1. Introduction to cloud computing
Cloud computing refers to both applications delivered as services over the Internet and the hardware and software systems in data centers that provide those services. The data center hardware and software is what we will call a cloud. Cloud computing is a relatively new concept and has only recently become popular. The cloud takes advantage of virtualization technology, and at the core of cloud computing, there is a logical separation between the different nodes, each node appearing as a different physical machine to the user. Unlike grid computing, it connects multiple distributed computers together to form one large logical computer that can handle large amounts of data and computation. In the case of cloud computing, virtualization technology makes it possible for each node to appear as a separate physical machine, allowing the user to load custom software and operating systems on each node and configure custom rules for each node.
The idea of cloud computing is developed from parallel processing, distributed computing, and grid computing. There is a bit of a similarity between them, but they work differently. Although cloud computing is an emerging field of computing, the idea has been around for a few years. It’s called cloud computing because data and applications exist in a “cloud” of web servers. To simplify the concept, cloud computing can be simply defined as the sharing and use of applications and resources from a network environment to get work done without concern for ownership and management of network resources and applications. According to Scale, with cloud computing, the computing resources to get the job done and your data is no longer stored on the personal computer, but instead is hosted elsewhere so that it is accessible anywhere, anytime.
2. Comparison of related technologies
2.1. Grid computing A form of distributed computing and parallel computing, in which a “virtual supercomputer” is made up of a group of networked, loosely coupled computers that work together to accomplish very large tasks.
2.2. Utility computing The bundle of computing resources, such as computing and storage, as a metered service similar to a traditional utility, such as electricity.
23. autonomous computing
Computer systems with self-management capacity.
3. Overall mechanism
Cloud computing using information technology as a service over the network. The concept generally encompasses Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Hardware as a Service (HaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). It might be the ability to rent a server or servers and run an available geophysical modeling application anywhere. It may be the ability to (S Rupley, 2009) rent a virtual server, load software on it, turn it on and off at will, or clone it to meet a sudden workload demand. You may be storing and securing large amounts of data that only authorized applications and users can access. It may support a cloud provider configuring a platform with the ability to scale automatically in response to changing workloads. You may be using cloud storage to store application, business, and personal data. And it may be the ability to use a handful of web services to integrate photos, maps and GPS information to create a home page in customers’ web browsers.
In a cloud computing system, there is a significant change in the workload. Local computers no longer have to run applications. The network of computers that make up the cloud handles them for you. In this situation, the user’s demand for hardware and software is reduced. Let the cloud take over. The only thing that local computers need to consider is the interface software that will run the application. Nowadays, a web browser such as Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer 8 are widely used as interface software in cloud computing system.
The truth is that Internet users were already using some form of cloud computing. If they have an email account with a web-based email service like Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail or Gmail, then they had some experience with cloud computing. Instead of running an email program on a local computer, the user will log into a web email account remotely. The software and storage of the account does not exist on the local computer, it is in the cloud of the service computer.
4. Key feature of cloud computing
Currently, there is no standard definition or specification for Cloud Computing. It may take some time to define the key features of cloud computing based on practices in the field.
4.1. virtualization technology
Virtualization technology works to control how the operating system image, middleware, and application are created and mapped to a physical machine or part of the server. Virtualization technology can also help reuse operating system licenses, middleware or software applications once a subscriber releases their Cloud Computing platform service.
4.2. Service Oriented Architecture (SOA).
A service-oriented architecture is essentially a collection of services. These services communicate with each other. The communication may involve the simple passing of data, or it may involve two or more services coordinating some activity. Some means is needed to connect the services together. The evolution of a software system or architecture is now moving towards services oriented, unlike several decades ago, most applications are standalone and deliberately for single use. Recently, the gigantic growth of the Internet user and the availability of Internet technology can now rent the use of software. Giant companies like Google, Microsoft, Sun or even Amazon have this ability to provide software services instead of selling the software directly to the user. SOA is a software or system architecture that addresses componentization, reuse, extensibility, and flexibility. All this feature is a fundamental need for companies looking to reduce costs and choose to rent instead of buy.