OpenNebula 7.0 “Phoenix” Brings a Firestorm of Features for AI, Edge, and Sovereign Cloud Computing
OpenNebula Systems has officially launched version 7.0—code-named Phoenix—a major overhaul of its open-source cloud and edge orchestration platform. If version numbers were measured in ambition, this would be a 10. The release is packed with features aimed squarely at enterprises looking to escape the gravitational pull of VMware and embrace a more open, AI-accelerated, and sovereignty-friendly future.
OpenNebula 7.0 isn’t just about keeping pace with industry demands—it’s about reshaping what cloud and edge orchestration can look like in an AI-driven world.
The Big Picture: VMware’s Loss, Open Source’s Gain
While VMware customers are still navigating the shockwaves of Broadcom’s acquisition, Phoenix delivers a timely lifeline. It includes tools like native NetApp iSCSI integration, Veeam backups, and OVA import support to smooth the transition from legacy systems. A new LVM backend adds snapshot support and optimized performance—bringing long-overdue enterprise-grade data management to local datastores.
But the real kicker? OpenNebula’s new OneDRS scheduler, an AI-powered alternative to VMware’s DRS. OneDRS doesn’t just mimic—it predicts. It enables workload migration based on customizable automation thresholds, time-series monitoring, and smart capacity planning.
In short, it’s open source with brains—and a way out of vendor lock-in.
AI Workloads Are Now First-Class Citizens
OpenNebula 7.0 places serious weight behind GPU-accelerated AI workloads. Through improved PCI passthrough and NVIDIA vGPU support, OpenNebula now plays well with even the most demanding ML use cases. You get vGPU profiles, flexible allocation, and support for production-grade inference via new and upgraded appliances like:
- Ray Appliance: Now with vLLM support, Hugging Face integration, and multi-GPU setup.
- NVIDIA Dynamo Appliance: Optimized for enterprise AI inference tasks.
- NVIDIA NIM Integration: Brings model-serving APIs to your stack with minimal fuss.
Need to deploy AI at the edge? Add BlueField-3 DPU networking into the mix, and you’ve got the backbone of a sovereign AI factory at scale.
Sovereign and Hybrid Clouds Made Practical
OpenNebula’s vision isn’t just to decentralize workloads—it’s to de-risk them. The 7.0 release is a centerpiece in Europe’s €3 billion IPCEI-CIS project, aiming to build sovereign cloud capabilities that compete with hyperscalers. This is not theory; it’s implementation. Features like Cluster Quotas, Generic Quotas, and hybrid provisioning make it easier than ever to control costs, enforce compliance, and scale across multiple cloud and edge environments.
ARM support, too, is now baked in—making OpenNebula a serious option for lightweight edge nodes and energy-conscious environments.
UI and UX Get a Needed Reboot
The updated Sunstone GUI finally catches up to the power under the hood. Better accessibility, data visualization, and real-time performance dashboards make managing your cloud environment less of a slog. The new end-user cloud view is clean and informative, and Dynamic Tabs allow for third-party tool integrations directly in the UI—closing the loop on usability.
Additional perks include:
- VM Template Profiles
- Enhanced VNC performance and security
- Transparent proxying for seamless OneGate access
- VLAN filtering for cleaner Linux bridge isolation
Kubernetes, Windows, and Migration Upgrades
In a nod to DevOps and hybrid teams, OpenNebula 7.0 introduces a CAPI/Rancher Appliance for managing RKE2 clusters directly from Rancher’s UI. It also improves Windows guest support and adds new capabilities for OneFlow and Virtual Router–based orchestration.
For existing users, the built-in migrator from 6.10 makes the jump to 7.0 relatively painless—a rare thing in the enterprise IT world.
While VMware retools under Broadcom and hyperscalers inch toward lock-in, OpenNebula is making a bold play for the future—open, AI-native, and infrastructure-agnostic. It’s not just a compelling open-source option anymore; it’s an enterprise-grade alternative with sovereign cloud credibility and serious AI chops.
With Phoenix, OpenNebula doesn’t just rise from the ashes. It torches the status quo.
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