Getting Started with Rackspace OpenStack Flex

This guide is a very simple walkthrough that takes you through the bare essentials to get your Rackspace OpenStack Flex project ready to go with networking and a VM.

Prerequisites

In order to begin using Rackspace OpenStack Flex, you'll need to have the following:

• Rackspace Cloud Account
• Rackspace Cloud Account User and API Credentials

We also recommend that you have a basic understanding of how to effectively utilize 'Cloud' technology. For information around this see our Cloud Best Practices guide.

1. Accessing Rackspace OpenStack Flex

Follow the guide here to log into the Skyline Control Panel: Accessing Rackspace OpenStack Flex

2. Building Your Network

In OpenStack Flex, customers are required to create their own network architecture within their project. A network is the foundation of any project because it enables communication between instances, external networks, and storage resources. We've simplified this process by introducing the QuickNet feature which will build you the required network components with a couple clicks. But if you're interested in doing it step-by-step or prefer to really get into the complexities of the network check out the Creating a Rackspace OpenStack Flex Network article.

3. Building a VM

Virtual Machines (VMs) are virtual cloud servers that allow you to run applications on a number of different operating systems and machine types, known as flavors. To see how to create your VM, hook it into your network(s), and access it - check out our guide on Creating a Virtual Machine.

You've now got a basic understanding of how to access, navigate, and access resources on the Skyline UI for Rackspace OpenStack Flex. Check out the 'What's Next' section below to get a better understanding of the available OpenStack Flex components, what they are, and how to use them.

NOTE: If you'd prefer to get started using the OpenStack CLI you can find documentation here on how to begin using that