Canonical OpenStack Reference Architecture Guide

This whitepaper presents Canonical's reference architecture (RA) for building production-grade clouds using Canonical OpenStack. It outlines the design considerations necessary for effective deployment, emphasizing the importance of proper hardware and network architecture to ensure quality. The document details Canonical OpenStack's cloud-native architecture, which isolates components and decouples software from the underlying operating system. It explains the use of various technologies, including OCI-compliant container images, application container images, and operators for deployment. Key concepts such as governance, control, compute, network, and storage functions are defined, along with recommended cloud architectures and bare metal providers. The RA also discusses the significance of high availability and the use of availability zones and regions for effective cloud management. Canonical encourages users to consult with their representatives for tailored support during complex deployments, ensuring that best practices are followed for successful cloud projects.