

By embracing IPv6, businesses can ensure seamless connectivity, improved network performance, and compatibility with emerging technologies that rely on IPv6 addressing. Apiculus’ IPv6 support future-proofs networking infrastructures and facilitates the continued growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and other digital innovations.

Micro-Segmentation

Micro-segmentation is a powerful networking approach that provides granular control and security within the network. Apiculus enable businesses to implement micro-segmentation by dividing the network into smaller segments and applying specific security policies to each segment.

This isolation ensures that even in a shared network environment, data remains protected, unauthorized access is prevented, and compliance requirements are met. Micro-segmentation enhances network security and mitigates the impact of potential breaches.

Virtual Network Functions (VNFs)

Apiculus facilitates the deployment of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs), which are software-based instances of network functions. By virtualizing network functions such as routing, load balancing, and firewalling, VNFs offer flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.

Apiculus empowers businesses to dynamically deploy and manage VNFs, enabling rapid service deployment, scalability, and optimized resource utilization. With VNFs, businesses can customize their network services based on specific requirements and easily adapt to changing demands.

Steadfast Reliability

Apiculus 2.0 delivers a comprehensive software solution that excels in multiple dimensions, providing superior performance, enhanced speed, and unrivalled stability compared to our competitors. Here’s how we ensure it:

• 99.99% Uptime guarantee – Highly resilient architecture with multiple levels of redundancy and no single-point-of failure. Our uptime SLA is at par with all leading cloud providers.
• 100% data protection guarantee – We maintain 3 online copies of your data and provide 100% guarantee against any data loss due to infrastructure failure. This data protection guarantee is unique to us.

Conclusion

With Apiculus 2.0, we’ve completely transformed the cloud infrastructure landscape. Our cloud solution delivers outstanding performance, speed, and stability. We are dedicated to ensuring that your operations are never interrupted, as evidenced by our industry-leading guarantees.

With Apiculus 2.0, you can confidently deploy your customer’s workloads on a platform that not only offers exceptional performance and speed but also prioritises stability. Experience the difference with Apiculus 2.0 and unlock the full potential of your cloud business.