crash course in cloud computing (may 2010)

CRASH COURSE IN CLOUD COMPUTINGChristian Miller & Jim DelRosso

May 20, 2010

What is it?

“Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.”

-- Mell & Grance, 2009

What is it?

“[Cloud computing is] the delivery of scalable IT resources over the Internet, as opposed to hosting and operating those resources locally, such as on a college or university network.”

-- EDUCAUSE, 2009

What is it?

Basic characteristics: Users interact with resources remotely

with few to no intermediaries Providers distribute resources dynamically

to multiple users Resource use is flexible and scalable, and

priced accordingly

What is it not?

That SETI screensaver Pretty much any application that you have

to install on your computer Arguably, many licensed products, even if

they’re web-based

What is it not?

Outsourcing! (At least, not necessarily.)

A final bit of jargon…

Public vs. Private vs. Hybrid