DreamHost Debuts Open Source Cloud Storage Service

The open source channel’s answer to proprietary cloud solutions has become more compelling with the announcement of a new object storage service from DreamHost that offers full compatibility with other popular APIs. It already has some open source partners talking. Here’s why.

The new service, called DreamObjects, is based on Ceph, the open source distributed storage system. It will compete with proprietary alternatives such as Rackspace (NYSE: RAX) Cloud Files and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) S3.

Open Source Integration

DreamHost developers are placing heavy emphasis on the benefits stemming from the new service’s open source base, which they say will facilitate lower per-Gigabyte pricing for the service and ensure greater flexibility to users. In the words of DreamHost CEO Simon Anderson:

Qualitative values such as greater flexibility are in the eye of the beholder, but quantitatively, DreamObjects does indeed appear attractive from a cost perspective. With a simple, flat-rate pricing plan of 7 cents per Gigabyte of data stored and another 7 cents for each Gigabyte of data transferred, it compares favorably to Rackspace’s 10 cents per Gigabyte, and to Amazon’s S3, which charges up to 12.5 cents per Gigabyte of storage and 12 cents for data-out up to the first 10 Terabytes.

Amazon’s prices become lower thereafter, of course, which may make S3 a better choice for larger organizations with huge amounts of data. But DreamHost comes out on top for many usage scenarios.

Also noteworthy are the partnerships being built around DreamObjects. Intank, which provides support services for Ceph, has signed on in support of DreamHost’s newest endeavor. Meanwhile, Canonical highlighted DreamObjects’ integration into an Ubuntu-based cloud platform at the Linux Foundation’s CloudOpen conference late last month.

This latest offering from DreamHost thus helps to integrate the open source channel even more tightly around the cloud, taking advantage of the strengths of the various stakeholders. For now, Amazon and Rackspace may enjoy greater mindshare and marketshare in this area, but that may not remain true forever.