Cloud computing
13 February 2011
Cloud Computing:
Cloud Computing is a term that is often bandied about the web these days and often attributed to different things that — on the surface — don’t seem to have that much in common. So just what is Cloud Computing? I’ve heard it called a service, a platform, and even an operating system. Some even link it to such concepts as grid computing — which is a way of taking many different computers and linking them together to form one very big computer.
A basic definition of cloud computing is the use of the Internet for the tasks you perform on your computer. The “cloud” represents the Internet
How Cloud Computing Works:
The basic cloud computing foundation is comprised of a data center (servers, network switches, Internet connectivity, etc.), virtualization software (used to segment physical resources between users), operating system (Windows, Linux, etc.) and applications (Apache, MySQL, etc.). Together, these components “power the cloud” for millions of people using popular services such as Google’s Gmail. Here’s an illustration:
It’s On-Demand
Cloud computing is mostly “pay-as-you-go”. Quite simply, you only pay for what you need without contractual requirements. Imagine launching hundreds of servers “in the cloud” to number crunch decades of data for your client. Once the servers have fulfilled their purpose, you would simply “terminate” them and pay only for the time used. A few example uses:
• Web site overflow • Database hosting • Gaming server
The possibilities are endless!
Flexible, Configurable
Cloud computing solutions are offered in many flavors of hardware and software’s options:
• 32-bit and 64-bit “virtual servers” • Linux and Windows • High I/O throughput • Gigabit network interfaces • Gigabytes of storage and memory
Whatever your requirements, you won’t find a lack of options to choose from.
Cloud Computing Architecture:
Cloud architecture, the systems architecture of the software systems involved in the delivery of cloud computing, comprises hardware and software designed by a cloud architect who typically works for a cloud integrator. It typically involves multiple cloud components communicating with each other over application programming interfaces, usually web services.
This closely resembles the Unix philosophy of having multiple programs each doing one thing well and working together over universal interfaces. Complexity is controlled and the resulting systems are more manageable than their monolithic counterparts.
Cloud architecture extends to the client, where web browsers and/or software applications access cloud applications.
Cloud storage architecture is loosely coupled, where metadata operations are centralized enabling the data nodes to scale into the hundreds, each independently delivering data to applications or users.
Cloud Computing Application:
There are three types of services offered.
- Infrastructure as a service
- Platform as a service
- Software as a service
Infrastructure as a service
in this type,the service provider provides the necessary servers,hardware and networking components to an organisation for a fee.The organisation in turn installs the necessary programs in the service provider’s server and uses them.The service provider is responsible for the maintenance of the servers.
Platform as a service
In this type,the service provider provides the necessary softwares and the tools for creating softwares which are installed in their server to an organisation for a specified amount.The organisation creates the necessary softwares on his platform and uses them.Its like renting in a house which has all the necessary things.
Software as a service
In this type the applications hosted in the service provider s server are made available to customers via the internet.The provider also interacts with the user through a front end panel.The provider provides the necessary support to the customer.The services range from e-mail to data processing.
Cloud Computing Standards:
Computer hardware (Dell, HP, IBM, and Sun Microsystems)
- Storage (3PAR, EMC, Hitachi Data Systems, IBM, Mezeo, NetApp, ParaScale, and Sun Microsystems)
- Infrastructure (Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks, and Brocade Communications)
Computer software (3tera, Eucalyptus, g-Eclipse, and Hadoop)
- Operating systems (Solaris, AIX, Linux including Novell, Red Hat, and Ubuntu)
- Platform virtualization (Citrix, IBM, Linux KVM, Microsoft, Sun xVM, VMware, and Xen)
Application:
- Communications (HTTP, XMPP)
- Security (OAuth, OpenID, SSL/TLS[85])
- Syndication (Atom)
Client:
- Browsers (AJAX)
- Offline (HTML 5)
Implementations:
- Virtualization (OVF)
Platform:
- Solution stacks (LAMP)
Service:
- Data (XML, JSON)
- Web Services (REST)
Cloud Computing Concerns:
Cloud Computing: changing the way we use computers forever
Cloud computing enables businesses to run online applications and services – rather than locally installed software. Cloud Computing is a new ‘pay-as-you-go’ internet model, sometimes referred to as SaaS (Software as a Service). It is being embraced by companies worldwide so that they can offer their workers the latest versions of business applications (e.g. Office) and server products (e.g. Exchange) at a much lower price – whilst lowering energy bills, hardware purchases and IT support costs.
Cost Savings:
Developers, consultants, small business owners and corporations are all attracted to cloud computing because of its cost-effectiveness. Rather than spending thousands of dollars on hardware, bandwidth and energy costs, people are now turning to the cloud in droves.
· No up-front software purchases
· No annual software upgrades fees
· No onsite IT professional install costs
· No server hardware costs
· No expensive PC upgrades costs (supports older hardware)
· Reduced ongoing IT support costs
Infinitely Scalable:
You may not own several thousand servers, but with a few simple clicks, you can create the next Google with some ingenuity and creativity using a reliable, proven computing platform. Popular websites such as Zillow.com and Twitter.com are using cloud computing to power their online presences for millions of users. And when they require additional horsepower? Well, with a little programming (or a “scaling manager” such as RightScale), it’s as simple as launching more “pre-built” servers to handle the increase in load.
You Are In Control
Gone are the days of expensive hosting solutions, outrageous setup fees and asinine limitations on what you can install and run on a server. Within minutes, you could be running a brand-new Windows or Linux server for pennies an hour. No wait time, no hassle, no fuss. The most visible cloud computing player in the industry is Amazon Web Services, LLC (AWS). A subsidiary of Amazon.com, AWS offers a suite of services which include Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), Elastic Block Storage (persistent storage), SimpleDB and more. Amazon runs the largest known installation of the open source XEN virtualization technology — The heart of its cloud computing offering.
Collaboration with Hosted SharePoint in the Cloud:
Unlimited users can access Hosted SharePoint from anywhere, plus it’s ready to be built out—making this an incredibly scalable and convenient example of why cloud computing is taking off in a big way. Then there’s the cost-savings, with plans starting at $30 per month and up to 200 GB. SharePoint Hosting is your ticket to a fully-maintained and stable solution.
Future Foundations
SharePoint Foundations is the software delivering full functionality—minus the maintenance, setup, and capital cost that come standard with on-site services. We partner with one of the nation’s largest and most-proven SharePoint hosting and Exchange hosting companies—bringing both considerable experience and expertise to this solution.
Hosted Sharepoint Services in the Cloud
Because Hosted SharePoint resides in the cloud, you can be assured of full security, virus protection and backup systems to keep your information safe and sound. All while giving you the dependable performance you expect and deserve in the Hosted SharePoint environment.
