Cloud Computing - Part Deux

This part explains the key features, architecture and Layers.

Key Features

Low Cost: The cost is a very important factor in any business set up. By using Cloud computing we can negate the capital expenditure to set up a process or system. This is replaced by operational expenditure of the process or system. The infrastructural cost is reduced as it is provided by a third party provided. The operation expenditure is based on usage options i.e no. of users accessing that particular application or no. of features accessed. The IT abilities required to run these kind of applications is minimum.

Maintenance: The applications running under cloud computing are easier to maintain as they are not installed on individual’s computer. Any amendment to be done in the application is easier and providing it to client is very simple.

Scalability: Scalability is easy as there is dynamic provision of resources. Performance monitoring can be done on a regular basis.

Independence: There is no dependency on location and devices. Users can access the application using any device like a PC or a mobile.

Usability measurement: The usage of cloud computing can be measured on the basis of users/client, accessibility of application on daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis.

Architecture

The concept of architecture can be best explained if you consider a cloud computing application to be an Enclave. Each enclave will have “n” number of apartments. Each apartment owner can be considered as organizations/entities who with their specific requirement have rented the apartment for their specific purpose.

I think the example is very generic and out of context of what we are exactly trying to understand. I hope the figure below will clear out the confusion.

Cloud computing is divided into two parts one is the front end and other is the back end. These two sections connect each other through internet.

The front end encompasses of client computer network and application required to access the cloud computing system. Back end consists of various computers, servers etc which store the data of the cloud computing application.

A central server placed at a location administers the system, monitoring traffic and client demands to make sure that processes are sunning smoothly. It follows a set of rules called protocols and uses a special kind of software called middleware. Middleware allows networked computers to communicate with each other.

Cloud computing is very much similar to grid computing and utility computing. Grid computing system allows networked computers to access the data of every machine in the network. In cloud computing system this principle is applied in the backend or the database. See fig. above for a better idea. Utility computing can be best explained when one organization pays other organization for access of software applications and database.

Layers

 Next update will have more information about the layers, information of successfull cloud computig applications.