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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-