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How to Install OpenStack on Ubuntu With DevStack

A practical guide to installing DevStack on a disposable Ubuntu host, including supported-release checks, local.conf, stack.sh, validation commands, networking cautions and recovery steps.
Length12 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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DevStack is the fastest way to assemble an OpenStack development cloud on Ubuntu, but it is not a safe “install it on my everyday PC” package. Use a fresh, minimal Ubuntu server or disposable virtual machine, log in with a non-root account that has passwordless sudo, clone the DevStack repository, create a private local.conf, and run ./stack.sh. The script installs and configures OpenStack services, changes host networking and package state, and leaves you with credentials, a command-line client, and usually the Horizon dashboard.

What DevStack installs

DevStack is a collection of scripts for quickly building an OpenStack environment from upstream projects for development and testing. The current documentation describes it as a substantial host-level change, while the current stack.sh source calls it an opinionated developer installation. It can assemble combinations of Keystone, Glance, Nova, Placement, Cinder, Neutron, Horizon, Swift and related dependencies rather than delivering a hardened production cloud.

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That distinction determines where you should run it. A DevStack host is a lab appliance: ideal for learning APIs, testing patches, trying networking features or exercising an OpenStack client. It is a poor choice for a workstation containing personal files, a production server, or a machine whose existing firewall, containers and network configuration must remain untouched.

Read the current DevStack documentation and the stack.sh source for the branch you intend to use. Service defaults and distribution checks move as OpenStack development moves.

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Choose the Ubuntu host before you begin

Use a clean, disposable installation

Start with a fresh minimal Ubuntu installation. The official single-machine guide points to Ubuntu minimal media because DevStack downloads and installs its own dependencies. Do not layer it over an existing desktop setup, a machine running important virtual machines, or a server with irreplaceable data.

  • Best isolation: a dedicated physical server or a disposable virtual machine with console access.
  • Cloud option: a temporary Ubuntu VM is suitable when you do not have spare hardware. The official single-VM guide also documents a cloud-init workflow.
  • Network expectation: the VM must have enough connectivity to download Git repositories, Python packages, operating-system packages and any images you later test.

Take a snapshot before running the script if your hypervisor supports it. A snapshot gives you a clean rollback point, but it does not make DevStack safe to run on a host that shares critical workloads.

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Check the supported Ubuntu release for your branch

DevStack’s documentation says it attempts to support the two latest Ubuntu LTS releases. That is a moving policy, not a permanent list of version numbers. The master script performs its own distribution checks, so confirm the branch and Ubuntu release together immediately before installation. A branch that worked on one LTS can reject an older or newer release after its dependencies change.

If the script reports that your distribution is unsupported, do not treat FORCE=yes as a compatibility fix. The source permits forcing an untested distribution, but that bypasses a safety check and can leave you with broken packages or services. Use a supported Ubuntu release and matching DevStack branch unless you deliberately accept the troubleshooting burden of an experimental combination.

Prepare a non-root sudo user

Run DevStack as an ordinary account with sudo, never as root. Many cloud images already provide a suitable login. If yours does not, create a dedicated stack account on the disposable host:

sudo adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" stack
printf 'stack ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALLn' | sudo tee /etc/sudoers.d/stack
sudo chmod 0440 /etc/sudoers.d/stack

Switch to that account before cloning the repository:

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sudo -iu stack
cd ~

Passwordless sudo is convenient for an unattended development install, but it is also powerful. Keep the account and host confined to the lab, and remove the VM or the sudo rule when you are finished.

Update Ubuntu and install Git

On a newly installed host, update package metadata and install Git. Run these commands from the account you will use for administration; the repository itself should belong to the non-root stack user.

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sudo apt update
sudo apt -y upgrade
sudo apt install -y git

A reboot after a major kernel or system-library upgrade is prudent. Reconnect as the same sudo-enabled user after the reboot and verify that the machine still has outbound Internet access.

Clone DevStack and select a branch

Clone the upstream repository into the home directory of the stack user:

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git clone https://opendev.org/openstack/devstack
cd devstack

The command checks out the repository’s default branch. For a reproducible lab, check out a branch that matches the OpenStack release you are studying, after confirming that branch’s Ubuntu support in its documentation:

git branch -a
git checkout <branch-name>

Replace <branch-name> with an actual branch name; do not copy the angle brackets. If you do not need release reproducibility, staying on the default branch follows the latest development behavior but can change between installations.

Create local.conf before running stack.sh

DevStack reads configuration from a file named local.conf at the root of the cloned repository. Create it before starting the installer:

cd ~/devstack
nano local.conf

The documented minimum configuration is:

[[local|localrc]]
ADMIN_PASSWORD=secret
DATABASE_PASSWORD=$ADMIN_PASSWORD
RABBIT_PASSWORD=$ADMIN_PASSWORD
SERVICE_PASSWORD=$ADMIN_PASSWORD

Replace secret with a long, unique lab password. The four values supply the administrator, database, message-queue and service credentials that the basic deployment needs. Referencing $ADMIN_PASSWORD keeps the example consistent; DevStack expands those values while reading the file.

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Protect the file because it contains credentials. Keep it owned by the stack user and limit its permissions:

chmod 600 ~/devstack/local.conf
ls -l ~/devstack/local.conf

Do not commit local.conf to a public repository, paste it into support forums, or reuse these lab passwords on another system. If a password is exposed, destroy the disposable deployment or replace the credentials before using it again.

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What not to add until the base install works

The minimum file intentionally avoids optional services and topology settings. Add one change at a time only after the base cloud is healthy. Enabling extra projects increases download time, package requirements, memory use and the number of places a deployment can fail. Keep a copy of the last known-good file so you can distinguish a DevStack problem from an experimental configuration change.

Run the installer

From the DevStack directory, run the script as the non-root stack user:

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cd ~/devstack
./stack.sh

The script installs operating-system packages, clones OpenStack projects, creates databases and message-queue configuration, configures services and writes logs. Depending on the branch and enabled services, it may alter sudo configuration, start or stop system services, create bridges and namespaces, and change firewall or networking behavior. Keep the terminal attached until it finishes or reports a failure; interrupting package or database setup can leave the host in a partially configured state.

Watch for the final URLs, credentials and log locations printed by the script. Save that output in a private place. The dashboard address is environment-dependent, so use the URL DevStack prints rather than assuming a fixed hostname or port.

How long should it take?

An older official Ussuri quick-start page estimated 15–20 minutes, largely depending on Internet speed. That is a historical estimate, not a promise for current releases. A modern run can take longer when repositories are busy, package mirrors are slow, disks are small, or additional services and images are enabled.

Validate the completed cloud

Do not launch workloads until the identity, service catalog and networking components respond. DevStack generates an openrc credentials file in the repository. From the stack user’s shell, load it as instructed by the installer (a common form is source openrc):

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cd ~/devstack
source openrc

If your branch asks for a project or user argument, follow the exact form printed at the end of stack.sh. Then use the OpenStack command-line client to inspect the deployment:

openstack service list
openstack endpoint list
openstack compute service list
openstack image list
openstack network list
openstack volume service list

The commands should return service, endpoint, compute, image, network and block-storage information rather than authentication or connection errors. A missing service can be intentional if you disabled it; an authentication error usually means that the wrong openrc file, project or credentials were loaded.

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Open Horizon

Open the Horizon URL printed by the installer in a browser that can reach the VM or server. Sign in with the administrator credentials from local.conf. Horizon is useful for checking projects, networks, images and instances visually, while the CLI exposes the same control plane in repeatable commands.

Launch a small test instance only after prerequisites exist

A successful service list does not guarantee that a guest can boot. Before creating an instance, make sure you have:

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  • At least one image visible to the project.
  • A flavor with enough virtual CPU, memory and disk for the test.
  • A tenant network and subnet, plus a router or external network if the guest needs outside connectivity.
  • A security-group rule allowing the protocol you intend to test, such as SSH.
  • Enough free disk, RAM and CPU on the DevStack host.

The exact image, flavor, network and key-pair names differ by branch and by what you create in Horizon or the CLI. Use the names returned by openstack image list, openstack flavor list and openstack network list rather than copying names from another deployment.

Understand the host and resource impact

There is no single official CPU, RAM or disk minimum that applies to every DevStack configuration. Requirements rise with the number of enabled services, the databases and message queues, guest instances, image sizes and whether you build a multi-node topology. A tiny VM may complete the script yet fail when Nova schedules a guest or when Cinder consumes local storage.

Plan capacity around the workload you intend to test, not merely around whether stack.sh starts. Leave disk headroom for package caches, Git checkouts, service logs, downloaded images and instance disks. Give the VM enough memory to avoid host swapping, and reserve CPU for both OpenStack services and any guests.

Networking deserves special caution. Neutron may create Linux bridges, virtual Ethernet pairs, namespaces and routes. The host can lose its original connectivity or behave differently after reboot. Keep console access available, record the VM’s network settings before installation, and never run the experiment on a machine that must remain reachable for unrelated work.

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Troubleshoot common failures

The distribution is rejected

Confirm the Ubuntu release and DevStack branch against the current documentation. If the branch does not support that release, rebuild the VM with a supported LTS or check out a branch intended for your release. Using FORCE=yes bypasses the check but does not add missing packages or guarantee working services; reserve it for deliberate experimentation on a disposable system.

The script was run as root

Stop and rebuild the host with a dedicated non-root sudo account. DevStack expects to manage services and files as its stack user. Continuing after a root run can produce ownership and permission problems that are harder to diagnose than starting over.

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Authentication or service-list commands fail

  • Reload the generated openrc file from the same DevStack tree that produced the deployment.
  • Check that the password in local.conf matches the credential you are using.
  • Confirm that Keystone and its endpoint appear in openstack service list and openstack endpoint list.
  • Read the stack output and service logs named by the installer before changing configuration.

Networking changed or the host became unreachable

Use the VM console or hypervisor console instead of relying solely on SSH. DevStack’s Neutron setup can change interfaces, bridges, routes and namespaces. If the machine is disposable, the fastest recovery is usually to destroy it and recreate the clean snapshot rather than attempting to reverse every host-level change manually.

The run stops during package or repository work

Check outbound connectivity, DNS, disk space and the package manager’s error message. A slow or interrupted mirror can make a later rerun fail because the first run left partial state. Preserve the logs, fix the underlying connectivity or capacity issue, and rerun only after deciding whether rebuilding the VM is safer than repairing it.

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A test instance will not boot

Separate control-plane health from guest prerequisites. Recheck that Nova reports an available compute service, that Placement has inventory, that the selected flavor fits the host, and that the image is present and usable. Then inspect the Neutron network, subnet, router and security-group configuration. A working Horizon login alone does not prove that all of those dependencies are configured.

Use the official single-VM automation when appropriate

If you are starting from a cloud VM, the official single-VM guide shows a cloud-init route that creates the stack user, installs Git, clones DevStack, writes a minimal configuration and launches stack.sh. This is useful for repeatable disposable labs, but cloud-init does not remove the host-impact warning: the VM should still be dedicated to DevStack and sized for the services and guests you plan to run.

For a manual deployment, keeping the user creation, repository clone and local.conf steps explicit makes troubleshooting easier. For repeated test environments, encode those same steps in your image or cloud-init document, store secrets outside public source control, and pin the DevStack branch you have validated.

DevStack compared with other OpenStack deployment approaches

DevStack is one deployment approach, not the universal OpenStack installer. The choice should follow the job you need to perform:

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Approach Primary intent Typical scope Operational expectation
DevStack Development, API experimentation and testing Fast single-node lab, with additional layouts possible for testing High host impact; rebuilds and branch changes are normal
MicroStack Another packaged route to an OpenStack environment Check the current project documentation for supported single-node and clustered layouts Use its own release, upgrade and support guidance
Kolla-Ansible Container-oriented OpenStack deployment Often selected when a more structured multi-service or multi-node deployment is required Requires planning for inventory, containers, networking and upgrades
Distribution packages OpenStack components integrated by an operating-system vendor Depends on the distribution and its release lifecycle Follow the vendor’s supported configuration and maintenance path

This table is about intended use, not feature parity. Verify current release support, upgrade behavior and production guidance in the documentation for any alternative before choosing it. DevStack’s own documentation positions it as a development and testing tool, so production availability, long-term upgrades and hardened security require a different design.

Removal and reset strategy

Because DevStack changes packages, services and networking, plan the reset before installation. For a disposable VM, record a clean snapshot and delete or revert the VM after testing. For a dedicated lab server, keep console access and a written inventory of the original network interfaces, routes and firewall rules. Do not assume that deleting the devstack directory restores the host; many changes occur outside that directory.

If you need a second experiment with different services or credentials, a fresh VM is usually more predictable than repeatedly mutating one installation. Preserve only the logs and configuration you need for diagnosis, and remove secrets from anything you share.

Quick installation checklist

  • Fresh minimal Ubuntu host or disposable VM selected.
  • Ubuntu release and DevStack branch checked against current support information.
  • Console or snapshot-based recovery available.
  • Non-root stack user created with sudo access.
  • Git installed and outbound network access verified.
  • Repository cloned from https://opendev.org/openstack/devstack.
  • Private local.conf created at the repository root with strong lab-only passwords.
  • ./stack.sh run from the stack user’s shell.
  • Installer output and generated openrc location saved securely.
  • Service, endpoint, image, network and compute lists checked with the OpenStack CLI.
  • Horizon opened at the URL printed by the installer.
  • Guest prerequisites verified before attempting a test instance.

What a successful result looks like

A successful base deployment gives you an OpenStack control plane with core services such as Keystone for identity, Glance for images, Nova for compute, Placement for resource tracking, Cinder for block storage, Neutron for networking and Horizon for the web dashboard, subject to the services enabled by your branch and configuration. The OpenStack quick-start documentation shows the basic workflow of sourcing credentials and using the openstack client to manage images, networks, volumes and virtual machines: https://docs.openstack.org/devstack/ussuri/.

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The practical finish line is not merely a completed shell script. It is a lab you can authenticate to, inspect with the CLI, open in Horizon and use to boot a small guest without endangering another system. Once that baseline works, change one service or configuration value at a time and keep the known-good VM or snapshot available for comparison.

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