Cloud Computing
Tutorial
Cloud Computing Overview
Architecture
Working Models of Cloud
INDEX
Essential Characteristics
Advantages
Disadvantages
Top Cloud Service Provers
Conclusion
Cloud Computing Overview
What is Cloud?
The term Cloud refers to a Network or Internet. In other words cloud is
something which is present at a remote location.
Cloud can provide services over network i.e., on public or private network
i.e., LAN, WAN, VPN.
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud Computing is the practice of using large groups of remote
servers, hosted on Internet, to store and access applications and
computer data, instead of saving them on the local server or personal
computer.
Cloud Computing provides easy access to information technology
resources. The cloud customer pays only for services that are delivered
and used by them. There are models and services that make Cloud
Computing accessible to users.
Architecture
Cloud Computing architecture
comprises of many cloud components,
which are loosely coupled. We can
broadly divide the cloud architecture
into two parts:
Front End
Back End
Each of the ends is connected through
a network, usually Internet. The
following diagram shows the graphical
view of cloud computing architecture:
.
Front End
The front end refers to the client part of cloud
computing system. It consists of interfaces and
applications that are required to access the cloud
computing platforms, Example - Web Browser.
Back End
The back End refers to the cloud itself. It consists
of all the resources required to provide cloud
computing services. It comprises of huge data
storage, virtual machines, security mechanism,
services, deployment models, servers, etc.
Working Models of Cloud
Computing
There are certain services and models
working behind the scene making the
cloud computing feasible and accessible
to end users. Following are the working
models for cloud computing.
Deployment Models
Service Models
Deployme
nt Models
Deployment models
define the type of
access to the cloud
i.e., how the cloud is
located? Cloud can
have any of the four
types pf access:
Public
Private
Hybrid
Community.
Service Models
Service models are the reference models on which the
Cloud Computing based. These can be categorized into
three basic service models as listed below:
1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
2. Platform as a Service (PaaS)
3. Software as a Service (SaaS)
There are many other service models all of which
can take the form like XaaS, i.e., Anything as a service.
This can be Network as a Service, Business as a Service,
Database as a Service, etc.
Essential Characteristics
.
1. On-demand self-service
A consumer can unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as
needed automatically without requiring human interaction with each service’s provider.
2. Broad network access
Capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by
heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops).
3. Resource pooling
The provider’s computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with
different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand.
There is a sense of location independence in that the customer generally has no control or knowledge over the
exact location of the provided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher level of
abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter). Examples of resources include storage, processing,
memory, network bandwidth, and virtual machines.
4. Rapid elasticity
Capabilities can be rapidly and elastically provisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out and
rapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to
be unlimited and can be purchased in any quantity at any time.
5. Measured Service
Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some
level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user
accounts). Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both the
provider and consumer of the utilized service.
Advantages
Cost efficiency
High speed
Excellent accessibility
Back-up and restore data
Allows pay-per-use
Web-based control & interfaces
Location and Device Independence
Scalability and Elasticity
Disadvantages
Vulnerability to attacks
Network connectivity dependency
Vendor Lock-in
Downtime issues
Limited Control
Lack of customer support
Lower bandwidth and quotas in free-tier
Top Cloud Service Providers
1. Amazon Web Services
2. Microsoft Azure
3. Salesforce.com
4. Google Cloud Platform
5. IBM
6. SAP
7. Oracle
Despite all the pro and cons, we
can't deny the fact that Cloud
Computing is the fastest growing
part of network-based computing.
Conclusion It offers a great advantage to
customers of all sizes: simple
users, developers, enterprises
and all types of organizations. So,
this technology here to stay for a
long time.
