# Manage the cloud

- Show usage statistics for hosts and instances
  - Show host usage statistics
  - Show instance usage statistics

System administrators can use the openstack to manage their clouds.

The `openstack` client can be used by all users, though specific commands might be restricted by the Identity service.

Managing the cloud with the openstack client

1. The `python-openstackclient` package provides an `openstack` shell that enables Compute API interactions from the command line. Install the client, and provide your user name and password (which can be set as environment variables for convenience), for the ability to administer the cloud from the command line.

   For more information on `python-openstackclient`, refer to the documentation.

2. Confirm the installation was successful:

       $ openstack help
       usage: openstack [--version] [-v | -q] [--log-file LOG_FILE] [-h] [--debug]
                  [--os-cloud <cloud-config-name>]
                  [--os-region-name <auth-region-name>]
                  [--os-cacert <ca-bundle-file>] [--verify | --insecure]
                  [--os-default-domain <auth-domain>]
                  ...

   Running openstack help returns a list of `openstack` commands and parameters. To get help for a subcommand, run:

       $ openstack help SUBCOMMAND

   For a complete list of `openstack` commands and parameters, refer to the OpenStack Command-Line Reference.

3. Set the required parameters as environment variables to make running commands easier. For example, you can add `--os-username` as an `openstack` option, or set it as an environment variable. To set the user name, password, and project as environment variables, use:

       $ export OS_USERNAME=joecool
       $ export OS_PASSWORD=coolword
       $ export OS_TENANT_NAME=coolu

4. The Identity service gives you an authentication endpoint, which Compute recognizes as `OS_AUTH_URL`:

       $ export OS_AUTH_URL=http://hostname:5000/v2.0

this page last updated: 2026-06-10 20:05:07

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