8 Best-Selling OpenStack Books Millions Trust

Explore top OpenStack books endorsed by experts Matt Dorn, Kevin Jackson, and Tom Fifield for best-selling, reader-trusted guidance

Updated on June 24, 2025
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There's something special about books that both critics and crowds love, and when it comes to OpenStack, these eight best-sellers stand out. OpenStack's role in cloud computing keeps growing, making proven resources vital for mastering its complex ecosystem. From managing scalable cloud operations to preparing for certification, these books reflect methods that many professionals have found invaluable.

Experts like Matt Dorn, Principal Software Engineer at Red Hat, who crafted a focused certification guide after years training engineers at Rackspace, and Kevin Jackson, with over 20 years of experience at Rackspace and a deep history with OpenStack, have shaped this collection. Their hands-on expertise translates into practical, reliable advice that readers trust for real-world cloud challenges.

While these popular books provide proven frameworks and tested strategies, readers seeking content tailored to their specific OpenStack needs might consider creating a personalized OpenStack book that combines these validated approaches with your unique background and goals.

Best for cloud operations managers
Tom Fifield led the creation of the NeCTAR Research Cloud and currently serves as a Community Manager at the OpenStack Foundation. His firsthand experience managing large-scale cloud environments shapes this book, offering you practical insights into setting up and running OpenStack clouds. His deep involvement with the OpenStack community ensures that this guide addresses real challenges and best practices, making it a valuable companion for anyone tasked with cloud operations.
OpenStack Operations Guide: Set Up and Manage Your OpenStack Cloud book cover

by Tom Fifield, Diane Fleming, Anne Gentle, Lorin Hochstein, Jonathan Proulx, Everett Toews, Joe Topjian··You?

2014·327 pages·OpenStack, IaaS, Cloud Computing, Infrastructure, Cloud Architecture

Tom Fifield's extensive experience leading the NeCTAR Research Cloud and his role at the OpenStack Foundation deeply inform this guide, making it a grounded resource for anyone managing OpenStack clouds. You’ll learn how to design scalable cloud architectures, automate deployments, and handle day-to-day administration tasks like monitoring and troubleshooting. The book walks you through setting up compute, storage, and networking resources while clarifying complex options with practical examples, such as a single-node cloud controller and metrics-driven scalability improvements. If you have some familiarity with Ubuntu and MySQL, this book will equip you with the concrete know-how to build and maintain private or public IaaS environments effectively.

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Best for OpenStack network engineers
James Denton brings over 15 years of experience in system administration and networking to this detailed exploration of OpenStack networking. As a Principal Architect at Rackspace who has been hands-on with OpenStack since 2012, Denton leverages his deep expertise to help you deploy and manage networks using OpenStack's Neutron API. His background in enterprise network security and practical deployments uniquely positions him to guide you through the complexities of virtual networking, from installation to security group management, making this book a valuable resource for anyone tasked with operating OpenStack clouds.
2016·174 pages·OpenStack, Subnet, Networking, Cloud Computing, Neutron API

James Denton's extensive experience in system administration and networking shines through in this focused guide to OpenStack's networking capabilities. You’ll explore the Neutron API in detail, gaining hands-on skills to create and manage networks, subnets, and routers within OpenStack clouds. The book walks you through practical installations and configurations, such as setting up OpenStack Liberty with RDO and using both CLI and dashboard interfaces to control network resources. If you're looking to understand how virtual switches and security groups function in this environment, Denton’s straightforward explanations and diagrams provide clarity without overcomplication. This book suits those ready to build foundational OpenStack network architectures rather than those seeking deep theoretical networking concepts.

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Best for custom cloud operations
This AI-created book on OpenStack mastery is tailored to your background, current skills, and specific goals. You share which OpenStack topics you want to focus on and your experience level, and the book is crafted to match exactly what you need to learn. By personalizing content for your unique cloud infrastructure interests, this approach helps you gain relevant knowledge without sifting through unrelated material.
2025·50-300 pages·OpenStack, OpenStack Basics, Cloud Operations, Network Configuration, Storage Management

This tailored book explores managing and optimizing OpenStack cloud infrastructure with a personalized focus on your specific interests and background. It examines core OpenStack components, cloud operations, networking, automation, and performance tuning, offering a clear path through the complex ecosystem. By addressing your unique goals, it reveals practical insights into deploying scalable, efficient cloud environments that align with your expertise level. The book combines reader-validated knowledge with your input, creating a tailored exploration of OpenStack mastery that enhances your learning experience and deepens your understanding of cloud infrastructure management.

Tailored Guide
Cloud Operations Expertise
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for cloud architects building environments
This book offers an extensive look at building a cloud environment using OpenStack, drawing from the expertise of seasoned administrators and architects. It presents a clear path through installing and managing key OpenStack components like Swift, Cinder, and Neutron, while emphasizing practical troubleshooting and automation strategies. For anyone aiming to run a private cloud, the detailed coverage of networking services and storage solutions makes this a valuable companion for mastering OpenStack's complex ecosystem.
OpenStack: Building a Cloud Environment book cover

by Alok Shrivastwa, Sunil Sarat, Kevin Jackson·You?

2016·822 pages·OpenStack, Cloud Computing, Networking, Storage, Automation

The breakthrough moment came when the authors harnessed their deep experience as OpenStack administrators and architects to craft a detailed guide for building a private cloud environment. You’ll learn to install, configure, and manage core OpenStack projects like Object Storage with Swift, Block Storage via Cinder, and Neutron Networking including LBaaS and FWaaS. The book doesn’t shy away from the complexities of troubleshooting performance and availability issues in production-ready setups, offering practical insights into automation with Ansible and Foreman. If you’re familiar with Linux, virtualization, and networking basics, this book will sharpen your skills in deploying and maintaining robust OpenStack clouds.

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Matt Dorn is a Principal Software Engineer at Red Hat with deep roots in cloud native technology and OpenStack training. His decades of hands-on experience at Rackspace and CoreOS motivated him to write this guide, aiming it at IT professionals and developers ready to prove their OpenStack skills. Through this book, Dorn connects his real-world expertise to the exam objectives, offering you practical tools and a virtual lab environment to prepare effectively for certification.
2017·338 pages·OpenStack, Cloud Computing, DevOps, System Administration, Network Management

What started as Matt Dorn's extensive experience training engineers at Rackspace evolved into a focused guide that sharpens your skills for the Certified OpenStack Administrator exam. You’ll learn to manage essential OpenStack services like Keystone, Glance, Nova, Neutron, Cinder, and Swift through hands-on exercises and a virtual appliance included with the book. It breaks down complex tasks such as configuring identity services, handling block storage, and orchestrating Heat templates, making it particularly useful if you’re stepping into OpenStack administration with some Linux and networking basics. If you're aiming to validate your skills and build confidence managing OpenStack environments, this book provides a clear and direct path without unnecessary detours.

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Best for hands-on cloud automation
Kevin Jackson, an IT professional with over 20 years of experience and a long history with OpenStack since its first release, brings unmatched practical insight to this book. As a Rackspace expert and frequent speaker at OpenStack events, his deep involvement in the community shapes a guide that helps you move from installation to operation effectively. This book reflects his dedication to making OpenStack accessible through clear, actionable recipes that span storage, networking, and automation, crafted for professionals ready to build and manage scalable private clouds.
2018·398 pages·OpenStack, Cloud Computing, Automation, Networking, Storage

When Kevin Jackson and his coauthors updated this book to its fourth edition, they brought decades of hands-on expertise with OpenStack to the table, focusing on practical, recipe-style guidance. You get over 100 targeted solutions that walk you through deploying and managing key OpenStack components like Keystone for identity management, Neutron for networking, and Cinder for storage, all with an emphasis on automation using Ansible. This book suits IT professionals and cloud engineers eager to build or operate private clouds, offering a clear path from setup to advanced orchestration without drowning in theory. If you want actionable recipes that demystify complex OpenStack services, this book delivers exactly that, especially in chapters covering network configuration and cloud security.

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Best for focused skill acceleration
This AI-created book on OpenStack deployment is crafted based on your current skills and specific goals. It focuses on the practical, daily actions that will help you build competence quickly without overwhelming you. By tailoring content to your interests and background, it makes learning OpenStack more direct and relevant, helping you move from beginner to confident user with clear steps. This personalized approach enables you to focus on what truly matters in mastering OpenStack deployment efficiently.
2025·50-300 pages·OpenStack, OpenStack Basics, Cloud Architecture, Deployment Planning, Networking Setup

This personalized book explores a step-by-step, 30-day plan designed to fast-track your OpenStack expertise and deployment capabilities. Tailored specifically to your background and goals, it focuses on the essential concepts and practical tasks that build your skills day by day. By combining core OpenStack components with your interests, it reveals how to efficiently navigate architecture, networking, automation, and administration at a pace suited to you. This tailored approach ensures you engage deeply with the material that matters most to your ambitions, accelerating your understanding through clear, focused guidance. Whether you're aiming to manage private clouds or prepare for certification, this book matches your unique learning path for maximum impact.

Tailored Guide
Deployment Acceleration
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for advanced OpenStack developers
Omar Khedher is a systems and network engineer with hands-on experience architecting cloud infrastructures at Fyber in Berlin. He has authored multiple OpenStack-focused publications including Mastering OpenStack and OpenStack Sahara Essentials. Drawing on this background and his PhD research on cloud performance, Omar offers you an in-depth look at extending OpenStack beyond its defaults. His expertise ensures that you learn from real-world cloud challenges and solutions, making this guide a valuable companion for those ready to advance their OpenStack deployments.
2018·300 pages·OpenStack, Cloud Computing, Containerization, Network Engineering, Storage Management

Omar Khedher draws on his extensive experience as a systems and network engineer to explore how you can push OpenStack beyond its core capabilities. This book walks you through expanding storage, networking, and compute power while integrating container tech like Docker and Kubernetes directly into OpenStack. You’ll also get hands-on guidance on managing big data using the Sahara project and automating deployments with Murano plugins. If you’re comfortable with basic OpenStack and want to architect a more flexible, scalable private cloud, this book lays out practical approaches without unnecessary jargon.

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José Antonio Alvarez Cubero, with a master's and doctorate from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and a role as Data Center and Digital Transformation Business Development Manager at Acuntia within VINCI Group, brings authoritative insight to this guide. His background in software-defined data center technologies and data science informs a methodical approach that helps candidates truly learn OpenStack administration rather than memorize exam questions. Cubero’s experience as a finalist in the 2017 Big Data Analytics World Championships and winner of the 2018 Vinci Energies Hackathon underscores his technical acumen, making this book a solid resource for those pursuing certification.
2018·412 pages·OpenStack, Certification, Cloud Computing, System Administration, Virtualization

When Jose Antonio Alvarez Cubero realized how many professionals struggled to prepare effectively for the Certified OpenStack Administrator exam, he crafted this guide to bridge that gap. Drawing from his deep expertise in software-defined data centers and digital transformation, he offers a structured approach that goes beyond rote memorization, focusing on genuine understanding through practical examples and targeted exercises. You’ll find chapters mapped directly to the exam domains, complete with detailed explanations, GUI references, and problem-solving techniques that sharpen your command of OpenStack administration. This book suits IT professionals aiming to validate their OpenStack skills with a respected credential and those wanting a clear, methodical path to mastery without fluff.

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Best for hybrid cloud application developers
This book stands out by focusing specifically on developing and deploying applications across both AWS and OpenStack platforms, addressing a critical skill for today's hybrid cloud landscape. It guides you through essential cloud services and practical methods for creating applications that move seamlessly between public and private clouds. Ideal for IT professionals and developers, it offers troubleshooting and security insights that equip you to build reliable, scalable cloud solutions. The approach reflects a deep understanding of hybrid cloud challenges and solutions, making it a significant contribution to OpenStack literature.
2018·280 pages·OpenStack, Cloud Computing, DevOps, AWS, Hybrid Cloud

Manoj Hirway's experience in hybrid cloud environments shines through this guide, which delves deeply into leveraging both AWS and OpenStack for application development. You gain hands-on knowledge about building cloud applications that can fluidly migrate between public and private cloud platforms, including detailed source code examples illustrating these processes. The book covers everything from cloud platform fundamentals to troubleshooting and security best practices, making it particularly useful if you’re an IT professional or developer aiming to navigate hybrid cloud complexities. While it assumes some prior cloud familiarity, its practical approach helps you build scalable and flexible applications suited to modern cloud demands.

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Proven OpenStack Methods, Personalized

Get expert-validated strategies tailored to your OpenStack goals and skill level.

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Conclusion

These eight books collectively highlight proven frameworks and widespread validation in the OpenStack community. If you prefer practical, hands-on methods, start with Kevin Jackson's "OpenStack Cloud Computing Cookbook" and Tom Fifield's "OpenStack Operations Guide." For those focused on certification, Matt Dorn's and Jose Antonio Alvarez Cubero's guides offer clear paths to mastery.

Combining books like "OpenStack Networking Essentials" with "Extending OpenStack" provides both foundational knowledge and advanced techniques to scale your cloud solutions confidently. Alternatively, you can create a personalized OpenStack book to blend these proven methods with your unique needs.

These widely-adopted approaches have helped many succeed in navigating OpenStack’s complexities, whether building cloud environments, managing networks, or preparing for critical certifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which OpenStack book should I start with?

Start with the "OpenStack Operations Guide" by Tom Fifield if you're managing cloud infrastructure, or "Preparing for the Certified OpenStack Administrator Exam" by Matt Dorn if certification is your goal. Both lay solid foundations tailored to different needs.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to OpenStack?

Not at all. Many books, like "OpenStack Networking Essentials," provide clear, practical entry points. They build from basics to more complex topics, making them accessible for those with some Linux or networking knowledge.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with operational and architectural guides like "OpenStack" by Shrivastwa et al., then move to specialized texts such as "Extending OpenStack." Certification guides fit well after gaining hands-on experience.

Do these books assume prior OpenStack experience?

Most expect familiarity with Linux and basic networking, but they clearly explain OpenStack components and workflows. For absolute beginners, pairing these with foundational Linux resources helps.

Which book offers the most actionable advice I can use right away?

The "OpenStack Cloud Computing Cookbook" delivers practical recipes for deployment and management, perfect for IT professionals wanting immediate, applicable solutions.

Can I get a tailored OpenStack learning plan instead of reading all these books?

Yes! While these expert books cover proven methods, a personalized OpenStack book can combine their strengths with your specific goals and background. Explore tailored options here.

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