Understanding Computer Clusters

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Questions and Answers

What is a primary purpose of deploying clusters?

To limit the number of users

To enhance speed and/or reliability (correct)

To simplify network design

To reduce overall hardware costs

Which of the following is NOT a type of cluster mentioned?

Data Storage Cluster (correct)

High Availability or Failover Clusters

Load Balancing Cluster

Parallel/Distributed Processing Clusters

Which component is generally part of a cluster?

Cluster Management Software

Cluster Nodes (correct)

Virtualization Tools

Local Storage Devices

How does clustering provide high system availability?

By offering redundancy of components Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of utility computing?

It allows customers to pay based on usage Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic describes the communication protocols used in clusters?

Low latency communication protocols Signup and view all the answers

What does scalability in clustering suggest?

Adding servers or clusters as needed Signup and view all the answers

What analogy is used to describe utility computing?

Comparable to electrical power services Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the essential characteristics of cloud computing?

Unlimited data storage Signup and view all the answers

What does 'broad network access' in cloud computing mean?

Capacities are available over the network for mobile and stationary devices. Signup and view all the answers

How does the resource pooling characteristic function in cloud computing?

Resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers dynamically. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the metering capability in cloud computing?

To monitor and optimize resource usage. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'on-demand self-service' allow a consumer to do?

Provision computing capabilities without human interaction. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a resource controlled in cloud computing?

Network bandwidth shared among users. Signup and view all the answers

What does a 'multi-tenant model' mean in cloud computing?

Resources are shared among multiple consumers. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the term 'measured service' in cloud computing?

Resource usage can be monitored and recorded for transparency. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not an advantage of virtual machines?

Need for high-powered physical servers Signup and view all the answers

What major concern is associated with cloud sourcing?

Performance and reliability Signup and view all the answers

Which of these allows remote data to be temporarily cached on other devices?

Cloud Storage Signup and view all the answers

How does cloud computing reduce computer costs?

It requires lower hardware specifications for local machines. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major advantage of virtualization regarding software testing?

Testing can use 'clean' installs of operating systems. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about cloud computing is incorrect?

Local processing power is critical for running cloud applications. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a consideration when using cloud services?

Data control and service parameters Signup and view all the answers

What is a key benefit of using virtual machines for legacy systems?

They provide a method to run outdated operating systems. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary benefit of cloud computing regarding document access?

Documents are always available from any device with Internet access. Signup and view all the answers

How does cloud computing enhance group collaboration?

It allows multiple users to work simultaneously on projects. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant drawback of cloud computing relating to Internet connectivity?

It works best with high-speed Internet connections. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a limitation of cloud-based applications compared to desktop applications?

Cloud applications may be less feature-rich. Signup and view all the answers

What happens if you lose your Internet connection while using cloud computing services?

You will lose access to your documents. Signup and view all the answers

In what scenario does cloud computing become difficult to use?

When users are in areas with low-speed Internet connections. Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does cloud computing offer with regard to the latest version of documents?

The cloud updates the documents automatically. Signup and view all the answers

Why can cloud computing be considered device-independent?

It allows access from various types of devices. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary disadvantage of using web-based applications like Google Presentation compared to Microsoft PowerPoint?

They can be slower due to data being sent to cloud servers. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential risk associated with storing data in the cloud?

Unauthorized users may access confidential data. Signup and view all the answers

Why might high-performance computing (HPC) applications face challenges in cloud environments?

Scheduling and co-location are critical to minimizing communication latency. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about public cloud computing?

It offers potentially infinite capacity at a low cost. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant advantage of cloud computing from an end user perspective?

Users can scale resources rapidly and pay for what they consume. Signup and view all the answers

What does the cloud computing environment fundamentally rely on that can affect data access speed?

Data being processed on cloud servers. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes a disadvantage of private data centers compared to public clouds?

They often have a low average utilization rate. Signup and view all the answers

What issue is presented by differing protocols and APIs across cloud systems?

Applications may need adaptation to work on various platforms. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Clusters

Clusters are deployed for faster speed or greater reliability than a single computer
They are usually cost-effective
Clusters typically have:
- Faster network connection than a Local Area Network (LAN)
- Low latency communication protocols
- A looser coupling than Symmetric Multiprocessor (SMP) systems

Types of Clusters

High Availability or Failover Clusters
Load Balancing Clusters
Parallel/Distributed Processing Clusters

Cluster Components

Basic building blocks of clusters include:
- Cluster Nodes
- Cluster Network
- Network Characterization

Key Operational Benefits of Clustering

System availability: redundancy of hardware, operating systems, and applications result in high availability
Hardware fault tolerance: redundancy of system components (e.g., disk-RAID) includes hardware and software
OS and application reliability: multiple OS and application copies provide reliability through redundancy
Scalability: adding servers or clusters to the network increases capacity as needed
High performance: running cluster-enabled programs improves performance

Utility Computing

Utility computing is a service provisioning model where service providers make computing resources and infrastructure management available to customers as needed
Customers are charged for specific usage rather than a flat rate
The model offers low or no initial cost for acquiring computer resources
It is comparable to other services like electrical power, where fluctuating customer needs are met and charged based on usage

Cloud Computing

NIST definition: a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to shared, 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:
- On-demand self-service
- Broad network access
- Resource pooling

Essential Characteristics of Cloud Computing

Measured service: Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use through metering at various levels of abstraction (storage, processing, bandwidth, etc.)
Resource usage: can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both provider and consumer

Virtualization

Advantages of virtual machines:
- Run operating systems where physical hardware is unavailable
- Easier to create and backup machines
- Software testing using "clean" operating system and software installs
- Emulate more machines than physically available
- Timeshare lightly loaded systems on one host
- Debug problems by suspending and resuming machines
- Easy migration of virtual machines (shutdown needed or not)
- Run legacy systems

Cloud Sourcing

Why is it becoming important?
- Utilizes high-scale/low-cost providers
- Access from anywhere via web browser
- Rapid scalability with incremental cost and load sharing
- Focus shifts away from local IT concerns
Concerns:
- Performance, reliability, and service level agreements (SLAs)
- Control of data and service parameters
- Application features and choices
- Interaction between cloud providers
- No standard API – mix of SOAP and REST!
- Privacy, security, compliance, and trust

Cloud Storage

Some large web companies allow data storage capacity to be "hired out" to others
Remotely stored data can be temporarily cached on desktop computers, mobile phones, or other internet-linked devices
Amazon's Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and Simple Storage Solution (S3) are well-known examples

Advantages of Cloud Computing

Lower computer costs:
- No need for expensive computers to run cloud-based web applications
- Desktop PCs need less processing power and hard disk space with cloud applications
- PCs can be cheaper, with smaller hard disks, less memory, and more efficient processors
- No need for CD/DVD drives, as no software needs to be loaded or document files saved
- Examples of applications like Dropbox and Skydrive
Universal information access:
- Documents stay in the cloud and can be accessed with an internet connection
- Documents are instantly available, regardless of location
Latest version availability:
- Edited documents are immediately reflected in the cloud, ensuring everyone has the latest version
Easier group collaboration:
- Sharing documents leads to improved collaboration
- Multiple users can easily work on documents and projects together
Device independence:
- No longer tied to a single computer or network
- Computers, applications, and documents follow the user through the cloud
- Applications and documents are still available when moving to a portable device

Disadvantages of Cloud Computing

Requires a constant internet connection:
- Cloud computing is unavailable without an internet connection
- No access to documents or applications without an internet connection
- In areas with unreliable internet, this can be a major issue
Does not work well with low-speed connections:
- Dial-up internet speeds make cloud computing difficult or impossible
- Web-based applications and large documents need significant bandwidth
Features might be limited:
- Web-based applications may not have as many features as their desktop counterparts
- This situation is evolving, but some web applications lack the full functionality of desktop software
Can be slow:
- Even with fast connections, web-based applications can be slower than desktop software
- The interface, data, and documents must be transmitted to and from the cloud
- Slowdowns can occur due to server back-ups or internet connection issues
Stored data might not be secured:
- All data is stored on the cloud, raising security concerns
- Unauthorized access to confidential data is possible
- Data can be theoretically safe and replicated across multiple machines
- If data is lost, there is no physical or local backup
HPC Systems (High performance systems):
- It's not clear that compute-intensive HPC applications using MPI/OpenMP can run efficiently on the cloud
- Scheduling is crucial for these applications, as VMs need to be co-located for minimized communication latency
General concerns:
- Cloud systems utilize different protocols and APIs, making interoperability challenging
- Amazon's unique DB system (not SQL 92) and workflow system (distinct from common systems) require application adaptation

Evolution of Cloud Computing

The driving force for cloud computing adoption is the potential for significant IT cost reduction
Public clouds provide the illusion of infinite capacity with rapid scalability and pay-per-use pricing
In private data centers, provisioning for peak capacity leads to low average utilization (5-20 percent)

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Description

This quiz explores the fundamentals of computer clusters, including their types, components, and operational benefits. Test your knowledge on the deployment of clusters for increased speed and reliability in computing. Dive into the essential characteristics that distinguish clustering systems from traditional architectures.