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freeblade Architecture

21 May 2014

Freeblade is an X11 based remote management interface for VirtualControl and OpenSANd. It is written in Perl and uses Tk widgets.

The main features are:

  • Graphically manage KVM virtual machines running under VirtualControl
  • Show important live runtime information (loadavg, disk I/O) of both host and guests
  • Graphically manage OpenSANd disks
  • Allow one-click access to the consoles of KVM machines (over VNC)
  • The graphical management console may connect to remote instances (over SSH) and collect remote X11 windows in a seamless tabbed application.

Freeblade application interface

X11 desktop

freeblade runs under Perl/X11/Tk.

ssh

Freeblade uses ssh X11 forwarding in order to display remote (or local) management consoles and combines them to a seamless (tabbed) application.

Network connection

ssh Server

Freeblade agent (X11 client)

VirtualControl

VirtualControl is connected to over CLI commands. Also, VirtualControl brings its own small X11 applications like vcpanel and vcedit that control certain aspects of the system. Freeblade glues them together.

OpenSANd

OpenSANd is connected to over CLI commands. Also, OpenSANd brings its own small X11 applications like ospanel and osedit that control certain aspects of the system. Freeblade glues them together.