How We Built Project IceCloud: Powering Innovation in the Cloud
A blog by Phil Kaye, Co-founder and Director at Vespertec
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Release date: 25 October 2024
Groundbreaking projects don’t come along every day. However, for Vespertec, we’ve increasingly found ourselves involved in huge, innovative initiatives that require our hardware expertise and experience in international data centre logistics. For instance, our latest venture in partnership with Sardina Systems and Borealis Data Center, IceCloud Integrated Services, represents a huge milestone in our journey to transform our customers’ workloads.
What is IceCloud?
IceCloud Integrated Services, launched on 14 August 2024, is Iceland’s first turnkey cloud platform specifically designed for intensive workloads—all managed with a single point of contact. The project centres around a fully operational proof-of-concept customisable private cloud environment for customers to test drive, hosted at Borealis Data Center and powered entirely by renewable energy.
Built using Sardina’s FishOS OpenStack platform with both block and object storage using Ceph, IceCloud is designed to exceed enterprise requirements for a low-cost, scalable platform capable of running cloud-native workloads, including AI and other compute-intensive applications.
IceCloud is distinguished through its approach to packaging workloads, allowing enterprises to achieve significant operational efficiencies while meeting their sustainability goals. The platform is particularly suited for sectors undergoing digitalisation, as a solution that balances high performance with environmental responsibility.
The Collaborative Approach
Through our partnership with Borealis Data Centre and Sardina Systems, we’ve developed a solution capable of handling the most demanding compute-intensive workloads that enterprises can throw at it. It’s taken us all the way from our Manchester headquarters to the snowy landscapes of Iceland, allowing us to put our experience into action.
Collaboration has been key to the project’s success. By bringing together the best minds in the industry, we’ve created a solution that’s greater than the sum of its parts. The synergy between Vespertec’s hardware expertise, Sardina Systems’ software prowess, and Borealis Data Center’s facilities has made for something truly unique in the cloud computing space.
Powerful Hardware, Simply Sourced
At the heart of IceCloud lies a carefully curated selection of powerful compute nodes, performance storage, and high-speed networking components. The proof-of-concept cluster was specifically designed to showcase multiple use cases.
The compute nodes are housed in 4-node 2U chassis, chosen specifically for their density which makes them ideal for heavy compute environments such as HPC or cloud virtualisation. While the cluster is built on Intel Xeon CPUs, we’ve ensured flexibility by designing an architecture that could easily accommodate AMD or Ampere processors.
The storage solution combines SSD performance-oriented storage with large form factor spinning disks for capacity. All components are interconnected using NVIDIA networking and Edgeware interconnects running at 25Gb, with both storage environments powered by Ceph and supported by Sardina. Our longstanding vendor relationships have enabled us to deliver these tailored, cost-effective solutions, bringing the best – and most suitable – tools for the job.
We take a consultative approach to hardware configuration. Unlike major vendors who simply fulfill orders without question, we take pride in engaging in conversation, offering feedback and optimisation suggestions. Our team’s extensive experience allows us to identify potential improvements that can enhance performance, reduce costs, or both. This commitment to optimisation ensures our clients receive not just what they asked for, but what they truly need.
Optimising Hardware for Maximum Performance and Value
Our partnership with Sardina Systems spans years, giving us deep insights into FishOS’s requirements and how to optimise its performance. We’ve gone beyond simply providing hardware; we’ve pre-installed FishOS onto the systems, ensuring a seamless experience for our clients. Despite the complexity of the hardware configuration, we’ve made it remarkably simple for our customers to implement.
While the underlying hardware architecture may be sophisticated, we’ve ensured that for our clients, implementation is straightforward and hassle-free. Our philosophy extends beyond providing optimal hardware configurations – it’s about ensuring all components come together so seamlessly that, ultimately, all our customers need to do is flip a switch.
This simplicity is achieved through meticulous attention to detail. We label all servers and provide comprehensive documentation for networking configurations. Our detailed blueprints specify exactly how to rack and cable the hardware, right down to which network ports connect to which compute nodes. For instance, we’ll specify that Network port 16 in the switch connects to Compute 1, NIC 2 slot, and so on, ensuring zero ambiguity during setup.
With OpenStack pre-installed on the hardware, the system is designed to simply fire up and run. This simplified setup and configuration process saves our clients valuable time and effort, allowing them to focus on their core operations rather than getting bogged down in complex hardware deployments. It’s this combination of comprehensive knowledge of the very best hardware and a commitment to user-friendly implementation that sets our solution apart.
Comprehensive Testing: Beyond Standard Procedures
Our testing process goes far beyond basic power-on checks, including a rigorous 24-hour stress test using Stress-NG to simulate operational conditions. We understand the challenges of international shipping and take extra precautions to ensure system reliability. Before any shipment, we build and test the complete environment in our lab, ensuring it’s running optimally at the OpenStack level, not just the OS.
This testing process has proven invaluable in identifying and resolving potential issues before they can impact our clients. Whether it’s CPU or memory failures, network connectivity issues, or software conflicts, our comprehensive testing protocol catches problems that might otherwise only surface after deployment. This proactive approach saves our clients time, money, and frustration.
Global Logistics Expertise
Managing the logistics of importing custom hardware configurations into Iceland presented its own set of challenges. However, our experience in handling international deployments proved invaluable in smoothing these over, having handled complex deployments in regions as diverse as the US and Australia. So, for IceCloud, we used our Icelandic VAT registration to manage customs clearance, ensuring smooth delivery with minimal delays.
Our logistics expertise extends beyond shipping. Over the years, we’ve dealt with the intricacies of international trade, including customs requirements, documentation, and compliance with local regulations. This knowledge ensures that our clients’ hardware arrives not just intact, but also in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Why IceCloud Matters
IceCloud isn’t just another cloud solution. By leveraging Iceland’s low-cost power resources, it offers a competitive option for managed service providers. Given the price hikes implemented by industry giants like VMware, this is a great time to explore alternatives.
The significance of IceCloud extends beyond its technical capabilities. The project’s location in Iceland, powered by renewable energy, positions it at the forefront of environmentally conscious cloud computing. This combination of cutting-edge technology and sustainable operations makes IceCloud a glimpse into the future of cloud infrastructure.
Shaping the Future of Cloud Computing
Project IceCloud is a testament to our experience and capabilities in everything from hardware optimisation and testing to international logistics. Through collaboration with our partners, we’ve created a scalable, cost-effective, and high-performance cloud infrastructure.
As we look to the future, the success of Project IceCloud serves as a foundation for even more ambitious programmes. We remain committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in cloud computing, always with an eye toward delivering practical, efficient solutions that meet our clients’ evolving needs.
If you would like to find out more about IceCloud, or discuss a project of your own, please get in touch.
