Cloud computing comes into focus only when you think about what IT always needs: a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software. Cloud computing encompasses any subscription-based or pay-per-use service that, in real time over the Internet, extends IT's existing capabilities.
Cloud computing is a computing paradigm in which tasks are assigned to a combination of connections, software and services accessed over a network. This network of servers and connections is collectively known as "the cloud." Computing at the scale of the cloud allows users to access supercomputer-level power. Using a thin client or other access point, like an iPhone, BlackBerry or laptop, users can reach into the cloud for resources as they need them. For this reason, cloud computing has also been described as "on-demand computing." This vast processing power is made possible though distributed, large-scale cluster computing, *often in concert with server virtualization software*, like Xen and parallel processing. To paraphrase Sun Microsystems' famous adage, in cloud computing the network *becomes* the supercomputer. I hope that clarify my position. All the Best Ashraf Galal On Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 7:27 AM, Anne Thomas Manes <[email protected]>wrote: > Minor nit correction Ashraf: > > Cloud computing (at least at the infrastructure level) is enabled by > recent advancements in virtualization. It is not not simply repackaged > grid/utility computing. We couldn't do 10 years ago the kind of stuff > we can do today. > > Anne > > > On Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 10:28 PM, A W > <[email protected]<ashrafwg%40gmail.com>> > wrote: > > > > Cloud computing is simply a buzzword used to repackage grid computing and > > utility computing, both of which have existed for decades. > > Like grid computing, cloud computing requires the use of software that > can > > divide and distribute components of a program to thousands of computers. > > New advances in processors, actualization technology, disk storage, > > broadband Internet access and fast, inexpensive servers have all combined > to > > make cloud computing a compelling paradigm. > > Cloud computing allows users and companies to pay for and use the > services > > and storage that they need, when they need them and, as wireless > broadband > > connection options grow, where they need them. > > Customers can be billed based upon server utilization, processing power > used > > or bandwidth consumed. > > As a result, cloud computing has the potential to upend the software > > industry entirely, as applications are purchased, licensed and run over > the > > network instead of a user's desktop. This shift will put data centers and > > their administrators at the center of the distributed network, as > processing > > power, electricity, bandwidth and storage are all managed remotely. > > Does it work? Does the companies will opt to loose control of their > > information to save money? I think the answer would be YES. But I also > think > > that a more problems will appear too. > > > > All the best > > > > Ashraf Galal > > > > On Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 3:21 PM, Rob Eamon > > <[email protected]<reamon%40cableone.net>> > wrote: > >> > >> SearchSOA asked Morgenthal: "What questions should an enterprise > architect > >> ask when reviewing a proposal for a cloud initiative?" > >> > >> Would these questions be different from 3, 5, 10 years ago when > >> considering outsourcing? Is vetting a so-called cloud provider today > >> different from vetting, say, EDS last year? IMO, the > questions/needs/eval > >> criteria for considering outsourcing of infrastructure, hosting, etc. > have > >> not changed. > >> > >> Is there anything new that "cloud computing" has introduced? > >> > >> -Rob > >> > > > > > >
