We are pleased to announce the general availability of Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure version 6.1.
Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure is a production-ready OpenStack cloud platform for service providers, software vendors, system integrators and enterprises.
Version 6.1 adds integrated multi-tenant Backup-as-a-Service and new external iSCSI storage support, as well as many other improvements to the platform’s cloud management capabilities. Here’s a run-down of the highlight features, and how you can learn more and get started.
Backup-as-a-Service
The new multi-tenant Backup-as-a-Service feature allows users to safeguard their virtual machine volumes, mitigating potential data loss and addressing software or hardware issues effectively. This capability is available in the platform at no extra cost.
By using backup functionality directly within our platform, users can significantly reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) by eliminating the need to invest in external backup solutions. The new service supports both external and integrated NFS or Object Storage as backup destinations, offering flexibility to meet diverse storage needs.
Key features include:
- Crash-consistent backup for both root and secondary volumes, easily managed by end-users through the self-service panel, or via the OpenStack API
- Secure storage of backups on external Object Storage or NFS, which can be Virtuozzo-based, managed by administrators
- Seamless restore capabilities to either a new volume or a new virtual machine, ensuring quick recovery in case of data loss
With this integrated Backup-as-a-Service solution, you can rest assured that your data is protected and easily recoverable, all without incurring additional expenses.
iSCSI Storage Support
In this release, we're excited to announce new compatibility with iSCSI storage systems that support the OpenStack Cinder driver. Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure has its own high-performance software-defined storage system, but for customers migrating from VMware and other platforms, we are expanding our support for third party storage solutions.
The new iSCSI storage support in version 6.1 complements our existing NFS compatibility. Now you can integrate a wider range of external storage solutions with our platform, giving you more choice in your storage strategy and enabling you to use existing investments in external storage infrastructure. Future releases of our platform will extend this capability.
For a comprehensive list of the OpenStack drivers available for external iSCSI storage solutions, please see the official OpenStack documentation or contact us for more information.
Extended Load Balancer Functionality
Our Load Balancer now includes support for HTTP headers, PROXY protocol, TLS and certificate uploads, so you can handle a wider range of load balanced use cases.
Learn more about Load Balancer functionality »
Kubernetes Updates and New Release Policy
Selective Worker Group Updates
We're minimizing maintenance windows during Kubernetes cluster updates by introducing selective worker group updates. Users will be able to specify the worker group they wish to update, or the control plane (in cases where all worker groups need to be updated). This will not only reduce the required maintenance window for applications running inside Kubernetes, but also enhance the stability of the update procedure. This feature will become available in the next hotfix.
Expanded Kubernetes Version Support
Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure now supports Kubernetes versions 1.26, 1.27 and 1.28, enabling users to take advantage of the newest features and improvements in Kubernetes to ensuring optimal performance and reliability for their containerized applications.
Updated Kubernetes Release Support Policy
Starting with this release, we're updating our Kubernetes release support policy to better align with industry standards and user needs. Our revised policy includes the following key points:
- We support the four latest minor versions of Kubernetes
- Support is provided for the latest patch version within each supported minor version
- We commit to releasing support for the latest minor version no more than six months after its upstream release
Individual CPU Baseline Configuration per Node
We’ve added the ability to configure CPU baselines on a per-node basis, which brings enhanced flexibility and compatibility to your cluster environment.
To accommodate multiple generations of CPUs from the same vendor, you need to set a CPU baseline based on the oldest generation to make them all compatible with each other.
Previously, users were limited to setting a single CPU baseline for the entire cluster. With our new functionality, you now have the freedom to set CPU baselines individually for each node in the cluster. This granular control enables you to tailor CPU configurations to the specific requirements of each node, optimizing performance and compatibility across heterogeneous hardware environments.
Full Release Notes
Among other updates in the Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure 6.1 release, are:
- Domain Quotas: this feature allows you to set limits on the resources available for a compute domain, facilitating efficient distribution of customers, workloads or departments across different domains.
- Enhanced VM Monitoring: we have improved the monitoring capabilities in our self-service control panel. It now provides separate metrics for each volume or network interface of virtual machines, to give you more detailed insights into the performance of your infrastructure.
- SSL Protocol Support for Kafka Connection: ensure secure message transfer between Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure cluster and your metering solution with SSL protocol support. SSL not only enables encryption but also facilitates two-way authentication between client and server, enhancing data security.
- Expanded OS Support: the platform now supports SUSE Linux Enterprise 15, giving users more choice in the operating system they use for their virtualized environments.
For all new features, improvements and fixes in Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure 6.1, please see the Release Notes documentation.
How to Upgrade
Go to the SETTINGS > UPDATE section of your admin panel and initiate the upgrade process.
Note: An automated reboot of the nodes will be performed one at a time to complete the upgrade. During the reboot, the storage service and the admin panel may be unavailable on cluster configurations that don’t have redundancy of services or/and data
New to Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure?
- Check out the Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure page
- Watch the video overview
- Or ask for a free hosted trial
