Nebula was announced at OSCON today, an OpenStack  and OpenCompute initiative to provide open-source hardware and services infrastructure for enterprises to build open cloud infrastructures.

Nebula will take OpenStack and the Facebook Open Compute project to create a cloud controller. The goal is to open the hardware and the software to create a platform for data centers to integrate an open infrastructure.

The appliance is built on the same APIs and runtime as OpenStack, but adds security, management, and platform enhancements.

According to the Nebula Web site, the appliance is built on a high-availability architecture for appliance services, server node virtual machines, and storage. Workloads are replicated and ensured to execute.

Chris Kemp is one of the founders. The former NASA chief technologist for IT unveiled the server stack on stage today at the OSCON conference.

This looks like is what we are seeing a lot these days. And that’s big appliances that act as plug and play infrastructures. HP’s EcoPod comes to mind as does even the Oracle Exacloud.

But the distinguishing difference is Nebula’s open infrastructure. The goal – attract bright, young talent who want to build new things.

Services Angle

This is a pure services play. But it has a challenge in a hesitant IT community who are just getting used to the idea of working more closely with developers.

But developers are the new kings of the enterprise world. And the innovation cycle is just hitting the corporate world.

But the momentum is there. Dell just joined OpenStack as did HP. This open cloud movement may have legs after all.