IT & Infrastructure·Standings

Data Center Automation Software

Data center automation platforms help provision and operate infrastructure. The right fit depends on where you deploy and which automation and access capabilities matter to you.

Review free-plan availability, starting paid prices, deployment choices, automation scope, infrastructure-as-code support, supported operating systems, role-based access and API availability. The signal score is out of 10; marks show API access, open-source code and a free tier.

  • 22 platforms
  • 6 with a public API on this page
  • 14 with a free tier
  • Checked 28 Sept 2026
  1. 1
    C
    CFEnginecfengine.com

    Infrastructure automation software that continuously maintains security, compliance, and updates.

    7.7 APIOpenFree Free tier
  2. 2
    P
    Puppetpuppet.com

    Open-source configuration tool that keeps systems in their desired state through policy rules.

    7.7 APIOpenFree Free tier · from $120/mo
  3. 3
    CM
    Canonical MAAScanonical.com

    Open-source platform that discovers, inventories, deploys, and removes physical servers as cloud resources.

    7.4 APIOpenFree Free tier · from $30/yr
  4. 4
    AC
    Apache CloudStackcloudstack.apache.org

    Open-source platform for deploying and managing virtual machines in public, private, or hybrid clouds.

    7.4 APIOpenFree Free tier
  5. 5
    T
    Terraformdeveloper.hashicorp.com

    Infrastructure tool uses readable files to provision and manage cloud and on-site resources.

    6.7 APIOpenFree Free tier
  6. 6
    SS
    Supermicro SuperDoctor 5supermicro.com

    Free Windows and Linux monitor sends email or SNMP trap alerts and supports custom sensors.

    6.4 APIOpenFree Free tier
  7. 7
    F
    Foremantheforeman.org

    Free server lifecycle tool automates deployment and administration across on-site and cloud systems.

    6.4 APIOpenFree Free tier
  8. 8
    CI
    Chef Infrachef.io

    Open-source configuration management software that keeps infrastructure consistent and compliant.

    6.3 APIOpenFree Free tier · from $59/yr
  9. 9
    O
    OpenTofuopentofu.org

    Free tool writes human-readable files, plans changes, and applies them to cloud or on-site resources.

    6.3 APIOpenFree Free tier
  10. 10
    C
    Cobblercobbler.github.io

    Linux installation server for automating PXE, virtualization, reinstallation, and network services.

    6.0 APIOpenFree Free tier
  11. 11
    X
    xCATxcat.org

    xCAT automates deployment, scaling, and management of bare metal servers and virtual machines.

    6.0 APIOpenFree Free tier
  12. 12
    O
    OpenNebulaopennebula.io

    Freemium cloud platform with Linux, browser, self-hosted, and API access.

    5.9 APIOpenFree Free tier
  13. 13
    OB
    OpenStack Barbicandocs.openstack.org

    Open-source OpenStack service for storing, provisioning, and managing keys, certificates, and secrets.

    5.8 APIOpenFree Free tier
  14. 14
    MB
    MetalSoft Bare Metal Orchestratormetalsoft.io

    Bare Metal Orchestrator provisions, re-provisions, and manages general-purpose and specialized servers across generations and vendors.

    5.3 APIOpenFree —
  15. 15
    CC
    Cisco Catalyst Centercisco.com

    Cisco Catalyst Center is a centralized network controller and management dashboard for enterprise network operations.

    5.3 APIOpenFree —
  16. 16
    DO
    4.8 APIOpenFree Free tier
  17. 17
    IA
    Itential Automation Platformitential.com

    Paid platform runs role-based workflows and agents with access controls, logs, retries, and rollback.

    4.7 APIOpenFree —
  18. 18
    AC
    Arista CloudVisionarista.com

    Network management platform with telemetry, automation, analytics, and REST, gRPC, and OpenConfig APIs.

    4.6 APIOpenFree —
  19. 19
    HO
    HPE OneViewhpe.com

    Web-based infrastructure tool with patching, configuration management, and automated remediation.

    4.1 APIOpenFree —
  20. 20
    NC
    Nutanix Cloud Managernutanix.com

    Paid hybrid-cloud manager with a workflow builder and policy controls.

    4.1 APIOpenFree —
  21. 21
    RH
    Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetesredhat.com

    Cluster management tool for provisioning Kubernetes across datacenters, clouds, and edge environments.

    4.1 APIOpenFree —
  22. 22
    VV
    VMware vSANvmware.com
    3.8 APIOpenFree —

Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this board are open to sponsors. Take #1 · Other ways to advertise

How to choose

Which deployment options fit your environment?

Choose a tool whose deployment options match your setup. The board lists access options including self-hosting, Linux, Windows, macOS, web and API.

Arista CloudVision is available through API, self-hosted and web platforms. MetalSoft Bare Metal Orchestrator supports Linux, API, self-hosted and web platforms.

What automation and infrastructure-as-code support do I need?

First identify the automation tasks and infrastructure-as-code capabilities your environment calls for; then use those fields to compare the tools.

These comparisons help separate tools aimed at provisioning from tools intended for broader operational automation.

What will the software cost?

Review the pricing model and any paid entry price. Apache CloudStack, Cobbler and Foreman have free plans listed; Canonical MAAS also offers one, with paid service starting at $30 per year.

Some paid offerings do not publish a price. Cisco Catalyst Center and Itential Automation Platform show pricing on request, as does HPE OneView, which also lists a 60-day trial.

How will teams and other systems connect?

For access by multiple people or external systems, look for listings that specify role-based controls and API access.

An API is a way for another program to connect. The board marks API access separately so you can check that requirement directly.

Can I try it before paying?

Check whether there is a free plan or a trial and how long the trial lasts. Dell OpenManage Enterprise offers a free plan as well as a 90-day trial, while HPE OneView lists a 60-day trial.

A free plan may remain available without payment; a free trial is time-limited to the stated period.

Questions

Which data center automation tools have a free plan?

Listed free plans are available for Apache CloudStack, Canonical MAAS, CFEngine, Chef Infra, Cobbler, Dell OpenManage Enterprise and Foreman.

Which data center automation tools are open source?

Chef Infra has open-source pricing. Use the board’s open-source mark to check other entries.

Does Arista CloudVision have an API?

Arista CloudVision is listed with API access, as well as self-hosted and web platforms.

How much does Canonical MAAS cost?

Canonical MAAS has a free plan; paid service starts at $30 per year.

Which tools offer a free trial?

Dell OpenManage Enterprise has a listed 90-day trial; HPE OneView’s listed trial is 60 days.

Some top positions on this board can be paid placements, standing where they were sold. The facts on each platform are not for sale. How we rank · Disclosure