OpenStack is a free, open standard cloud computing platform that manages compute, storage, and networking resources throughout a data center using APIs. It is mostly deployed as infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) in both public and private clouds where virtual servers and other resources are made available to users. OpenStack is essentially a series of commands known as scripts, which are bundled into packages called projects that relay tasks that create cloud environments. These projects handle a large number of services including computing, networking, and storage services. OpenStack is API-driven, which means that all components can be accessed and controlled through a set of APIs, making it easier to automate and integrate with other tools and services.

OpenStack is designed with a distributed architecture that enables users to scale their cloud infrastructure horizontally across multiple physical servers, making it easier to handle large workloads and improve system performance. OpenStack is open-source software, which means that it is free to use and modify, enabling users to customize the platform to meet their specific requirements without the need for expensive proprietary software licenses.

OpenStack is deployed by thousands and is proven production at scale. It is a set of software components that provide common services for cloud infrastructure. OpenStack controls large pools of compute, storage, and networking resources, all managed through APIs or a dashboard. Beyond standard infrastructure-as-a-service functionality, additional components provide orchestration, fault management, and service management amongst other services to ensure high availability of user applications. This cloud-based infrastructure created through OpenStack supports an array of use cases, including web hosting, big data projects, software-as-a-service delivery, or container deployment.