Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


UT San Antonio Deploys Cloud-Based Academic Research Platform

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) has implemented an advanced academic research software platform based on OpenStack technologies.

"The demands made by applications and the needs of computer users are constantly spiraling upward," said Mo Jamshidi, chair of the UTSA Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, in a prepared statement. "We were challenged by the physical limitations of our computers and wanted to find a new computing plateau where we could have the freedom to explore the full potential of our research."

The university decided early on in the platform-selection process that its research cloud should be open so it could support collaboration, according to Jeff Prevost, coordinator of cloud initiatives at UTSA. The university selected a hybrid cloud platform featuring Rackspace Private Cloud and public Open Cloud solutions, which was designed, built, and deployed by Rackspace Hosting and UTSA. The solution will provide UTSA researchers with "massive scale, flexibility, and speed in research," according to Rackspace.

"An OpenStack-based foundation became the obvious choice for us, not only because of our relationship with Rackspace, but also because of the private and public structure possibilities," said Prevost in a prepared statement. "The flexibility of this hybrid environment is a compelling enabler for the research we are doing."

The solution will let UTSA researchers run complicated and intensive computational models to study scientific and engineering problems related to bioinformatics, aircraft digital twins, energy exploration, and digital human model and real-time surgical control.

Rackspace is also providing UTSA with training and development to help drive adoption and effective use of the OpenStack-powered private cloud.

The hardware for the platform was provided by a grant from the 80/20 Foundation, which was founded by Graham Weston, co-founder and chairman of Rackspace. The 80/20 Foundation provides grants to public charities focused on developing and promoting entrepreneurship, tech skills education, and urban options in San Antonio.

The University of Texas at San Antonio is a comprehensive, four-year public university serving the San Antonio metropolitan area, South Texas, and the Rio Grande Valley. It serves more than 30,000 students and employs nearly 600 faculty members.

Further information about Rackspace Hosting can be found at rackspace.com.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • digital brain with network connections

    Microsoft Moving to Internally Developed AI Models in Office Apps

    Microsoft is reportedly using its own in-house artificial intelligence models to handle some workloads in Excel and Outlook, offering new evidence that the company is moving its AI strategy beyond model development and into large-scale cost reduction.

  • circuit patterns

    Anthropic Launches Lower-Cost Claude Sonnet 5

    Anthropic has released Claude Sonnet 5, positioning the model as its most autonomous mid-tier offering to date and a lower-cost alternative to its flagship Opus 4.8 system. The company said the model can plan multi-step tasks, operate tools such as browsers and terminals, and complete agentic work at a level that previously required larger and more expensive models.

  • Human Hand Assembling Digital Data Blocks

    Report: AI Impact Starts with Strong Data Foundation

    High-impact AI implementations are more likely to treat data architecture, governance, and operationalization as strategic requirements, according to TDWI's 2026 Blueprint report.

  • Abstract background with digital shield made of data particles glowing blue blocking against cyber attacks

    Report: AI Attacks Push Organizations Toward Autonomous Cybersecurity Defense

    Artificial intelligence is raising the stakes of cyber conflict as attackers use the technology to accelerate reconnaissance, uncover vulnerabilities, and launch attacks faster than many security teams can respond.