adminCLOUD COMPUTING
Cloud computing is a model of delivering computing services over the internet where hardware and software resources are provided as a services to users on demand.
The main hardware components used for cloud computing are; servers, storage systems and networking equipment.
A cloud server is a virtual or physical server that provides computing resources and services over the internet. Cloud servers are designed to be highly scalable, flexible and reliable, allowing users to easily deploy and manage applications and data in the cloud. Computer servers used for cloud computing includes Intel Xeon scalable processors with at least 128GB (DDR4) RAM and 256GB (DDR5) RAM.
A cloud storage system is a network of remote servers that store and manage data over the internet. Cloud storage systems provide a scalable, secure and on demand storage solution for users allowing them to access their data from anywhere at any time. The cloud storage systems usually are a mix of solid state drives (SSDs) for high performance storage and hard disk drives (HDDs) for capacity oriented storage. Memory used for cloud computing includes solid state drives (SSDs) and hard disk drives (HDDs) with at least 1TB for NVMe SSDs and 16TB SATA HDDs.
The network equipment used in cloud computing refers to the hardware and software components that enable communication and data transfer between cloud resources such as servers, storage systems and applications. Cloud computing network equipment includes switches, routers, network interface cards, firewalls and load balancers. Network equipment are used to manage network traffic and ensure secure data transmission. Network equipment have high speed connections, network interface controllers and redundant power supplies to ensure efficient data transfer and minimize network bottlenecks.
The main software component used for cloud computing are; cloud operating system, hypervisor, cloud management platforms and cloud application programing interface (APIs).
A cloud operating system is a software platform that manages and orchestrates cloud infrastructure, providing a layer of abstraction between the underlaying hardware and applications running on top of it. Cloud operating systems enable cloud providers to manage and provision resources such as compute, storage and networking in a scalable and efficient way. The popular Cloud operating system in use currently includes open stack and VMware vCloud.
A hypervisor also known as a virtual machine monitor (VMMs) is a software layer that creates and manages virtual machines (VMs) on a physical host. Hypervisors enables multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical host, maximizing resources utilization and providing a high degree of flexibility and scalability. Hypervisors used for cloud computing includes VMware ESXi and Microsoft hyper-V.
A cloud management platform (CMP) is a software platform that provides a centralized management interface for cloud infrastructure and services. Cloud management platforms enable cloud providers and users to manage and optimize cloud resources such as compute, storage and networking in a scalable and efficient manner. The main Cloud management platforms used in cloud computing includes AWS management console and Google cloud console.
Cloud application programming interface (API) are programming interface that enable developers to interact with cloud services and resources such as compute, storage and networking. Cloud application programing interface provide a standardized way for developers to build and deploy cloud native applications and services. The main cloud application programming interface used in cloud computing includes AWS API and Google cloud API.
The advantages of cloud computing are as follows. Cloud computing eliminates the need for large initial investment out lay on hardware and software. Cloud computing resources can be scaled according to customers prevailing business needs and preferences as required at any time. Cloud services are ubiquitous and can be as for various on any device from virtually anywhere. Cloud providers offer robust platforms and services to address possible outages in their operation.
The disadvantages of cloud computing are as follows; storing sensitive data in the cloud introduces risk of data breeches and unauthorized access. Service outage can be very costly and can disrupt business operation and reduce efficiency. Cloud users have limited control over infrastructure and may face difficulties in terms of customizations or configuration. Switching cloud computing services can be time consuming and costly due to differences in platforms, tools and data format.
The application of cloud computing span across al areas of human life particularly for the following purposes; cloud storage services provide scalable and durable storage solution for data backup and recovery. Cloud platforms provide a complete development and deployment environment for applications. Cloud services enable real time collaborations and communications among teams.
The future of cloud computing is based on the advances and development in following technologies; advances in edge computing, artificial intelligences and machine learning, sever less computing and other technologies will greatly transform the operation of business models and application services.
SOURCES:
- Cloud computing for dummies by Judith Hurwitz and Daniel Kirsch.
- Cloud computing basics: A non-technical introduction by Anders Lisdorf.
- Cloud computing: concepts, technology and architecture by Thomas Erl, Ricardo Ruttin and Zaigham Mahmond.
- Cloud Native computing by Pethuru Ray, Skylab Vanya and Akshita Chaudhary.
- Architecting the cloud by Michael J. Kavis.
