Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Cloud Hosting : What is cloud computing?

[Kevin]

I think a good way to start off this forum section is to determine what cloud computing means to everyone, I know there are a lot of different views and it should be interesting to see them.

[Karbon]

I'm curious as to what is it as well. Never have heard of it.

Is it where you host in the clouds, joke, don't yell at me.

[Matrix]

Interested as well in knowing what cloud hosting is and does.

[Plutomic-Andrew]

Cloud hosting, in one form or another, is the clustering of multiple physical hardware nodes together to act as a single server, with nearly unlimited resources since it can be continually added to seamlessly without adversely affecting the applications running on the cloud currently. This single cluster or grid is then broken down into individual VEs or Virtual Environments. Each VE is a self-contained LAMP stack running on top of any OS the customer would like while having access to the computing power of multiple processor and multiple GBs of RAM to perform its computing tasks.

In most cases depending on the architecture of the cloud, each VE can expand dynamically to withstand the influx of heavy traffic or in other cases storage demands. These demands are typically caused by a site being dugg, slashdotted or in one way or another gaining more exposure than they would under typical daily circumstances.

[Karbon]

Ah, I feel stupid now. I should of known what it was. It's basically a server cluster.

[AmirKhan]

Its really exciting I cant wait to try it out for my new project, but I do have some doughts >.<

On my course however we are taught that "the cloud" will be when all applications and data are stored on the web and we simply connect using "terminal Pcs" in effcet moving backwards?

[eming]

to some 'the cloud' is the answer to everything - to others just an overhyped buzzword...

We (UK2group) takes it very seriously, and I see this taking over most of the dedicated server market within the coming 5 years.

It is very far from mature though - one of those things everyone talks about but really only a handfull actually provide.

Buzzword or not, it is bound to change some of the mechanics of the hosting industry.

EDIT: take a moment and read this article published today from Wall Street Journal, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123802623665542725.html - it will help give a better understanding...


D

[you86]

Originally Posted by Plutomic-Andrew

Cloud hosting, in one form or another, is the clustering of multiple physical hardware nodes together to act as a single server, with nearly unlimited resources since it can be continually added to seamlessly without adversely affecting the applications running on the cloud currently. This single cluster or grid is then broken down into individual VEs or Virtual Environments. Each VE is a self-contained LAMP stack running on top of any OS the customer would like while having access to the computing power of multiple processor and multiple GBs of RAM to perform its computing tasks.

In most cases depending on the architecture of the cloud, each VE can expand dynamically to withstand the influx of heavy traffic or in other cases storage demands. These demands are typically caused by a site being dugg, slashdotted or in one way or another gaining more exposure than they would under typical daily circumstances.

thats a great explaination..
questions: will all these hardware nodes in queue? what will happen if one/two will broken down? everything will stop working?

[DATARTIM]

Originally Posted by HP-Kevin

I think a good way to start off this forum section is to determine what cloud computing means to everyone, I know there are a lot of different views and it should be interesting to see them.

Marketing.

[Kevin]

Andrew, can you name some/any company out there that can provide you a VE with a "self-contained LAMP stack" with nearly unlimited scalability? or even scalability beyond the resources of a single physical hardware node?

What you have explained is what I find many people expect from "cloud hosting", but I disagree, and I am not sure the functionality you have described yet exists.

So far I am with Tim on this, and its just marketing.

Originally Posted by Plutomic-Andrew

Cloud hosting, in one form or another, is the clustering of multiple physical hardware nodes together to act as a single server, with nearly unlimited resources since it can be continually added to seamlessly without adversely affecting the applications running on the cloud currently. This single cluster or grid is then broken down into individual VEs or Virtual Environments. Each VE is a self-contained LAMP stack running on top of any OS the customer would like while having access to the computing power of multiple processor and multiple GBs of RAM to perform its computing tasks.

In most cases depending on the architecture of the cloud, each VE can expand dynamically to withstand the influx of heavy traffic or in other cases storage demands. These demands are typically caused by a site being dugg, slashdotted or in one way or another gaining more exposure than they would under typical daily circumstances.

[Plutomic-Andrew]

Most all cloud computing environments will allow you to use more than one physical piece or hardware for computing power. Some examples that I can think of off the top of my head are applogic from 3tera.

@you86: Depending on the architecture of the cloud yes the services can be reprovisioned and started on other physical equipment in the cloud.

[eming]

Originally Posted by Plutomic-Andrew

Most all cloud computing environments will allow you to use more than one physical piece or hardware for computing power. Some examples that I can think of off the top of my head are applogic from 3tera.

True, but AFAIK even applogic does not allow you to scale one wm across more than one physical hypervisor.


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[Micron21]

VM ware has really made cloud computer come into the light of the average computer server now….

Regard James

[dazmanultra]

There was a good article in the Financial Times last Thursday about cloud computing... it's definitely picking up momentum.

[jonrdouglas]

A Hybrid cloud let's you run what is generally code that runs only on Windows, in the same directory as your files you generally run on Linx What? gasp.

About a Hybrid Cloud
http://www.douglas-networks.com/?q=node/23