As to how openQRM compares with existing open source management projects, Qlusters software engineer Matt Rechenburg said most are concentrating on a specific aspect of managing a data center such as deployment, configuration management, and monitoring.

"OpenQRM does not try to reinvent the wheel, but integrates with open source or proprietary tools and technology to meet users' differing needs and preferences," Rechenburg said. "Our Nagios plug-in is a great example."

Details of existing openQRM users are scant, but Harleman said one customer implemented openQRM for its test environment of over 1000 machines in a single location and could stop "over-requesting and holding on to resources".

"It was also easy for IT managers to monitor utilization and relocate, reclaim, or archive the system environment depending on needs," he said. "OpenQRM was configured to capture the new base image when the engineers update it and greatly simplified the rolling out of incremental updates. Their efficient use of hardware as well as enhanced workflow provided an ROI of less than three months."

Another customer that clears "a very large volume of the New York Stock Exchange's transactions" uses openQRM to provide HA and power savings.