🚀 Last Days to Register: Rethinking VMware-to-KVM Migration Beyond VDDK! Looking for a more flexible way to migrate from VMware to KVM? Join ShapeBlue's live webinar this Friday, 23 October, and discover how to move beyond traditional VDDK-based migration approaches with Apache CloudStack. 🔹 Explore VDDK-free migration strategies 🔹 Understand common VMware-to-KVM migration challenges 🔹 Discover practical approaches to simplifying your migration journey 🔹 Learn how Apache CloudStack supports greater infrastructure flexibility 📅 23 October 2026 🕒 2 PM BST | 3 PM CET | 9 AM EST Don't miss this opportunity to gain practical insights from ShapeBlue's cloud experts! 👉 Register now: shapeblue.com/vmware-to-kvm-…

A proof of concept should establish more than whether a cloud platform can be installed successfully. ShapeBlue’s Apache CloudStack PoC Evaluation Checklist helps technical teams conduct a structured, criteria-based assessment of the platform. Its 76 concepts cover architecture, compute, networking, storage, automation, user and project management, monitoring, upgrades and support. This provides a consistent framework for evaluating feature capabilities, integration flexibility and operational readiness. Download the checklist: shapeblue.com/apache-cloudst…

We're excited to announce the release of ShapeBlue Topology Studio v0.1.0, a new infrastructure visualisation and network design tool for Apache CloudStack! Built on 15 years of ShapeBlue's collective CloudStack expertise, Topology Studio helps cloud operators understand their existing infrastructure and design what comes next. With two powerful modes, you can: Visualise: Explore your live CloudStack infrastructure through an interactive, read-only map, from Zones and Hosts to Networks, Routers and VMs. Design: Create Guest Network designs with built-in CloudStack validation, catching configuration issues before deployment. Export: Turn your designs into Terraform configurations or CloudMonkey scripts, making the transition from planning to implementation easier. Topology Studio is available as part of ShapeBlue CloudStack Infrastructure Support Service. Contact us for a demo or evaluation! Email us at [email protected]. See it. Draw it. Explore ShapeBlue Topology Studio! shapeblue.com/shapeblue-topo…

A great day for ShapeBlue at Community Over Code Europe 2026! 🚀 Our colleagues Boris Stoyanov and Daan Hoogland took the stage today to share their expertise, discuss Apache CloudStack and exchange insights with the open-source community. It was fantastic to see engaging discussions, knowledge sharing and the collaborative spirit that makes the Apache community so special. 👏 A big thank you to everyone who joined the sessions, asked questions and contributed to the conversations!

Open source thrives on collaboration, knowledge sharing and the people who contribute to its development. Our Community Lead, Daan Hoogland, joins the Apache community at Community Over Code in Glasgow, connecting with fellow contributors, developers and open-source enthusiasts. As a long-standing Apache CloudStack contributor and active member of the Apache Software Foundation community, Daan continues to play an important role in bringing people together, sharing technical knowledge and supporting the growth of open-source projects. Events like Community Over Code are a great opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen community connections and explore what's next for open-source technology. It's great to see ShapeBlue represented in these conversations!

Most virtualisation platforms help you manage infrastructure. Apache CloudStack helps you operate a cloud. Built for service providers and enterprise-scale environments, CloudStack provides the capabilities needed to deliver Infrastructure-as-a-Service, including multi-tenancy, API-driven automation, usage metering, and support for multiple hypervisors. As one of the longest-standing contributors to the Apache CloudStack ecosystem, ShapeBlue provides the vendor wrapper that enterprises and service providers expect around an open-source platform: enterprise support, consulting, training, cloud architecture expertise, and strategic guidance throughout the cloud lifecycle. Open source gives you freedom. ShapeBlue gives you confidence in it! shapeblue.com/get-in-touch/

One year until VMware vSphere 8 support ends. Is your infrastructure ready for what comes next? On October 11th, 2027, VMware vSphere 8 and ESXi 8 will reach the end of general support. For organisations still relying on VMware, the time to evaluate alternatives and plan their next steps is now. Upgrading to VMware Cloud Foundation 9 is one option, but rising licensing costs, subscription requirements, and long-term vendor dependency are prompting many organisations to explore alternatives. Apache CloudStack offers an open-source alternative, enabling organisations to manage VMware and KVM environments side by side while gradually migrating workloads. Combined with ShapeBlue Migrate, organisations can take a structured approach to migration, from infrastructure discovery and workload planning to warm migrations and scheduled cutovers. In our latest blog, we explore what the October 2027 deadline means, the alternatives available and how to build a realistic VMware exit strategy without disrupting business operations. Read the full article and start planning your next steps: shapeblue.com/vsphere-8-supp…

Building and operating cloud infrastructure in regulated sectors requires more than performance. It demands compliance, security and cryptographic assurance across the entire stack. This blog explores how Apache CloudStack can be deployed as a compliant IaaS platform for government, finance, healthcare and other regulated environments, aligning with standards such as FIPS and NIST while enforcing validated encryption across every layer of the cloud. Discover how to build a secure, compliant and sovereign-ready IaaS foundation with CloudStack! shapeblue.com/building-a-com…

ShapeBlue’s @bsstoyanov, Director of Engineering, is heading to Community Over Code Glasgow 2026, where he’ll take the stage for two Apache CloudStack sessions. Boris will share his experience across two important areas for modern cloud infrastructure: How Scalable Is CloudStack? – exploring CloudStack at scale and the considerations that come with growing cloud environments. Orchestrating GPU with Apache CloudStack – looking at GPU orchestration and how CloudStack can support infrastructure for GPU-intensive workloads. Community Over Code is a great opportunity to connect with contributors and users from across the Apache ecosystem, exchange practical knowledge and explore how open-source technologies are evolving. If you’re attending in Glasgow, join Boris and the wider ShapeBlue team at the Apache CloudStack track. Register now: communityovercode.apache.org…

Delivering Apache CloudStack solutions often requires expertise across professional services, technology integration and local customer delivery. ShapeBlue works with solution providers, system integrators, MSPs and technology partners across the CloudStack ecosystem. Its partner programme provides access to enablement resources that help organisations incorporate ShapeBlue’s CloudStack expertise and services into their own customer offerings. For businesses looking to expand their open-source cloud capabilities, the partnership provides a structured route for working with ShapeBlue’s team. Become a ShapeBlue Partner: shapeblue.com/partners/

Our CEO, Giles Sirett, will be speaking at Community Over Code in Glasgow, bringing Apache CloudStack to the wider Apache community. In his session, “Introduction to Apache CloudStack”, Giles will introduce the open-source IaaS platform, explore what it enables organisations to build and manage, and share insights into the project and the community behind it. Heading to Glasgow? Join Giles’ session and meet the ShapeBlue team at Community Over Code. communityovercode.apache.org…

Migrating from VMware to Apache CloudStack involves much more than simply moving virtual machines. Discovery, resource mapping, workload dependencies, migration planning and cutover all need to be carefully coordinated. In our latest demo, we show how ShapeBlue Migrate brings the complete migration process into a single, structured workflow across five key stages: Discover, Map Resources, Plan, Migrate and Observe. See how to connect VMware and CloudStack environments, map networks and storage, identify potential migration issues, organise workloads into application groups and migration waves, and then follow migrations through cutover with live progress, logs and operational history. If you’re evaluating or planning a VMware-to-Apache CloudStack migration, watch the full demo to see the process in action. youtube.com/watch?v=1684mLDk…

A CloudStack PoC should go beyond basic deployment. Our PoC Evaluation Checklist helps technical teams validate core capabilities, integration flexibility, and operational readiness across all key areas, including compute, networking, storage, and monitoring. Designed for architects and platform engineers looking to make a confident, criteria-driven decision. Download the checklist! shapeblue.com/apache-cloudst…

What does a remote-first cloud company really look like behind the scenes? Our Inside ShapeBlue YouTube series introduces the people behind the work, sharing their perspectives, experiences, and the role they play in shaping the future of cloud technology. From engineering to architecture and marketing, it’s a closer look at the team and the work they do every day. Explore the playlist! youtube.com/playlist?list=PL…

How does the cost of running your own cloud infrastructure compare with AWS, Azure or Google Cloud? ShapeBlue’s Cloud Cost Calculator and Cloud Pricing Report provide a practical way to compare the Total Cost of Ownership of hyperscaler workloads with on-premises infrastructure powered by Apache CloudStack. The customisable calculator models costs over 36 months, taking into account areas such as datacentre facilities, hardware, software, licensing and support. The accompanying report also explores a hypothetical mid-scale deployment, comparing equivalent workloads across AWS, Azure, GCP and Apache CloudStack. For organisations reviewing cloud spend or considering cloud repatriation, these resources can help build a clearer picture of the long-term financial implications of each approach. Download the Cloud Cost Calculator and Pricing Report: shapeblue.com/cloud-cost-cal…

ShapeBlue is heading to Community Over Code Glasgow, 11–14 Oct! Meet Giles Sirett, Daan Hoogland & Boris Stoyanov across 4 sessions in the dedicated Apache CloudStack track. Read more: shapeblue.com/meet-shapeblue…

Our 6 CloudStack-Powered Service Packages guide shows MSPs how they can turn existing infrastructure, operations, security and support capabilities into structured managed services. For customers, that can mean access to offerings such as fully managed cloud, edge and multi-site cloud, application delivery, VDI, GPU-as-a-Service and regulated or sovereign cloud services. The benefit is not simply having another cloud option. It gives customers services designed around their workloads, compliance requirements, and operational needs, while using open-source technology that reduces dependence on proprietary vendor roadmaps. For MSPs, the guide provides a practical framework for defining, packaging and delivering those services consistently — helping create clearer offerings for customers and a stronger alternative in a changing cloud market. Download now: shapeblue.com/6-cloudstack-p…

Yesterday’s event in Budapest showed how much interest enterprises across Eastern Europe have in exploring alternatives to VMware. Together with our partners at NTT DATA Hungary, we introduced Apache CloudStack to a highly engaged audience, with ShapeBlue’s CRO @Ivet_H_Petrova sharing insights into how organisations can approach virtualisation with greater choice, control and vendor independence. The strong interest and conversations throughout the event reflect a broader shift: more enterprises are looking beyond their existing virtualisation platforms and becoming more aware of the open-source alternatives available to them. We’re excited to see these conversations around Apache CloudStack growing across the region.

Apache CloudStack® Certification by ShapeBlue is the trusted way to validate your expertise in deploying and managing open-source cloud infrastructure with Apache CloudStack. It demonstrates real-world capability across architecture, operations and IaaS delivery using CloudStack. Whether you are a cloud architect, engineer, consultant or service provider, certification proves your ability to design, implement and operate production-ready CloudStack environments with confidence. Learn more and get certified! shapeblue.com/apache-cloudst…

A great day in Budapest, bringing Apache CloudStack to a wider audience together with our partners at NTT DATA, Inc. Hungary. Together, experts from ShapeBlue and NTT DATA explored how Apache CloudStack enables organisations to build predictable, future-ready and vendor-independent virtualisation infrastructure. Events like this are a valuable opportunity to bring together local expertise, practical experience and conversations around greater infrastructure choice and control.