Cloud Computing Fundamentals and Architecture

Cloud Computing Fundamentals

Cloud computing allows for on-demand access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources.
Essential characteristics include broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured service.

Motivation for Cloud Computing

Organizations seek scalable resources to meet fluctuating demands, maximizing flexibility and efficiency.
Reduces IT costs by outsourcing infrastructure, allowing companies to focus on core business activities.

Defining Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is defined as the delivery of computing services over the internet, including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics.
Services are categorized into three main models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).

Principles of Cloud Computing

Multi-tenancy: resources are shared among multiple users, improving utilization and efficiency.
Resilience: failure of one component does not hinder overall service continuity due to redundancy and failover strategies.

Requirements of Cloud Services

Must provide reliable performance, security, compliance, and availability.
Users need easy-to-use interfaces and the ability to scale services up or down according to demand.

Cloud Applications

Diverse applications range from data storage and backup solutions to software development platforms.
Popular examples of cloud applications include Google Drive, Microsoft Office 365, and Amazon Web Services.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

Cost savings: eliminates the need for on-premises hardware and software investments.
Flexibility: provides access to a variety of applications and services from anywhere with internet connectivity.
Increased collaboration: enables multiple users to work on projects in real-time from different locations.

Drawbacks of Cloud Computing

Potential security risks due to data being stored off-site and reliance on third-party providers.
Internet dependency: services require a stable internet connection; outages can impede access.

Cloud Architecture

Consists of front-end and back-end components, including devices accessing services and the servers providing those services.
Key elements include virtual machines, storage solutions, and data centers.

Network Connectivity in Cloud Computing

Connectivity is vital for accessing cloud services, requiring robust, high-speed internet connections to ensure performance and user experience.
Different network types such as VPNs and dedicated lines can enhance security and performance for businesses.

Managing Cloud

Effective management requires monitoring performance, costs, and security compliance over time.
Use of dashboards and analytics tools can aid in optimizing resource use and cost-effectiveness.

Migrating Applications to Cloud

Migration involves relocating applications from on-premises servers to cloud infrastructure, often requiring assessment of application performance and security needs.
Strategies can include rehosting (lift-and-shift), replatforming, or refactoring applications to take full advantage of cloud capabilities.

Types of Operating Systems

Batch Operating Systems: Processes are grouped and executed in batches; minimal user interaction involved.
Time-Sharing Operating Systems: Multiple users share system resources simultaneously; promotes interactive computing.
Distributed Operating Systems: Manages a group of independent computers and makes them appear as a single coherent system.
Embedded Operating Systems: Designed for specific tasks within embedded systems, often with real-time constraints.

Role of OS in Cloud Computing

Acts as an intermediary between users and cloud resources, managing virtual machines and allocating resources dynamically.
Supports multi-tenancy, ensuring isolation and security between various cloud users.
Facilitates scalability, allowing applications to grow and shrink based on demand.

Features of Cloud OS

Resource Management: Efficiently allocates computing resources across multiple users and applications.
Multi-Tenancy Support: Enables multiple users to share resources while maintaining privacy and security.
High Availability: Ensures continuous access to applications even during service disruptions.
Dynamic Scaling: Provides automatic scaling of services based on user load and demand.

Application Environment

Emphasizes the need for Effective Application Development Environments (ADE) to streamline software development.
Enhances productivity through automation and standardization of processes across development teams.

Application Development Methodologies

Agile Development: Promotes iterative development, encouraging collaboration and flexibility in response to changes.
DevOps: Combines development and operations to improve deployment frequency and increase reliability.
Waterfall Model: A linear approach where each phase must be completed before the next begins.

Cloud Application Development Platforms

Offer tools and services that facilitate building, deploying, and managing applications in the cloud.
Support various programming languages and frameworks, optimizing for performance and scalability.

Cloud Computing APIs

Provide a set of protocols for building software applications, enabling seamless integration with cloud services.
Allow developers to interact with cloud resources programmatically, enhancing productivity and functionality.

Virtualization

Creates virtual instances of hardware or software resources, allowing multiple virtual environments on a single physical machine.
Reduces hardware costs and improves resource utilization through efficient partitioning.

Virtualization Opportunities

Enables the deployment of multiple operating systems on a single server, maximizing performance and flexibility.
Facilitates disaster recovery by allowing quick snapshots and replication of virtual machines.

Approaches to Virtualization

Full Virtualization: Offers complete simulation of hardware, allowing unmodified operating systems to run.
Paravirtualization: Requires modified operating systems, improving performance by eliminating the need for instruction translation.

Hypervisors

Type 1 Hypervisor: Runs directly on physical hardware, providing better performance and efficiency.
Type 2 Hypervisor: Runs atop a conventional operating system, offering ease of use at the cost of performance.

Virtualization to Cloud Computing

Virtualization underpins cloud computing architectures by enabling resource pooling and rapid scaling of services.
Facilitates the delivery of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) by allowing users to create and manage virtual machines on demand.

Software Development in Cloud

Promotes collaborative development practices and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) processes.
Emphasizes the importance of cloud-native principles for building scalable and resilient applications.

Networking for Cloud Computing

Involves the design of network infrastructure to provide connectivity, security, and performance for cloud services.
Uses technologies like Software-Defined Networking (SDN) to enhance flexibility and manageability of network resources.