StackStorm is an open-source platform for event-driven automation, configuration, and orchestration. It is a powerful tool that integrates with your existing infrastructure to automate common operational patterns. StackStorm is used in a variety of DevOps contexts, including infrastructure automation, auto-remediation, continuous deployment, and more.
StackStorm is designed to be highly extensible and flexible, allowing you to integrate with a wide variety of systems, tools, and services. It uses a rules engine to trigger workflows based on specific events, and it can execute actions in response to these events. This makes StackStorm an ideal tool for automating complex, multi-step processes.
Definition of StackStorm
StackStorm is a robust event-driven automation tool that is used to automate and orchestrate tasks in a DevOps environment. It is an open-source platform that allows for the integration of various systems, tools, and services, enabling the automation of complex, multi-step processes.
StackStorm uses a rules engine to trigger workflows based on specific events, and it can execute actions in response to these events. This allows for the automation of tasks such as infrastructure automation, auto-remediation, continuous deployment, and more.
Event-Driven Automation
Event-driven automation is a key feature of StackStorm. This involves the automation of tasks based on specific events or triggers. For example, if a server goes down, StackStorm can automatically execute a workflow to bring it back online.
This type of automation is particularly useful in a DevOps context, where rapid response to events is crucial. By automating responses to common events, StackStorm can help to reduce the time and effort required to manage and maintain a complex IT environment.
Integration and Orchestration
StackStorm is designed to integrate with a wide variety of systems, tools, and services. This includes everything from cloud services to monitoring tools to configuration management systems. By integrating these different tools, StackStorm can orchestrate complex workflows that span multiple systems and services.
This level of integration and orchestration is a key feature of StackStorm. It allows for the automation of complex, multi-step processes that would otherwise require manual intervention. This can significantly reduce the time and effort required to manage and maintain a complex IT environment.
History of StackStorm
StackStorm was originally developed by a team of engineers at Nexenta Systems, a company that specializes in software-defined storage solutions. The team was looking for a way to automate and orchestrate tasks in their DevOps environment, and they decided to develop their own tool to meet their needs.
The first version of StackStorm was released in 2014, and it quickly gained popularity in the DevOps community. In 2016, StackStorm was acquired by Brocade Communications Systems, a networking solutions provider. Brocade continued to develop and support StackStorm, and in 2017, they decided to open-source the platform.
Acquisition by Extreme Networks
In 2017, Extreme Networks, a networking solutions provider, acquired Brocade's data center networking business, including StackStorm. Extreme Networks continued to support and develop StackStorm, and they have made significant contributions to the platform since the acquisition.
Under Extreme Networks, StackStorm has continued to evolve and improve. The platform has seen numerous updates and enhancements, and it continues to be a popular choice for event-driven automation in a DevOps context.
Open Source Community
Since being open-sourced, StackStorm has developed a strong community of users and contributors. This community has played a key role in the development and evolution of the platform, contributing code, reporting bugs, and providing feedback and suggestions.
The StackStorm community is active and engaged, and it is a valuable resource for anyone using the platform. The community provides support and guidance, and it is a great place to learn more about how to use and customize StackStorm.
Use Cases of StackStorm
StackStorm is used in a variety of DevOps contexts, and it is particularly well-suited to automating and orchestrating complex, multi-step processes. Some of the most common use cases for StackStorm include infrastructure automation, auto-remediation, continuous deployment, and more.
By automating these processes, StackStorm can help to reduce the time and effort required to manage and maintain a complex IT environment. This can lead to significant cost savings, and it can also help to improve the reliability and performance of your systems and services.
Infrastructure Automation
Infrastructure automation is one of the most common use cases for StackStorm. This involves the automation of tasks related to the management and maintenance of IT infrastructure, such as provisioning and configuring servers, managing network devices, and more.
By automating these tasks, StackStorm can help to reduce the time and effort required to manage and maintain your infrastructure. This can lead to significant cost savings, and it can also help to improve the reliability and performance of your systems and services.
Auto-Remediation
Auto-remediation is another common use case for StackStorm. This involves the automation of responses to common events or issues, such as a server going down or a network device failing.
By automating these responses, StackStorm can help to reduce the time and effort required to resolve these issues. This can lead to significant cost savings, and it can also help to improve the reliability and performance of your systems and services.
Continuous Deployment
Continuous deployment is a key aspect of DevOps, and it is another area where StackStorm can provide significant value. StackStorm can automate the deployment of code and configuration changes, helping to ensure that these changes are rolled out quickly and consistently.
By automating the deployment process, StackStorm can help to reduce the time and effort required to deploy changes. This can lead to significant cost savings, and it can also help to improve the reliability and performance of your systems and services.
Examples of StackStorm in Action
There are many examples of how StackStorm can be used in a DevOps context. These examples can provide valuable insights into how StackStorm can be used to automate and orchestrate complex, multi-step processes.
One example is the use of StackStorm for infrastructure automation. In this scenario, StackStorm could be used to automate the provisioning and configuration of servers, network devices, and other infrastructure components. This could involve the use of StackStorm's rules engine to trigger workflows based on specific events, such as a new server being added to the network.
Auto-Remediation Example
Another example is the use of StackStorm for auto-remediation. In this scenario, StackStorm could be used to automate the response to common events or issues, such as a server going down or a network device failing.
For example, if a server goes down, StackStorm could automatically execute a workflow to bring it back online. This could involve the use of StackStorm's rules engine to trigger the workflow based on the event of the server going down, and it could involve the execution of actions to bring the server back online.
Continuous Deployment Example
A third example is the use of StackStorm for continuous deployment. In this scenario, StackStorm could be used to automate the deployment of code and configuration changes, helping to ensure that these changes are rolled out quickly and consistently.
For example, when a new version of a software application is ready for deployment, StackStorm could automatically execute a workflow to deploy the new version. This could involve the use of StackStorm's rules engine to trigger the workflow based on the event of the new version being ready for deployment, and it could involve the execution of actions to deploy the new version.
Conclusion
StackStorm is a powerful tool for event-driven automation in a DevOps context. It is highly extensible and flexible, allowing for the integration of a wide variety of systems, tools, and services. This makes StackStorm an ideal tool for automating complex, multi-step processes.
Whether you're looking to automate infrastructure management, auto-remediate common issues, or streamline your deployment process, StackStorm can provide the automation and orchestration capabilities you need. With its robust features and active community, StackStorm is a valuable addition to any DevOps toolkit.