Instead of running or saving our applications, files and documents in our desktop system, it can be hosted on “cloud”. Cloud consists of thousands of computers and servers all linked together and accessible via internet. Thus it is web based model and not just desktop based. Anyone can access their documents from any machine at any time though internet. Even if your desktop crashes, then there is no problem, since all the documents are safe in cloud (some remote server). Thus no longer you will be tied to work only from your computer.
It need not be considered as network computing. In Network computing documents and applications are hosted on a single company server and can be accessed over the company network. But cloud computing is something much bigger than that. It encompasses multiple companies, multiple servers and networks. This cloud is owned and operated by a third party on a consolidated basis in one or more data center locations. Thus it lives with the idea of virtual server concept which is cheaper than using dedicated servers (as used in network data storage).
Features:
o On-demand usage (subscription type model)
o Pay-as-u-go
o Secure
o Lower cost
o Good performance and computing power
o Fewer maintenance issues
o Vast storage capacity
o Compatibility with any kind of OS
o Can be used for projects that need group collaboration
o Latest version of software is available always
o Universal access
o Instant software updates
Types of cloud services:
1. Software-as-a-service
Here, a single software or application is delivered to thousands of users from vendor server. Users should pay not for owning it but for using it.
2. Platform-as-a-service
It is similar to providing “building blocks” to build something. It may be a piece of code or development environment etc. which is provided as a service for developing our own application.
3. Database-as-a-service
There are also similar other such kind of services available.
Cloud storage: It provides a vast storage space (virtual) which one can use as per his/her need. Amazon allows choosing 3 sizes of virtual servers
o Small -1.7GB memory, with 160GB of storage space and one virtual 32-bit core-processor
o Large- 7.5GB memory, with 850GB of storage space and 2 virtual 64-bit core processor
o Extra large- 15GB memory, with 1.TB of storage space and 4 virtual 64-bit core processor
Amazon’s EC2, Microsoft’s windows live suite, live mesh, Google’s Google docs, Google presentations, email, calendar and IBM’s Blue cloud, salesforce.com are some of the contributions by the giant companies in IT industry to cloud computing.
Web-based Word processors which mimic Microsoft word:
1. www.docs.google.com
2. www.buzzword.acrobat.com
3. www.docly.com
4. www.ajaxwrite.com
5. www.glidedigital.com
6. www.inetword.com
7. www.kbdocs.com
8. www.peepel.com
9. www.writer.zoho.com
10. www.writeboard.com etc.
Users can work on these documents and have a feel how cloud services work. This is not the end. There are lots of websites which provide similar kind of cloud service.
Web-based Spreadsheets
1. Google spreadsheets
2. www.editgrid.com
3. www.expresscorp.com
4. www.numsum.com
5. www.sheetster.com
6. www.thinkfree.com
7. www.sheet.zoho.com etc….
Web-based contact management
1. www.salesforce.com
2. www.bconnections.com
3. www.bigcontacts.com
4. www.same-page.com/contact-management.html
5. www.me.com
6. www.highrisehq.com
7. www.plaxo.com etc…
Web-based Event management applications
1. www.123signup.com
2. www.acteva.com
3. www.conference.com
4. www.cevent.com
5. www.eventwax.com
6. www.eventspot.com
7. www.regonline.com
8. www.setdot.com etc….
Web-based Online Scheduling
1. www.jifflenow.com
2. www.presdo.com
3. www.diarised.com
4. www.schedulebook.com
5. www.acuityscheduling.com
6. www.hitappoint.com and many more.
Web-based Online-planning and Task management
1. www.iprioritize.com
2. www.blablalist.com
3. www.hiveminder.com
4. www.planner.zoho.com
5. www.hitask.com and many more.
Web-based Databases
1. www.blist.com
2. www.cebase.com
3. www.dabbledb.com
4. www.lazybase.com
5. www.teamdesk.net and many more.
Similarly there are web-based applications for on-line file storage, creating to-do list, sharing services, calendar, web mail services, managing projects etc are available. Once explored, one can have a flair knowledge on cloud computing and how it works.
Note: Above all the information were gathered mainly from Michael millers book “Cloud Computing : Web-Based Applications that Change the Way You Work and Collaborate Online”.
It need not be considered as network computing. In Network computing documents and applications are hosted on a single company server and can be accessed over the company network. But cloud computing is something much bigger than that. It encompasses multiple companies, multiple servers and networks. This cloud is owned and operated by a third party on a consolidated basis in one or more data center locations. Thus it lives with the idea of virtual server concept which is cheaper than using dedicated servers (as used in network data storage).
Features:
o On-demand usage (subscription type model)
o Pay-as-u-go
o Secure
o Lower cost
o Good performance and computing power
o Fewer maintenance issues
o Vast storage capacity
o Compatibility with any kind of OS
o Can be used for projects that need group collaboration
o Latest version of software is available always
o Universal access
o Instant software updates
Types of cloud services:
1. Software-as-a-service
Here, a single software or application is delivered to thousands of users from vendor server. Users should pay not for owning it but for using it.
2. Platform-as-a-service
It is similar to providing “building blocks” to build something. It may be a piece of code or development environment etc. which is provided as a service for developing our own application.
3. Database-as-a-service
There are also similar other such kind of services available.
Cloud storage: It provides a vast storage space (virtual) which one can use as per his/her need. Amazon allows choosing 3 sizes of virtual servers
o Small -1.7GB memory, with 160GB of storage space and one virtual 32-bit core-processor
o Large- 7.5GB memory, with 850GB of storage space and 2 virtual 64-bit core processor
o Extra large- 15GB memory, with 1.TB of storage space and 4 virtual 64-bit core processor
Amazon’s EC2, Microsoft’s windows live suite, live mesh, Google’s Google docs, Google presentations, email, calendar and IBM’s Blue cloud, salesforce.com are some of the contributions by the giant companies in IT industry to cloud computing.
Web-based Word processors which mimic Microsoft word:
1. www.docs.google.com
2. www.buzzword.acrobat.com
3. www.docly.com
4. www.ajaxwrite.com
5. www.glidedigital.com
6. www.inetword.com
7. www.kbdocs.com
8. www.peepel.com
9. www.writer.zoho.com
10. www.writeboard.com etc.
Users can work on these documents and have a feel how cloud services work. This is not the end. There are lots of websites which provide similar kind of cloud service.
Web-based Spreadsheets
1. Google spreadsheets
2. www.editgrid.com
3. www.expresscorp.com
4. www.numsum.com
5. www.sheetster.com
6. www.thinkfree.com
7. www.sheet.zoho.com etc….
Web-based contact management
1. www.salesforce.com
2. www.bconnections.com
3. www.bigcontacts.com
4. www.same-page.com/contact-management.html
5. www.me.com
6. www.highrisehq.com
7. www.plaxo.com etc…
Web-based Event management applications
1. www.123signup.com
2. www.acteva.com
3. www.conference.com
4. www.cevent.com
5. www.eventwax.com
6. www.eventspot.com
7. www.regonline.com
8. www.setdot.com etc….
Web-based Online Scheduling
1. www.jifflenow.com
2. www.presdo.com
3. www.diarised.com
4. www.schedulebook.com
5. www.acuityscheduling.com
6. www.hitappoint.com and many more.
Web-based Online-planning and Task management
1. www.iprioritize.com
2. www.blablalist.com
3. www.hiveminder.com
4. www.planner.zoho.com
5. www.hitask.com and many more.
Web-based Databases
1. www.blist.com
2. www.cebase.com
3. www.dabbledb.com
4. www.lazybase.com
5. www.teamdesk.net and many more.
Similarly there are web-based applications for on-line file storage, creating to-do list, sharing services, calendar, web mail services, managing projects etc are available. Once explored, one can have a flair knowledge on cloud computing and how it works.
Note: Above all the information were gathered mainly from Michael millers book “Cloud Computing : Web-Based Applications that Change the Way You Work and Collaborate Online”.
