Dell commits to OpenStack cloud computing solution

Dell is turning to open-source software to give it a technological edge in the cloud.

The company said its upcoming public and private cloud products will be built around OpenStack, a package of software for running clouds that has received broad backing from the technology industry from companies such as HP, Cisco, IBM, Red Hat and Intel.

Dell's decision to put OpenStack at the heart of its cloud technology follows similar moves by HP and Rackspace.

The OpenStack initiative was launched in mid-2010 with code contributions from NASA and Rackspace. Dell, along with other large companies such as AMD and Citrix, has been involved in the scheme from the start.