The open-source cloud-management software project OpenStack has just announced a new release that adds image management and support for unlimited object sizes in its storage software. It has also added several new networking vendors to it's list of supporters. These include Cisco Systems, Extreme Networks, and Arista Networks. Citrix and Dell are already active participants.
That all of these big names are supporting open-source software says a lot about the future of network management in cloud computing. OpenStack may be the project that really brings the industry together to generate answers to important questions. For instance, how will OpenStack support large, globally distributed clouds from a networking perspective? Will VPNs, VRFs, and VLANs be necessary in this dynamic environment, and if so, how will they be provisioned and operated? There are huge opportunities for innovation in this space going forward.