Introduction
In this guide, we’ll explore the fundamentals of cloud computing, uncovering the key technologies and principles that make the cloud possible. By the end, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of what makes the cloud works, demystifying its magical functioning.
What is Cloud
While there are many definition of the cloud that are based solely on the infrastructure part, the Cloud is more about the user experience it gives to user to easily create, scale, manage, and release resources over the internet when needed with no pre-commitment with simple and intuitive interface either via UI, an API or some infrastructure as Code.
So simply you can just remember that a user can ask for resources over the internet as-needed with no pre-commitment.
what make the cloud possible?
Cloud computing is possible thanks to advancement happened the in infrastructure virtualization, the ability to virtualize CPU’s, memory, storage allows us to build a similar control over the infrastructure/hardware that helps efficiency and rapidly handle operational tasks that traditionally took days or weeks.
Virtualization allows to create virtual representations of servers, storage, networks, and other physical machines. importantly, It allows to create several isolated environments for same stack of resources(CPU’s, memory, networks, storage) each called virtual machine.
2 main concepts of Virtualization are virtual machines and hypervisors.
Virtual machine
A virtual machine(VM) is an isolated environment or a software-defined computer that behaves same as physical machine with CPU, memory, storage, and networking. it runs its own operating system. It runs on top of physical machine(The host machine), Notably we can run one or more VM on a single physical machine.
those VM’s are called then guest machines. A hypervisor controls of those virtual machines and their resources.
Hypervisor
The hypervisor is software that manages and allocates resources for multiple virtual machines in a physical machine in complete isolation. It ensures that each virtual machine. there are 2 types of hypervisors.
Type 1 hypervisor
Also known as a bare-metal hypervisor, runs directly on the physical machine hardware instead of its’ operating system. which gives better performance. It is used usually by data centers and cloud providers. The de facto example of these types of hypervisors is Linux KVM.
Type 2 hypervisor
Also known as a hosted hypervisor, it runs as software in an operating system. It abstracts the virtual machine (guest) operating system from the physical machine (host) operating system. allocation of resources is passed first by the host operating system, then hardware, which makes it slower.
What are the different types of virtualization?
Virtualization technology allows Abstract different types of physical infrastructure and all the benefits of a virtualized environment. You can go beyond virtual machines to create a collection of virtual resources in your virtual environment.
Server virtualization
Server virtualization simply means creating multiple virtual machines on a single physical hardware. It helps to efficiently maximize the usage of physical server resources.
Storage virtualization
Storage Virtualization Combines multiple physical storage devices, such as network storages like NAS and SAN, into a single virtual environment. It enables pooling storage hardware from different sources into one virtual storage unit.
Network virtualization
This type of virtualization abstracts physical network components such as switches, routers, and firewalls and their functionalities to create virtual networks without needing to interact with the any physical components.
The following are two approaches to network virtualization.
Software-defined networking
SDN separates network management and routing decisions from actual data forwarding in the physical environment. This centralizes network control through software, allowing for dynamic, programmatic configuration of the network to optimize performance and simplify management.
Network function virtualization
It replaces specialized network hardware like firewalls, load balancers, or routers with software-based solutions running on general-purpose servers. This approach reduces costs, improves flexibility, and allows for rapid deployment of network services.
Traditional Data Centers vs Cloud Computing Comparison
This guide is not a marketing page to sell you the cloud, but we will give a brief comparison between Data Centers and Cloud Computing
| Aspect | Traditional Data Centers | Cloud Computing |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure | - Physical hardware owned - Fixed capacity - High upfront CAPEX - Long procurement cycles - Dedicated IT staff | - Virtual resources - Dynamic scaling - Pay-as-you-go OPEX - Instant provisioning - Managed services |
| Scalability | - Physical limitations - Manual scaling - Over-provisioning needed - Facility space limits - Complex upgrades | - Automatic scaling - Elastic resources - Usage-based billing - Global infrastructure - Simple deployment |
| Reliability | - Single point failures - Manual failover - Limited redundancy - Complex DR - Expensive backups | - Built-in redundancy - Automated failover - Multiple zones - Simple DR - Integrated backups |
| Cost Structure | - High initial investment - Fixed costs - Maintenance costs - Power/cooling costs - Training investments | - Minimal upfront costs - Usage-based pricing - Reduced maintenance - Provider infrastructure - Operational focus |
| Security | - Full control - Physical access control - Custom solutions - Limited expertise - Resource-heavy compliance | - Shared responsibility - Provider features - Standard tools - Expert access - Built-in compliance |
| Innovation | - Slow deployment - Limited testing - Resource constraints - Complex integration - Fixed technology | - Rapid deployment - Easy testing - Flexible resources - API integration - Latest technologies |