By Administrator | May 13, 2009
Amanda McPherson, Linux Foundation
May 2009
After struggling to reach mainstream status in the technology world for years, utility computing may yet arrive in the coming quarters. This time around, however, it will be known as cloud computing. And when cloud computing does cross the chasm into mainstream adoption, it will be powered by Linux.
Read the entire whitepaper here:
The term cloud computing borrows much from the utility and grid technologies that preceded it. Cloud computing describes the availability of off-premise services – traditionally pictured as a cloud in architectural diagrams, hence the name – which themselves may be composed of a variety of hardware and software services. These cloud services may be subsequently re-combined as either a complementary resource, for backup or disaster recovery scenarios as an example, or used as a standalone platform. Cloud computing is characterized principally by its enablement of on demand computing. Even hardware resources such as servers or storage may be purchased in incremental fashion, and billed according to usage. Typical usage may be metered in minutes or hours then, rather than the more typical monthly or yearly terms for traditional contracts.
In many respects, the technology behind cloud computing is anything but revolutionary; the off-site availability of hardware is not a new development. What makes cloud computing more compelling than similar previous offerings is part demand and part technology. On the demand side, more and more enterprises are considering the cloud as a deployment option because the costs of running their own data center are escalating rapidly. But improvements in the technology, particularly in virtualization, distributed computing, and IT management, are what marry the opportunity to the demand.
The progression of cloud computing adoption has been rapid; the initial wave of innovators – primarily consisting of individual developers and startups – has given way to early adopters in the form of cutting edge enterprises and, in some cases, governments. The reasons for selecting the cloud as a deployment target vary from constituency to constituency, but generally center around cost, speed and flexibility. In that respect, adoption drivers for cloud computing often mirror those of open source technologies.
Given that, perhaps the ubiquity of Linux in cloud environments should have been anticipated. To explore why Linux is so compelling for the cloud, it’s necessary to examine the characteristics that make Linux a natural foundation for the cloud. The widespread use of Linux in the cloud benefits both those who run and operate clouds, as well as those who build upon them.
Topics: Cloud Computing, Economics: IT Staffing & Discretionary Budgets, Enterprise 2.0 & Social Media | No Comments »
Leave a Reply
« White House wants cloud computing: Budget would boost federal use of cloud computing | Home | Previewing the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium Keynote Panel: “Head in the Clouds, Feet on the Ground” »
RSS Feeds
