You need to to be an Tech expert, you need not to be an IT Pro, you need to know ONLY how to read English. I will explain about Cloud Computing today to you in very simple language.
As I have named the article, Cloud Computing For Dummies; it is a very basic articles on everything on Cloud Computing and those guys and gals were proud of their knowledge on Cloud Computing and uttered jaw breaking terms in front of you, now you will drop their jaws by cross questioning them.
I know the introduction looks very promotional, but read on.
Definition of Cloud Computing in simple language
Despite different hardware and software companies claims, Computer itself has not been changed in last 10 years. Everything underwent too much cosmetic change and thanks to Adobe PhotoShop (it is nothing but a complicated looking software for creating stunning graphics) which has face-lifted the Advertisements and the look of the logo of the hardwares.
So, 10 years before you need to Install a software on your computer to do work – which is named as Operating System. If you are new to this term “Operating System”, then take it as the brand names, Mac OS or Windows (I guess Microsoft has injected quite nicely inside your head the word “Windows”). Windows is one of the Operating system which changes in look every 3-4 years, possibly you are more used with the name Windows XP or Windows 7. Similarly Mac OS is also an Operating System with various names that changes like Windows – Mac OS X Snow Leopard, Mac OS X Lion etc. Only now that there are hundreds or more Operating Systems like Linux, which itself has thousands of different versions (these are called flavors, like Ubuntu, Open SuSe etc.), Open solaris, UNIX etc.
But, if you need to do some extra work, as I gave the example above of one software : Adobe Photoshop, you have to ‘put it’ on your Operating System : that is called Software Installation. Unless you are Installing the particular Software, you will not be able to use the functions.
But, most Computers have few big limitations : You can not install, for example 20,000 applications or Softwares, simply your computer will be very very slow. Secondly, if you want to upgrade any hardware component to recent one, it is quite possible you will not find the Processor or Memory (RAM) those were used 10 years ago. Simply the company changes the sockets and many things. In other words, you have to buy a new computer to upgrade certain components despite otherwise your 10 years old computer is fine.
Now, some people thought, if an arrangement is done in a way so that thousands of computers will power that old computer so that it can run everything, how it will be ?
This is your Cloud Computing.
This is your friend says and you get terrified hearing the word Cloud Computing. Cloud Computing is nothing but those thousand of computers acting together like a single computer and you can use it from your 10 years old computer’s Browser (that software you are using to read this webpage).
But, Cloud Computing is a business
As Cloud computing is a big business right now, some people have to name the specific part of the Cloud Computing computer you are going to use. That is why your friend says to many jaw breaking terminologies for Cloud Computing.
Now understand all the terms about Cloud Computing
So, you have understood that Cloud Computing is nothing but a big computer that you can access (=use) through your old computer’s browser when you are connected to the Internet. Make this basic about Cloud Computing very clear.
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Now, if you want to use that software, something like Adobe Photoshop, it is almost impossible that your 10 years old Computer will be able to run. But with Cloud Computing, you can simply use the software from the browser, if someone installs that software on their Cloud Computing platform. This is called Software as a Service in Cloud computing (SaaS).
People are more wise! Few companies actually have such big infrastructure (read money) to buy thousands to computers to create that Cloud Computing thing.
So, some of these Cloud Computing Companies, rents a part of their Cloud Computing thing to others, this is what they says as Platform as a Service in Cloud Computing. Now, if you buy that part of their Cloud Computing part (PaaS), then you can “Install” your software on run on theirs, right? This is in round about way is that Software as a Service in Cloud Computing.
But, if I want to buy “more” of that Cloud Computing then I have to buy “something more”, that is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
These three terms – SaaS, PaaS and IaaS are called levels of Cloud Computing
We can divide Cloud Computing in another way!
If that Cloud Computing Company arranges some “web apps” in way that may people can use it, they will say it Public Cloud Computing, where as if the Cloud Computing Company has some “special relation” with you, so that they will allow only you to use a part – that will be Private Cloud Computing. Nothing goes free, to have that “special relation” with that Cloud Computing Company, you have to pay more.
Now, if you want to use some “power” of your old computer along with the power of Cloud Computing Company, it will be Hybrid Cloud Computing.
So, another way to classify Cloud Computing : Private Cloud Computing, Public Cloud Computing and Hybrid Cloud Computing.
Conclusion on Cloud Computing For Dummies
Cloud Computing is not so easy in the way I have explained. What I tried to explain about Cloud Computing will be helpful for those who need to understand “what it is”, those who never need to know how Cloud Computing actually works.
The way author Prof. Thorsten Huber, PhD. has written this article “Cloud Computing For Dummies” is not only a good read for the beginners, it simply shows how much grasp he has on Cloud Computing. Icon by David Vignoni.
