Cloud Computing : Intoduction of Cloud Computing

What is Cloud Computing?
According to NIST Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.


Essential Characteristics of Cloud Computing

The five characteristics of the cloud computing model were originally defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST) and have since been refined by a number of experts. The model has been published many times before, but if you’re like me you need to see something several times before you really internalise it.

1.On Demand Self Service:-

 You can quickly and easily configure the computing resource you need all by yourself, without filling out forms or emailing the service provider. A consumer can unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with each service provider.

2. Board Network Access:-

You can access these resources from anywhere you can access the Internet, and you can access them from a browser, from a desktop with applications designed to work with them or from mobile devices.

One of the most popular application models (such as iPhone apps) is a mobile application that communicates with a cloud-based back end.

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 data-center). Examples of resources include storage, processing, memory, and network bandwidth.

4. Rapid elasticity:-

 You can grow and shrink your capacity (processing power, storage, network) very quickly, in minutes or hours. Self-service and resource pooling are what make rapid elasticity possible. Triggered by a customer request, the service provider can automatically allocate more or less resources from the available pool.

   

5. Measured service:-
 Also described as subscription-based, measured service means that the resources you’re using are metered and reported back to you. You pay for only the resources you need, so you don’t waste processing power like you do when you have to buy it on a server-by-server basis.

Frankly, I recommend that you memorise this list; you’ll have the vague term “cloud” thrown at you many times in the future, and understanding these five characteristics will help you judge whether the latest offering you’re being shown is really cloud computing. And as an added plus, you’ll be able to finally explain cloud computing to your friends and relatives.

August 07, 2013