| Cloud computing is a buzzword of the moment, but | | | | these definitions, and the listener may be thinking of |
| what does it really mean? Is it really ready for prime | | | | something else entirely. |
| time, or should you stay with a VPS? First, some | | | | There are many people out there who believe the |
| definitions: | | | | term cloud computing is just another buzzword that |
| Head in the clouds? | | | | is used to describe too many technologies, making it |
| In some ways, cloud computing is like grid computing | | | | confusing to many. The term Cloud computing has |
| in that it leveraged shared computing resources to | | | | been used to mean grid computing, utility computing, |
| handle applications instead of local servers or user | | | | software as a service, Internet-based applications, |
| devices. This is the supercomputing model revamped | | | | autonomic computing, peer-to-peer computing and |
| for the company IT folks, promising trillions of | | | | remote processing. When most people use the term, |
| computations per second for financial services, | | | | they may have one of these ideas in mind, but the |
| personalized data processing or huge, immersive | | | | listener might be thinking about something else. |
| network computer gaming. | | | | Real-world comparisons |
| Cloud computing combines groups of servers using | | | | The user forums are filling up with people who have |
| (mostly) low-cost, consumer-level PC components | | | | a number of high-traffic web sites in the |
| into networks that spread the data-crunching chores | | | | 10,000-hits-per-day range, not high-traffic like |
| around. Virtualization techniques can maximize cloud | | | | Amazon or iTunes with enough demand to warrant |
| computing’s power, we’re told, but what is | | | | getting a solid, capable VPS or a dedicated server. |
| not so clearly stated by its proponents is the fact | | | | Some are enticed by the claim of huge cost savings |
| that cloud computing is still rather hazily defined. | | | | with the cloud, but discover that there are usually |
| Standards for PC and network connections, and | | | | standard monthly charges over and above the utility |
| software to make it all work, have not been worked | | | | billing. Clearly, at present, traditional hosting forms are |
| out in final form. | | | | less expensive until the economies of scale enter the |
| Right now, cloud computing is a hot new thing, and | | | | formula, at which point the lines will cross and cloud |
| its potential for accessing and sharing computing | | | | computing will become the less-expensive alternative. |
| power as virtual resources, securely and in a scalable | | | | The problem, of course, is that no one yet knows |
| way, is making it attractive to large corporate data | | | | where that line might be. Therefore, there is no way |
| centers. It is all rather nebulous and uncertain, though, | | | | right now to make that calculation. Some cautious |
| and early adopters need courage as well as | | | | observers claim the economics of this personal |
| expandable budgets. | | | | network supercomputer are not cloud-ready, which is |
| VPS, tried and true | | | | why you should stay with a VPS for now. This is |
| VPS stands for Virtual Private Server, which is | | | | borne out by the fact that the billing models vary |
| created on a dedicated, physical server in a data | | | | among cloud providers so it is close to impossible to |
| center. VPS is essentially an isolated server sharing | | | | get a definitive answer on cost. Some cloud |
| the hardware of a single, physical server, something | | | | companies have online price estimating tools (usage |
| like a dedicated server with its own RAM, disk space, | | | | and cost calculators) that will consider estimated |
| and IP address. Since it can be independently | | | | bandwidth and storage needs to crank out an |
| rebooted, VPS acts like a standalone server on which | | | | estimate of a monthly bill. That’s about all you |
| you can run your own applications. Offering features | | | | can do to get a cost comparison at this point. |
| similar to dedicated servers, but at a cost closer to a | | | | Does it even work? |
| shared hosting plan, VPS servers can handle the | | | | Until the technology (and user experiences) mature, it |
| demands of medium-sized business sites easily. | | | | takes a bit of work even to determine if cloud |
| Every VPS account on a server will have its own | | | | computing is roughly cost-comparable to traditional |
| drive partition, which allows them their own root | | | | hosting, where you know what the fixed monthly |
| access and bandwidth. This increases performance | | | | fees are for your needs. However, there are far |
| and lets users run their own custom applications. A | | | | more important issues right now than price. Does |
| VPS acts like a dedicated server in many ways, | | | | cloud computing even work? |
| except when it comes to paying for them, as they | | | | Not everyone is yet convinced about the scalability |
| are much lower cost, in comparison. | | | | advantages claimed for the cloud, and the bean |
| The cloud bandwagon | | | | counters are certainly not sold on the cost savings |
| Cloud computing is definitely the hip new thing. Now | | | | yet. Among the user forum participants discussing |
| IBM, Dell, Sun and Amazon are all doing it. Still, many | | | | cloud computing vs. VPS was a fellow working for a |
| experts believe the term is a multitasking buzzword, | | | | cost-conscious startup who stated that his company |
| used to describe a confusing array of different | | | | had converted to hosting in the cloud for all the |
| technologies. The term cloud computing is being used | | | | advertised reasons. After three months, he said, |
| to mean utility computing, grid computing, the | | | | they were looking at moving back because it's too |
| software-as-a-service model, Internet-based | | | | expensive. This is a common thing for early adopters |
| applications, remote processing, autonomic computing | | | | to do. When they stop doing it, that will be among |
| and peer-to-peer computing. Someone using the term | | | | the first clues that cloud computing is ready for |
| may be thinking of one (or, confusingly, several) of | | | | primetime. |