High Availability in Private Cloud: Approaches and Possibilities

Cloud computing, typically provided by large infrastructure providers, allows companies to utilize services efficiently under the premise of cost reduction. Known as the “public cloud,” this model contrasts with the “private cloud,” often perceived as costly and complex to implement. However, when high availability is required, the complexities of both models align, and the costs associated with public cloud services can become prohibitive. This paper explores the technical feasibility and economic viability of deploying private cloud infrastructure using refurbished hardware. It presents a detailed architecture incorporating Canonical MaaS for Metal-as-a-Service (MaaS), OpenNebula for Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), and Incus for Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), with Moodle as the application layer case study. The study finds that private clouds, especially those utilizing refurbished hardware, not only offer a costeffective alternative to public clouds but also enhance security with complete control over data and systems, provide customizable self-management to meet specific organizational needs, utilize existing resources more efficiently for greater sustainability, and ensure technological sovereignty by reducing dependency on public cloud providers. These benefits collectively underscore the strategic advantages of adopting private cloud infrastructures in certain contexts.