Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
14 Practical Guidelines for Evolving IT Infrastructure
towards Grids and Clouds
Katarina Stanoevska-Slabeva, Thomas Wozniak, Volker Hoyer
14.1 Introduction
In the previous chapters of this topic the foundation of Grid and Cloud Computing
were described and their application in companies was illustrated with examples.
Grid Computing enables sharing of and access to distributed and heterogeneous
computing resources as well as establishment of VOs. Through virtualization,
heterogeneous pools of servers, storage systems and networks are pooled together
into a virtualized system that is exposed to the user as a single computing entity.
This entity can be centrally monitored and assigned to computing tasks. Overall,
Grid Computing enables a virtualization layer that is placed between the hetero-
geneous infrastructure and the specific user application using it. Grid Computing
potentially results in higher flexibility of computing resources and their more effi-
cient utilization, and by that, enables an environmentally friendlier IT management
in companies.
Cloud Computing evolved from and builds upon the convergence of Grid
Computing and SOC. It has the potential to substantially change the way how
computing resources are consumed. Core features of Cloud Computing are inte-
grated support for IaaS, PaaS and SaaS as well as user-friendly and service-oriented
interfaces for developers and users. Cloud Computing offers a new, easy-to-use way
for increasing scalability and flexibility of own IT resources on demand. Sudden
peaks can be accommodated with access to external resources provided in a pay-
per-use manner without additional investments in hardware, data centres and related
human resources required for maintenance and support. Cloud Computing provides
also new opportunities for Independent Software Vendors. They can develop inno-
vative business models and offer their software in a SaaS manner without building
up the necessary infrastructure.
The examples provided throughout this topic show that there is high potential of
Grid and Cloud Computing to provide value for companies in two areas:
1. Management and utilization of IT resources
2. Business process agility.
From the perspective of IT management, Grid and Cloud Computing can increase
scalability, flexibility and cost-effectiveness of IT infrastructure in use. From the
business process perspective, the companies can increase their agility, enable new
innovative processes and based on that increase their innovation capabilities and
competitiveness.
