Eucalyptus/Cloud Overview Documentation

!! Cloud Computing

Cloud computing allows access to computers and their functionality through the Internet or a LAN. This access is requested by the user from a set of web services. The web services manage computing resources [such as: machines, network, storage, operating systems, application development environments, application programs]. After the user is given access, a portion of the computing resources is committed to that user until they release them. The name “cloud computing” is used because the user can’t see the equipment that is supporting the resources they are ultimately given access to using. A “cloud” is a set of machines and web services that employ cloud computing.

Clouds are classified by cloud service offerings and cloud types. When cloud service offerings are being distinguished clouds are referred to by their “service style“, which depends on the section of the software stack delivered as a service.

!!!Cloud Service Styles:

IaaS [Infrastructure as a Service]

->These clouds provide access to groups of virtualized computer hardware resources. This includes machines, the network, and storage. Users set up the cloud through assembling their own virtual cluster. The users are in charge of installing, maintaining, and executing their own software stack.

PaaS [Platform as a Service]

->These clouds provide access to a programming or runtime environment. These environments have adjustable compute and data structures embedded in it. Users develop and execute their own applications. This is done within an environment offered by the service provider.

SaaS [Software as a Service]

->These clouds offer access to groups of software application programs. Users are offered access to particular application programs that are controlled and executed on the provider's infrastructure. “Software on Demand” is a term that is commonly used to describe SaaS.

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Nadia Zahid