Karine DilanyanWhat happens when research outgrows its cloud? See how UB revamped its HPC with Atmosphere OpenStack for better scalability, automation, and performance.
As a leading public research institution and part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, the University at Buffalo (UB) has long been committed to academic excellence, innovation, and student success. To support its growing research initiatives, UaB required an advanced cloud infrastructure that could meet the demands of high-performance computing (HPC) while maintaining efficiency, scalability, and security. As a result, now UB has a secure and scalable infrastructure, and overall increased efficiency in IT operations.
Initially, UB deployed an on-premises research cloud using OpenStack to augment its HPC capabilities. However, as demand increased, challenges related to system upgrades, Kubernetes cluster management, and resource optimization began to surface. To address these concerns and enhance its infrastructure, UB transitioned its cloud environment to Atmosphere OpenStack.
Why UB’s Legacy Cloud Needed an Upgrade
Before transitioning to Atmosphere, UB encountered significant challenges in maintaining and upgrading its OpenStack private cloud:
- Frequent downtime due to difficult manual updates and patch installations.
- Scalability challenges as traditional HPC clusters struggled to meet growing computational demands.
- Resource contention, leading to longer queue times for researchers.
- Outdated Kubernetes clusters that required improved lifecycle management.
These challenges hindered UB’s ability to provide researchers with a seamless and efficient computing environment, necessitating a more robust and automated cloud solution.
Choosing the Right Private Cloud: Why UB Chose Atmosphere
As the University at Buffalo's research demands grew, it became clear that their existing cloud infrastructure needed a significant upgrade. The university required a solution that could not only support high-performance computing but also streamline operations and reduce maintenance overhead.
With these goals in mind, UB set out to find a private cloud solution that offered:
- Improved scalability and flexibility to accommodate increasing research workloads.
- Automated upgrades and maintenance to reduce manual intervention and downtime.
- Enhanced security and compliance to safeguard critical research data.
- Cost-effective resource utilization to maximize efficiency without overspending.
After evaluating several cloud providers, UB selected Atmosphere OpenStack for its expertise in managing and optimizing OpenStack environments. This decision marked a strategic shift towards a fully supported, high-performance private cloud solution.
Seamless Migration: How UB Transitioned to Atmosphere OpenStack
Migrating to a new cloud infrastructure is a complex process, but with careful planning and expert collaboration, we ensured a smooth transition for UB. Working closely with OpenStack engineers, the university took a structured approach to minimize disruptions and maximize efficiency.
The key steps in this migration included:
- Assessing UB’s existing infrastructure to identify pain points, inefficiencies, and areas for optimization.
- Developing a structured migration plan to ensure seamless cloud adoption without disrupting ongoing research.
- Addressing security and compliance requirements to maintain data integrity and meet industry standards.
By following this methodical approach, UB successfully transitioned to Atmosphere OpenStack, maintaining business continuity while unlocking new efficiencies in cloud operations.
The conversion of UB’s cloud infrastructure focused on:
- Upgrading OpenStack from Wallaby to the latest Zed release, improving performance and stability.
- Deploying the Cluster API driver for Magnum, enabling better Kubernetes cluster management.
- Integrating automated updates, reducing downtime, and simplifying cloud maintenance.
These enhancements allowed UB to optimize its cloud operations and provide a more efficient research environment for faculty and students.
Post-Migration Benefits for the University at Buffalo
The shift to Atmosphere OpenStack brought significant improvements to UB’s cloud infrastructure, enhancing performance, scalability, and efficiency. By automating key processes and optimizing resource management, the university unlocked new opportunities for its research community.
Here’s how UB benefited from the transition:
- Automated upgrades and patches, eliminating manual update complexities.
- Enhanced scalability, enabling researchers to access computing resources faster.
- Optimized Kubernetes lifecycle management, ensuring seamless cluster performance.
- Advanced usage metrics, helping UB monitor resource allocation and optimize costs.
Future-Proofing UB’s Cloud Infrastructure with Atmosphere
By migrating to Atmosphere OpenStack, UB has built a future-ready cloud infrastructure designed to support its growing research and academic initiatives. This transformation ensures long-term efficiency, security, and scalability, empowering the university to stay ahead of technological advancements.
Key benefits of this transition include:
- Continuous support, ensuring ongoing system improvements.
- A secure and scalable infrastructure, ready to handle evolving research demands.
- Increased efficiency in IT operations, allowing UB to focus on innovation and academic excellence.
Conclusion
By transitioning to Atmosphere OpenStack, the University at Buffalo successfully modernized its research cloud infrastructure. The migration resolved legacy system challenges for UB enabling them to focus on academic research and technological innovation.
As universities worldwide seek to enhance their IT ecosystems, UB’s journey demonstrates the transformative power of a well-executed private cloud migration. Institutions facing similar challenges can explore how Atmosphere OpenStack can support their digital transformation efforts. Want to eliminate cloud maintenance headaches and scale effortlessly? Get in touch with us to see how Atmosphere OpenStack can transform your research cloud.
Is your institution struggling with legacy system limitations? Discover how Atmosphere OpenStack can enhance your IT infrastructure with seamless upgrades, improved scalability, and automated cloud management. Contact us today to explore a tailored solution for your research and computing needs.