The Basic Idea behind Cloud Computing - Essay Example

Cloud Computing It is the future step in the development of IT products and services. To a broader scope cloud computing would be completely based onvirtualized sources. Basic idea behind the cloud computing is established on key principal of `reusing the capabilities of Information Technology`. The change that cloud computing offers compared to conventional models of autonomic computing, utility computing, or distributed computing is to expand possibilities beyond the boundaries of an organization. Although many cloud computing infrastructures and its deployments are working on conventional models like grid, support autonomic features and used on the basis of billing utilities, but the idea of a cloud is comparatively different and opposite to the features of grid, for example SaaS, Utility Computing etc. Cloud promises the availability of all the required architecture including application, hardware, platform, software and required amount of storages through an ownership of a suitable internet connection. Enables people to access the required information through any device that has an internet connection-instead of being attached to the desktop. It is also cost effective as it doesn’t require installing hardware or software. Ideas Behind Cloud Computing Powerful idea behind cloud computing is computing by service-oriented architectures (SOA) – transferring of an incorporated and organized collection of functions to users by mean of both freely and firmly coupled purposes, or services – most of which are network based. Virtualized Infrastructure Virtualized infrastructure enables the development and deployment of applications dramatically easier, thus increasing the reliable scope of these applications achievable within allocated budget and organizational controls.. Virtual infrastructure also expands reliability, efficiency and quality by including similarities within application requirements and aids the organized sharing of services. Now a day, almost every business activity requires Information Technology and its services in any form available. Technology wants to develop end-user efficiency and decrease Technology-driven overhead What is SOA or Service Oriented Architectures? Service Oriented Architectures is not a new concept, but in the recent years it has gained a considerable attention. Examples of some such early that were based on SOA are Object Request Brokers (ORBs), DCOM and Remote Procedure Calls (RPC). Most recent model of SOA is known as Grid Computing solution and infrastructures. In a Service Oriented Architecture environment organizations or customer request an Information Technology service (or an incorporated set of these services) at the preferred functional, capacity and quality level, and receive an on-demand the response. Giving importance to reliability, service discovery and brokering. Main idea of the SOA is that establishing an architecture in which services are capable to communicate each other using http protocol. Expectation of next few years is that, solutions based on information technology services would be the major medium for transmission of information and other IT assisted roles at both organizational and individual levels. Cloud Architecture Cloud architecture is designed by the cloud architect, who foresees basic requirements of system’s architecture in the sense of hardware or software requirements involved in the delivery of cloud computing. Cloud architect works for a cloud integrator. It basically involves several components of cloud, communicating each other using programming interface, mostly web services. It closely resembles the concepts on which UNIX works, multiple programs working on same thing well and communicating together over global interfaces. Thus complexness is controlled and the resulting systems are more organized than their gigantic opposite systems. Cloud applications are accessed using web browsers or software applications, extending the cloud architecture to the end-user. Metadata operations in cloud storage architectures are centralized allowing the data terminals to extent into the hundreds of other terminals, each of which separately delivering data to applications or clients. There are four major categories of cloud computing, those are as follows: Application as service ( AaaS) Platform as a Service (PaaS) Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) Software as a Service (SaaS) Application as s service (AaaS): It is the first category of cloud computing that came to life. Using AaaS, a particular service is made available to the customer. The customer is required to create an online account on the GUI interface of cloud computing service provider that and start using the requested service. Web based email service of Hotmail is renowned is first of its kind that was allowing a web interface for its email application. Now there are number of such application these days on internet. Platform as a Service (PaaS): It is cloud base service in which a platform is provided for the execution and development of applications. Facilities that are provided in PaaS include management of database, defense against threats, managing workflow, allocation of application, and so on. Provided platform works like an operating system that is supplied to a client or end user after an agreement of monthly usability charges. Google, Microsoft and Amazon are some important vendors of cloud computing. Infrastructure as a service (IaaS): This category of cloud computer offers on demand computing power and storage spaces. The thing that makes it different from other categories of cloud is that software that executes in it is basically owned by the client. Practically IaaS works on the principals that everyone knows the perspective of server segmentation or flexible storage, which is same as of virtualization. It enables the client to configure and execute a virtual machine in the Cloud instead of creating it on a physical server and using it in his own premises. A virtual is also available in the same fashion of virtual machine for performing storage activities. Vendors providing services of Cloud Computing offer there infrastructure as a part of offered service. Prices are the compensated on the basis of hardware service requirements such as processors, memory, networks etc. Software as a service (SaaS): It is a software distribution category of cloud computing where service provider (vendor) maintains the operations and support that the end-user will use throughout the time he have bought the service. A vendor hosted system shall be used by the client, which will keep customer’s data on their machines and provide the required resources for the execution of the stored information. In other words a customer is allowed to access the software using internet upon registration SaaS is available on rent for demand basis. The used information is then stored on local systems or on the systems of cloud provider. Software distributions like CRM or CAD/CAM can be used under SaaS scheme. Types of Cloud There are three types of clouds. Public cloud: Public cloud or external cloud depicts cloud computing in which resources are shared between several organizations to maximize the cost effectiveness. Applications of many customers are expected to be merged on cloud’s server, its storages and network. Public clouds are operated by third party vendors, providing services to number of customers. Private cloud: Private clouds are infrastructures built especially for the use of single client, providing it the extreme levels of security, controls over data and quality of service. A private cloud is owned by the organizations and has the exclusive rights of application deployment. It is upto an organization to establish its own Private cloud with the help of Information Technology department of the organization or by a cloud provider Hybrid cloud: A Hybrid clouds is the combination of both private and public clouds models. It is type of environment in which some applications provided and managed internally while others provided externally. Set of recommendation for the purchase of Computers: Recommendations set for an organization for the purchase of computers for accessing cloud services and also want to use it for daily office work. For specialized requirements, graphics or video rendering or any other huge numerical calculation, there is more specialized hardware than of those mentioned below. It is recommended that purchase should be made by plan of using the PC for next three to four year period, as the varying demands of applications could exceed its capacity. Thus an upgrade of the hardware is mostly influenced by the software using on it. The processor should be within 10% of the fastest available.  For example, if i7 is available as the fastest one, then it is recommended that an i3 or i5 should be purchase to support current and near future needs.  As when it comes to change in technology in processor, 20% increase is noted with 1 year. Purchasing within the 10% of the fastest one would also benefit in saving lots of buyers money. It is a recommended that the minimum RAM should equal to the half of total amount of RAM generally a computer can hold. For example if a single PC can hold 4GB of RAM then one should install minimum of 2GB in it for better performance. As more the computational use, more RAM is better. It is much better to have the huge amount of hard drive, as new operating systems require large amount of hard drive to load, software and our data also need a reasonable amount of space. It is recommended to have LED for good graphical views and less space and very less consumption of power. For accessing internet a network card is must. Normally it is present on the motherboards that are manufactured now a day. It is also recommended to have a Wi-Fi card that may work without any wired connected using wireless router. Compatible wireless network cards are 802.11b/g/n. A combo drive (one that has the ability to write on CD and DVD) is the better option. The faster writing speed of the drive will result’s better. At least warranty of three warranties of computers should be obtained from the vendors that may cover repairs, replacement and labor as a part of purchase. Laptop is also a better option to use as it saves desk space can be used in mobile. Worst thing about it – not a cost effective solution. Recommendations for purchasing printers: Most recommended printer for business use are monochrome laser-jet printers. A laser-jet printer produces a very low cost per page printing. Monochrome laser jet offers minimum of 12 pages and can go maximum up-to 200 pages per minute. It is recommended that for office use fast monochrome printer should have duplex printing technology, it will enable it to print on both side of the paper and reduces the cost of paper. Before purchasing printer, estimating average per day printing is an important factor for purchasing a cost effective printer. It should have a facility of taking different size of paper It should have internal memory to handle the printing load from the network. Laser printers are very suitable for networking environment because of high speed, internal memory and internal storage space. A3 printers are expensive and their high quality (Dot Per Inch) resolution makes it a best for printing images of high resolutions. A3 photo printer requires a set of 6-8 cartridges at once as some needs extra colors. A3 printers require space as they are long in size. An A3 printer are not recommended to be used for printing text as they are slow and printing on it would rather be costly. A3 printers should have network port to share it on the network. Before any of the printer with above recommendation, make sure that manufacturer is giving warranty Read More