What Cloud?

2011-08-05

Cloud computing is now becoming mainstream. But what is cloud computing? Actually it is noting, it's just a buzzword that is used for different concepts.

Google Docs, Office 365 and Windows Live

There are many so called cloud services. Some call them software as a service, but if you think about it these are just web applications. True they are quite complex web applications, built to mimic desktop applications, but they still are loaded from a web server and running in the browser. Chances are, they are running on some large server farm, let's call it a cloud for now and that is needed to handle all the client requests. Are you tapping into the awesome power of the cloud? Not really, 95% of the application is running in your browser on your machine. The only advantage you get is that the data is stored on some server and you have access to it from anywhere. On the subject of cloud storage we will come later.

Let's face it these are just application running in the browser. Honestly, it is quite awesome how they bent HTML and JavaScript to do these awesome feats. But it's like someone building a functioning spaceship from scrap metal and duct tape, awesome but not really the right tools for the job. The only advantage you get is that you do not need to install the program. First installing a program is not such a big deal, it takes around the same time to log into those services and you do it only once. Even in those cases where installation is not feasible there are often portable versions of your favorite tools.

Cloud Storage

A number of services provide so called cloud storage such as Amazon S3 or Back Blaze. Basically you have two types of services, a content distribution network and remote storage.

Remote storage has basically not much to do with the traditional distributed concept of cloud computing, since it can be all in one place. You are leasing a disk space on some server farm. This can either be by the MB or a flat rate. This if often used as a remote backup solution or file storage and transfer to other third parties. The big marketing ring is that you have access to your data from everywhere. The down side is that so has everyone else, as a result security is paramount if you are using such a service. The good news is that the hosting provider probably has a better backup strategy than the average Joe and remote backups are a good idea, in case of a catastrophic data loss (eg. Fire).

A content distribution network is something entirely different. The basic idea is to provide your users fast access to your files and is something website operators should look into. Content distribution networks are basically built up in the way that you submit the files and these are then replicated around the world. The user then gets the server assigned that is closes to her, which reduces download times. But for this to make a real difference, you need a large number of users and lots of content.

Amazon EC2 and other VPS hosters

The Amazon EC2 "cloud" is basically a virtual private server (VPS) hoster that provides hourly rates. There is no big difference between Amazon and any "normal" hoster. It's like hotels, there are hotels you can rent hourly, but that does not make them special. They are just used in a different fashion.

What especially makes Amazon "not special" is that you need to handle the starting and stopping of your nodes on your own. So not only do you have to develop a distributed application, you also have to develop the entire management application. The "I don't care how it works" mentality to most cloud services is definitely not applying here.

Although services, like those provided by amazon, are quite interesting when you have strongly fluctuating load, they are quite expensive. For every server that you keep running all the time, it may be cheaper to simply rent a normal dedicated VPS or root server.

Google Apps Engine

The Google Apps Engine is an interesting concept and I have not seen any other doing the same thing. It is basically a dedicated web hoster that provides Java or python scripting for web applications. This service is remarkable for the fact that Google will ramp up the number and locations of servers deadening on load.

This service is quite attractive for small to medium websites, since there is a generous free quota and the service can react easily to load spikes. Getting slashdotted is a real threat to small websites and with the Google Apps Engine they can sail through it with ease.

Conclusion

There is much confusion and marketing claptrap around the concept of cloud computing and I personally think there is no such thing as cloud computing. True there are interesting and not so interesting services out there but none warrant the cloud computing word. Cloud computing is a meaningless buzzword, just like Web 2.0.