Cloud Computing Service Availability and Performance Issues - Research Proposal Example

Proposed Research Cloud computing service availability and performance issues Introduction: The escalating cost of computing in order for organization to cope with the demands of its business, customers and even market forces have made most company to be cautious in exploring the possibility of automating its operation. Cloud computing may offer a middle ground for some companies since, the cost of acquisition is almost if not totally negated. However, this new concept in computing is still relatively new and not much about it is known. This thesis hopes to address if not present answers to the most common question posed by business owners who would want to invest its considerable resources to cloud computing. Therefore this thesis will assess in numerical terms using empirical data the service availability level of Cloud Computing. This thesis will also assess in numerical terms using empirical data the performance of cloud computing. Determine the components affecting the service availability of Cloud Computing and their impact represented in numerical terms to the service availability of cloud computing. Determine the components affecting the performance of Cloud Computing and their impact represented in numerical terms to the performance of cloud computing. Determine the cost implication of implementing cloud computing as against in-house or self-owned computing. Recommend the best solution supported by numerical numbers can be adopted by a company to meet its business objective. In essence this thesis’ premise will dwell on the following hypotheses: If the performance of a cloud computing solution is equal if not surpass the normal computing solution the total cost of ownership of a cloud computing solution is justified. If the service level availability of a cloud computing solution is equal if not surpasses the normal computing solution the total cost of ownership of a cloud computing solution is justified. By determining the specific components affecting a cloud computing solution’s performance, innovative designs to negate the cloud computing performance issue can be derived. By determining the specific components affecting a cloud computing solution’s service availability, innovative solutions can be designed into the system. Cloud computing is the concept of sharing excess computing resources to members of the cloud who may lack if not have insufficient resources to meet their demands. An example of a cloud computing solution is the file sharing concept that shares the disk space and bandwidth available to other members of the cloud. Creating your own infrastructure may not be a good and prudent solution to solve simple requirements such as these. It is the aim of this thesis to provide guidance if not develop metrics that will provide empirical data to organization desiring to build their own infrastructure but do not have any experience nor data to determine its pros and cons. Cloud computing solutions may provide temporary relief, however metrics are needed in order for business leaders to provide an intelligible decision. Limitations This thesis is limited by the cost of building a scalable model to compare with definitive data the normal computing solution and the cloud computing solution. Thus organizations will be surveyed to provide the kind of computing solution that is mostly used in the business sector. After determining the most common use, a scalable design can be built in order to replicate the normal computing solution and the cloud computing solution. Methodology This thesis shall use qualitative data gathering methods using surveys that will target organization that is currently using cloud computing and those that are not using normal computing solutions. After building the infrastructure regular Microsoft Software in particular the “task manager” can be used to determine and measure performance issues. Research Plan In order to make the proposed research successful, the activities below shall be completed in sequence. Review of all related literature that would include available topics, journals, books and other printed materials related to the performance and service level availability of Cloud Computing. (2 months) Survey several companies that use cloud computing as a solution to its business objectives. (4 months) Determine the service level performance of the solution Determine the service level availability of the solution Document a high level block diagram of the surveyed companies cloud computing solution showing the infrastructure and its components. (2 months) Identify the most common design of a cloud computing solution that will be used in the assessment. (6 months) Replicate the most common design and build the infrastructure of the cloud computing solution to be used as an example for the in-house based solution. Develop the application for the in-house solution Build the components of the infrastructure: Application Server File Server Security system Network System Simulate or demonstrate how the in-house computing solution works. While in session measure the performance of each component by pinging the internal IP of each component and taking note of the response time. Determine the actual and rated response time of each component of the chosen cloud computing design from each of the company that uses the same design. Identify the company that uses in-house computing instead of cloud computing to achieve the same business objective. (2 months) Determine the actual and rated response time of each component of the chosen cloud computing design from each of the company that uses the same design. Using the current cost of all the components compare the cost of ownership of both the in-house and cloud computing solution that would include. ( 3 months) Acquisition cost of all components Service/Maintenance Agreements Cost of operation (Management/Administration) Service Level Cost for every percentage points of un-availability. Service Performance Cost for every percentage of performance upgrade. Compare the cost of ownership of Cloud Computing and in-house infrastructure to determine which is the best solution in-terms of service availability and performance.(1 month) Determine the numbers that will provide a definitive recommendation that will show the best solution between cloud computing and in-house computing in terms of cost, service availability and performance.(1 month) Write the complete dissertation that would include the conclusion. (4 months) References Linthicum, D. S., 2009. Cloud Computing and SOA Convergence in Your Enterrpise: A Step by Step Guide. 1st Edition ed. Boston: Addison Wesley Professional. Miller, M., 2008. Cloud Computing: Web-Based Applications That Change the Way You Work and Collaborate Online. Indianapolis: Que Publishing. Reese, G., 2009. Cloud Application Architectures: Building Application and Infrastructures in the Cloud (Theory in Practice (OReilly). 1st Edition ed. New York: OReilly. Rhoton, J., 2009. Cloud Computing Explained: Implementation Handbook for Enterprises. 1st Edition ed. New York: Recursive Press. Sosingsky, B., 2011. Cloud Computing Bible. New York: Wiley. Read More