Cloud Computing Simplified:

By Surbhi Rastogi
What is Client-Server Architecture?
Client-server architecture is a network model in which two main entities
— clients and servers — communicate with each other to complete specific tasks or share
data.
 Client: The client initiates requests, waits for the server’s response, and displays it
to the user. For example, a web browser acts as a client when it requests a website.
 Server: The server processes these requests, retrieves the relevant information,
and sends it back to the client. For example, a web server responds with website
data when a browser requests it.
e.g. Online booking, Banking system etc

What Is Peer-To-Peer?
Peer-to-peer (P2P) is a decentralized network architecture in which participants, called peers,
interact directly with each other without needing a central authority or server.
In a P2P network, each participant acts as both a client and a server, enabling them to share
resources and services directly with other peers.
To understand better, imagine a group of friends studying together for an exam. In a
traditional classroom setting (client-server architecture), there is a teacher who serves as a
central authority and provides information to all the students (clients). The students rely on
the teacher for the necessary study materials and guidance.
Now, let’s apply the P2P concept to our study group. In this scenario, each student is
considered a peer. Instead of relying solely on the teacher, the students can directly interact
with each other, exchange study materials, and help each other understand difficult concepts.
For example, if one student has summarized notes for a particular topic, they can share it with
the rest of the group by making copies or simply showing it to others. Another student might
have found useful online resources or practice questions, which they can share with the
group. The students can discuss and explain concepts to each other, asking questions and
clarifying doubts.
In this P2P study group, no one student is solely responsible for providing all the information.
Instead, each student contributes knowledge and resources, and everyone benefits from the
collective effort. If one student is absent, it doesn’t stop the others from studying and sharing
information. The study group functions efficiently because the peers are directly interacting
and sharing resources without relying on a central authority.
Similarly, in a P2P computer network, each device can act as a peer, sharing files, data, or
services directly with other peers in the network. There is no need for a central server to
manage and distribute resources. Peers can communicate, exchange information, and
collaborate, creating a decentralized network where everyone contributes to the overall
functioning of the system.
Applications
File sharing
P2P networks are commonly used for file sharing. One well-known example is BitTorrent,
where users can download and upload files directly from and to other users.
Instant messaging
P2P technology can be used for instant messaging applications. For instance, applications
such as Skype and WhatsApp use P2P communication to enable users to chat and make voice
and video calls directly with each other. Messages and media files are exchanged between
users without needing a central server.
Cryptocurrency
Peer-to-peer networks are integral to cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.

Advantages of Peer to Peer Computing

Some advantages of peer to peer computing are as follows −

  Each computer in the peer to peer network manages itself. So, the network is quite
easy to set up and maintain.
 In the client server network, the server handles all the requests of the clients. This
provision is not required in peer to peer computing and the cost of the server is saved.
 It is easy to scale the peer to peer network and add more nodes. This only increases
the data sharing capacity of the system.
 None of the nodes in the peer to peer network are dependent on the others for their
functioning.

Disadvantages of Peer to Peer Computing

Some disadvantages of peer to peer computing are as follows −

 It is difficult to backup the data as it is stored in different computer systems and there
is no central server.
 It is difficult to provide overall security in the peer to peer network as each system is
independent and contains its own data.

Difference between Cluster and Grid Computing:

Let’s see the difference between Cluster and Grid Computing:

Cluster Computing Grid Computing

Nodes must be homogeneous (same

Nodes can be homogeneous or heterogeneous
hardware and OS)

Computers are dedicated to the same

Computers contribute unused resources
task

Computers are located close to each Computers may be located at a huge distance
other. from one another.

Computers are connected by a high Computers are connected using a low

speed local area network bus. speed bus or the internet.

Computers are connected in Computers are connected in a distributed

a centralized network topology. or de-centralized network topology.

Scheduling is controlled by a central It may have servers, but mostly each node
server. behaves independently.

Whole system has a centralized resource Every node manages it’s resources
manager. independently.

Whole system functions as a single Every node is autonomous, and anyone can
system. opt out anytime.
Cluster Computing Grid Computing

Cluster computing is used in areas such Grid computing is used in areas such
as WebLogic Application as predictive
Servers, Databases, etc. modeling, Automation, simulations, etc.

It has Centralized Resource

It has Distributed Resource Management.
management.

What is Grid Computing?

Grid Computing is a Distributed computing architecture. In grid computing, resources are
used in collaborative patterns, and also in grid computing, the users do not pay for use.

Distributed computing refers to a system where processing and data storage is distributed
across multiple devices or systems, rather than being handled by a single central device. In
a distributed system, each device or system has its own processing capabilities and may
also store and manage its own data. These devices or systems work together to perform
tasks and share resources, with no single device serving as the central hub.
One example of a distributed computing system is a cloud computing system, where
resources such as computing power, storage, and networking are delivered over the Internet
and accessed on demand. In this type of system, users can access and use shared resources
through a web browser or other client software.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud Computing is a Client-server computing architecture. Cloud Computing means
storing and accessing the data and programs on remote servers that are hosted on the
internet instead of the computer’s hard drive or local server. Cloud computing is also
referred to as Internet-based computing, it is a technology where the resource is provided as
a service through the Internet to the user. The stored data can be files, images, documents,
or any other storable document.
Components of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing comprises a virtualized pool of infrastructure resources with applications and
services that can be used directly through a self-service portal. For the end user, cloud computing
consists of the following:
 Client
 Cloud network
 Cloud Application programming Interfaces (APIs)
Client—A client is an access device or software interface that a user can use to access cloud
services.
There are different types of clients in terms of hardware and application software. However, all
types of cloud clients are divided into three broad categories, namely:
a. Mobile clients
b. Thin clients
c. Thick clients
Client types can include computers, mobiles, smart phones, tablets, and servers. The client device
communicates with cloud services by using cloud APIs and browsers.
 Cloud Network—A network is the connecting link between the user and cloud services. The
Internet is the most straightforward and common choice for accessing the cloud. Employing
advanced network services, such as encryption and compression, during transit will benefit both
the service provider and the user.
 Cloud Application Programming Interface (API)—A cloud API is a set of programming
instruction and tool that provides abstractions over a specific provider cloud. It includes a
custom or unique provider call that can be used to enhance the amount of control over a cloud
implementation. These calls can be used to build applications for accessing and communicating
with the cloud services. APIs help programmers to have a common mechanism for connecting to
a particular cloud service.
Figure illustrates the various aspects of cloud computing, which include features, types, modes,
benefits, comparisons, and stakeholders:
Cloud Types—Private, Public, and Hybrid
Generally, cloud computing can be classified either on the basis of location or the type of service
being provided. On the basis of location, cloud computing can be classified as public cloud, private
cloud, hybrid cloud, and community cloud.
Let’s first start up with the discussion on public clouds.
The Public Clouds
The clouds, accessed or used by general masses and hosted, are maintained as well as managed by
cloud service providers, such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. In this type of cloud, the service
providers charge the companies according to their usage.
Due to this, initially, small organizations can start using the cloud services and then can expand by
acquiring more resources according to their requirements. During expansion, there is no need for the
organization to invest in the infrastructure and can pay just according to what is being used. In the
public cloud, there is no need for the organizations (customers) to control or manage the resources;
instead, they are being administered by a third party. Some examples of public cloud providers are
Savvis, Verizon, Amazon Web Services, and Rackspace. You should understand that in case of
public cloud, the resources are owned or hosted by the cloud service providers (a company) and the
services are sold to other companies. Figure demonstrates the use of public cloud:

The Private Clouds

In the private cloud, the cloud computing infrastructure is solely designed for a single organization
and cannot be accessed or shared with other organizations. As compared to public clouds, the
private clouds are more costly as well as secure. A private cloud can be either on-premise or hosted
externally. In case of on-premise private clouds, the service is exclusively used and hosted by a
single organization. However, the private clouds that are hosted externally are used by a single
organization and are not shared with other organizations. Moreover, the cloud services are hosted by
a third party that specializes in cloud infrastructure. Note that on-premise private clouds are costlier
as compared to the externally hosted private clouds. In case of private cloud, security is kept in mind
at every level of design. The general objective of private cloud is not to sell the cloud services
(IaaS/PaaS/SaaS) to the external organizations, but to get the advantages of cloud architecture by not
providing the privilege to manage your own data center. Figure demonstrates the accessibility of
private clouds:

The Community Clouds

The community cloud is a type of cloud that is shared among various organizations with a common
tie. This type of cloud is generally managed by a third party offering the cloud service and can be
made available on or off premises. To make the concept of community cloud clear and to explain
when community clouds can be designed, let’s take up an example. In any state or country, say
England, the community cloud can be provided so that almost all government organizations of that
state can share resources available on the cloud. Due to the sharing of cloud resources on
community
cloud, the data of all citizens of that state can be easily managed by the government organizations.
Figure shows the level of accessibility in case of community clouds:

The Hybrid Cloud

The cloud environment in which various internal or external service providers provide services to
many organizations is known as hybrid cloud. Generally, it is observed that an organization host
applications, which require high level of security and are critical, on private cloud. It is also possible
that the applications requiring less of concern can be hosted on the public cloud. In hybrid clouds, an
organization can use both types of cloud, i.e., public and private together. Such type of cloud is
generally used in situations such as cloud bursting. In case of cloud bursting, an organization
generally uses its own computing infrastructure; however, in high load requirements, the
organization can access clouds. In other words, the organization using the hybrid cloud can manage
an internal private cloud for general usage and migrate the entire or a part of an application to the
public cloud during the peak periods. Figure 12 shows the implementation of the hybrid cloud: