Deploying DevStack: a practical guide to building an OpenStack test environment
If you want to discover OpenStack, validate a private cloud architecture, or quickly test components without launching a full production platform, DevStack remains one of the fastest paths. It allows teams to deploy an OpenStack development environment in a few steps, with a workflow designed for testing, demos, and technical validation.
Why use DevStack
DevStack is especially useful to:
- discover OpenStack,
- test Nova, Neutron, Horizon, or Cinder,
- validate integrations,
- build a fast cloud lab,
- reproduce technical scenarios without heavy industrial setup.
A key point must remain clear: DevStack is not built for production. It is first and foremost a lab tool.
Prerequisites before installation
To deploy DevStack cleanly, it is best to start from a dedicated Ubuntu VM or server with:
- a clean and updated system,
- sudo access,
- at least 8 GB of RAM for a comfortable lab,
- several vCPUs,
- enough disk space,
- a dedicated non-root user.
A noisy or overloaded environment quickly makes installation harder.
Deployment steps
1. Update the system
bash
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y git2. Create a dedicated user
bash
sudo useradd -s /bin/bash -d /opt/stack -m stack
echo "stack ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL" | sudo tee /etc/sudoers.d/stack
sudo su - stack
