Cloud computing can be defined as a data service, software and storage service, where the end user is not aware of the physical location and system configuration that delivers the services. Comparison to this concept can be made with electricity power grid where the consumer is mostly ignorant of the component devices that are needed to give this service.
Cloud computing has evolved from virtualization, autonomic utility computing as well as service oriented architecture.
Here are some clouds computing comparison, which have similar characteristics but should not be confused with the following: - Autonomic computing-This is can be defined as a self-capable management computer system.
- Grid computing-This is a form of parallel computing that is distributed and connected to a main super computer. This super and virtual computer is networked to a cluster of loosely interconnected couple of computers working in unison to perform large tasks.
- Client-server model-This kind of server computing is a general term that refers to any application that is distributed and is able to differentiate between service requesters (clients) and service providers (server).
- Mainframe computer-These are very powerful computers that are found mostly in large organizations that work with important applications, usually bulky data processing like census, statistics of both consumers and industry, financial transaction and resource planning.
- Utility computing-This can be defined as packaging of computing resources that involves computation and storage. A good example is the metered service that draws similarities to public utility like electricity.
- Peer to peer-here the distribution architecture is devoid or doesn’t require central coordination having the participants acting as both the suppliers and consumers of the resources unlike the client server model.
- Service oriented computing-it models around computing techniques that revolve on software service. Cloud on the other hand relies on services that have a relation with computing.
One of the notable characteristic of cloud computing is that the processing and data is dynamic meaning that it is not found in a static place. The model is totally different from the ones which the processes take place in known specified servers and "not in the cloud” like cloud computing. In other words all the other concepts act as complementary or supplementary to this concept.
The cloud computing comparisons don’t end there. The system software architecture that is involved in delivery of cloud computing involves the following: Multiple cloud components that inter-communicates over interfaces application programming. This is achieved through web services on the 3 tier architecture. The principle follows that of UNIX where multiple programs work concurrently over universal interfaces.
Front end and back end are the two most significant components of cloud computing architecture. The computer user is able to see the front end which is the computer as well as the applications that are used to access cloud on web browser and other interface. The back end, on the other end, of the cloud architecture is the ‘cloud’ that comprises of data storage devices, servers and various computers.
Those are some of the cloud computing comparisons.
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