cloud computing

CLOUD COMPUTING

The monsoon is still two months away at least,but the cloud is hot news!!!

No,no,it is not about the rains…..

Cloud computing is the use of computing resources (hardware and software) that are delivered as a service over a network (typically the Internet).

The name comes from the common use of a cloud-shaped symbol as an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it contains in system diagrams. Cloud computing entrusts remote services with a user's data, software and computation.

What could you do with the cloud?

STORE FILES : You can use memory resting in remote computers to store files including documents,pictures,songs and videos.Sites like Box.net and Dropbox.com help you to do that.

There was a time when we stored our data files on floppy disks and CD’s.

Suddenly,storage is all-too-easy and cheap,because it is on the Web.

Now,there is Box.net or a Dropbox that store files and help you switch easily between your laptop storage and “cloud storage”.

Email: Remember Hotmail? That and Gmail are nothing but Email applications on the cloud.

Whether you are using Gmail,Yahoo Mail or Outlook.com,the email is stored on the cloud.

The front end-The Website that you visit-connects you to the cloud,where the data is stored,which is the back-end.

Your email is served from the nearest server,depending on your location.

This is an example of both cloud computing(exchanging messages,tagging them) and cloud storage(saving messages)

Be Entertained: Youtube and such sites are just movie halls on the cloud.When you watch a video on YouTube,you have “cloud servers” at the back-end streaming your favourite video.

Sites such as Saavn.com and Hungama.com let you stream music for free in a similar manner.

Run an Office: The familiar Microsoft Office suite is now available on the cloud as Office365.Google has its own Docs(http://docs.google.com) that offers comparable features.Zoho.com provides a host of office software.Business software like SAP and accounting software like Tally are also available on the cloud.

Do Advanced Computing: Even 3D prototype making,needing advanced graphic computing,can be made cheaper!

Cloud computing providers offer their services according to several fundamental models:

 Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) Platform as a service (PaaS) Software as a service (SaaS) 

Service Models:

In this model, a pre-made application, along with any required software, operating system,

hardware, and network are provided.

For ex-Microsoft Office 365,Google Apps

Software as a Service

In PaaS, an operating system, hardware, and network are provided, and the customer installs

or develops its own software and applications. Application developers can develop and run

their software solutions on a cloud platform without the cost and complexity of buying and managing the underlying hardware and software layers.

For ex-Google App Engine,Windows Azure Cloud Services

Platform as a service:

The IaaS model provides just the hardware and network; the customer

installs or develops its own operating systems, software and applications.

Cloud providers typically bill IaaS services on a utility computing basis

For ex-Google Computing Engine ,Oracle Infrastructure as a Service.

Infrastructure as a Service:

Cloud services are typically made available via a private cloud, community cloud,

public cloud or hybrid cloud

Deployment of Cloud Services

In a private cloud, the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for a specific

organization, and is managed by the organization or a third party

In a community cloud, the service is shared by several organizations and made

available only to those groups. The infrastructure may be owned and operated by the

organizations or by a cloud service provider.A hybrid cloud is a combination of different

methods of resource pooling (for example, combining public and community

clouds).

Cloud architecture, the systems architecture of the software systems involved in the delivery of cloud computing, typically involves multiple cloud components communicating with each other over a loose coupling mechanism such as a messaging queue. Elastic provision implies intelligence in the use of tight or loose coupling as applied to mechanisms such as these and others

As long as you have an internet connection,you can hook up to a cloud service and get storage ultra-cheap.Some sites offer basic stuff for free.

Basic facilities on paid sites cost around $10(Rs 500 a month).

Advantages:

Good Bandwidth is critical Files moving in the cloud,if not secure,lose

confidentiality Data may be vulnerable to intruders

What’s The Downside?

Simple,log on to sites that offer cloud facilities.You can sign up and pay online where it not free.

DropBox.com,Zoho.com,Box.net,Docs.google.com,Office365.com,Outlook.com,Tally.com are cloud sites.

How do you use the cloud?

◦If we did not have cloud computing,social media networks like Facebook,Twitter would have remained small and localised,limited to communities.

◦Social media networks have become a great example of cloud computing and storage.

Cloud Computing in Social Media

The flip side of the cloud computing is the safety!

If your files are not physically in your control,it is vulnerable to someone hacking it.

Most of the data you store on the cloud is accessed by a username and password.

Typically,the username is your email id.,which is known to others.

But your password is the key to your sound sleep:the more complex it is,the tougher it becomes to crack it.

Caution!!!