Selasa, 11 Maret 2014

Cloud Computing – Issues,
Research and Implementations



Mladen A. Vouk


 Introduction

“Cloud computing” is the next natural step in
puting embraces cyberinfrastructure, and builds
the evolution of on-demand information tech-
upon decades of research in virtualization, dis-
nology services and products. To a large extent,
tributed computing, “grid computing”, utility
cloud computing will be based on virtualized
computing, and, more recently, networking,
resources.
web and software services. It implies a service-
Cloud computing predecessors have been around
oriented architecture, reduced information tech-
for some time now [1, 12, 15, 17, 18, 24, 29, 30,
nology overhead for the end-user, greater flex-
35, 40], but the term became “popular” some-
ibility, reduced total cost of ownership, on-
time in October 2007 when IBM and Google an-
demand services and many other things.
nounced a collaboration in that domain [27, 22].
This was followed by IBM’s announcement of
the “Blue Cloud” effort [23]. Since then, every-
2.1. Cyberinfrastructure
one is talking about “Cloud Computing”. Of
course, there also is the inevitable Wikipedia
“Cyberinfrastructure makes applications dra-
entry [45].
matically easier to develop and deploy, thus
expanding the feasible scope of applications
This paper discusses the concept of “cloud”
possible within budget and organizational con-
computing, some of the issues it tries to address,
related research topics, and a “cloud” imple-
straints, and shifting the scientist’s and engi-
mentation available today. Section 2 discusses
neer’s effort away from information technology
concepts and components of “cloud” comput-
development and concentrating it on scientific

ing. Section 3 describes an implementation
based on Virtual Computing Laboratory (VCL)
“Cloud” computing – a relatively recent term, builds on
decades of research in virtualization, distributed com-
technology. VCL has been in production use at
puting, utility computing, and more recently networking,
NC State University since 2004, and is a suitable
web and software services. It implies a service oriented
vehicle for dynamic implementation of almost
architecture, reduced information technology overhead
for the end-user, great flexibility, reduced total cost of
any current “cloud” computing solution. Sec-
ownership, on-demand services and many other things.
tion 4 discusses “cloud”-related research and
This paper discusses the concept of “cloud” computing,
engineering challenges. Section 5 summarizes
some of the issues it tries to address, related research
and concludes the paper.

Cloud Computing

A key differentiating element of a successful
information technology (IT) is its ability to be-
1. Introduction
come a true, valuable, and economical contrib-
utor to cyberinfrastructure [4]. “Cloud” com-
“Cloud computing” is the next natural step in
puting embraces cyberinfrastructure, and builds
the evolution of on-demand information tech-
upon decades of research in virtualization, dis-
nology services and products. To a large extent,
tributed computing, “grid computing”, utility
cloud computing will be based on virtualized
computing, and, more recently, networking,
resources.
web and software services. It implies a service-
Cloud computing predecessors have been around
oriented architecture, reduced information tech-
for some time now [1, 12, 15, 17, 18, 24, 29, 30,
nology overhead for the end-user, greater flex-
35, 40], but the term became “popular” some-
ibility, reduced total cost of ownership, on-
time in October 2007 when IBM and Google an-
demand services and many other things.