Cloud Computing &
Hosting Solutions
SANTA FE COLLEGE | CTS2356: NETWORK ADMIN | DANIEL EAKINS | 4/15/2012
ABSTRACT
For this week’s topic we will discuss about Cloud computing and the different ways of hosting a cloud.
We will discuss the top 3 Cloud computing options along with the top three hosting solutions. In the end the options are for you to decide which is best for you and your company.
Cloud computing is the distribution of computing as a service rather than a product.
Cloud computing is able to delegate services with your data, software, and computation on a published application programming interface over a network. End users are able to access the cloud based on applications through a web browser or a light weight desktop or mobile app while the business software and data are stored on servers at a remote location.
Cloud computing is a model for allowing universal, suitable, on-demand network access to a shared pool of resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. This cloud model is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models in which we will discuss in further detail.
Essential Characteristics
1. On-demand self-service. An end user can singly perform computing capabilities, such as network storage, as needed automatically without requiring any human interaction with any service provider.
2. Broad network access. This capability is (through the network) accessed through standard devices that promote use by assorted thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and workstations).
3. Resource pooling. The supplier’s computing resources are assembled to serve multiple users using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources assigned dynamically and reassigned accordingly to consumer demand. Examples of resources include storage, processing, memory, and network bandwidth.
4. Rapid elasticity. Capabilities of rapid elasticity can be elastically provisioned and released, in some cases automatically, to scale rapidly outward and inward to equal with demand. To the consumer, the capabilities available often appear to be unlimited and can be assumed in any quantity at any time.
5. Measured service. Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability. Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.
Cloud Computing Options
Cloud computing is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet.
These services are broadly divided into three categories:
Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).
• Software as a Service (SaaS). The
capability provided to the consumer is to use the provider’s applications running on a cloud infrastructure. These applications
are accessible from various client devices, such as a web browser (e.g., web-based email), or a program interface. The end user does not manage or control the underlying
individual application capabilities, with the possible exception of limited user-specific application configuration settings.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS). The capability provided to the consumer is to deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquired applications created using programming languages, libraries, services, and tools supported by the provider.
Developers are able to create applications on the provider's platform over the Internet.
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). This capability provides a virtual server instance that is able to start, stop, access and configure their virtual servers and storage. This also allows a company to pay for only as much capacity as is needed.
Managed VS Unmanaged VPS
In an unmanaged VPS environment the user has to perform everything from the command line and it will not be as easy as it sounds. If the user is technically savvy with Linux and server side script language, then the user can easily select an unmanaged VPS server, but if the user would like everything to be a bit more uncluttered with all the tasks that can be accomplished elsewhere then, you should select managed VPS webhosting.
Cloud Hosting Providers
In this section we are going to look at and discuss three cloud hosting providers (VPS.net, Rackspace, and Amazon EC2).
With VPS web hosting you are in control. The server is partitioned off so that you have your own section. You get to choose what operating system you use and you probably want to have some knowledge of Linux or whatever system the VPS web host
uses. So how do you know if you are ready for VPS? If your shared host does not offer you all of the features you need but dedicated hosting is too much money and too many features then you will most like benefit from virtual private server hosting. More often than not personal websites would not need this hosting but for small business owners it is ideal. When you own your own business it is easy to have several websites and if this is the case then you will want VPS because shared hosting will most likely not let you host multiple domains. Shared hosting usually has too many limitations for small and large business owners.
Options CPU RAM Storage Bandwidth Cost
Basic 0.6Ghz 376MB 10GB 1 TB $20/mo
Enhanced 2.4Ghz 1.5GB 40GB 4 TB $65/mo
Extreme 10.8Ghz 6.7GB 180GB 18 TB $234/mo
Rackspace is a well-respected hosting company for dedicated servers. They have recently delved into cloud hosting and offer two services, CloudSites and CloudServers. CloudSites is a platform that is easy to setup but has some management limitations (no SSH, for example). CloudServers is a VPS cloud service that provides full root access, but can be complicated for a beginner.
For those to which this service is a bit more non scary for some and still have questions take this quote from Taylor Jasko of Tech Cores, “If you’re still questioning whether to use other cloud services, don’t be, use the Rackspace Cloud. They have an amazing service, support, and reliability!” (Tech Cores, 2010)
Options CPU RAM Storage Bandwidth Cost
Basic n/a 256MB 10GB 250GB $70/mo
Enhanced n/a 2GB 80GB 1TB $311/mo
Extreme n/a 4GB 160GB 4TB $1,059/mo
the process is not user-friendly. If you’re a tech savvy user looking for a firm cloud setup, this is an excellent solution, though it is a bit more expensive and complex than say VPS.net. However, you can acquire larger instances with EC2 and the platform is proven to be very stable.
According to cloudhostingguy from Best Cloud Server states, “Amazon EC2’s simple web service interface allows you to obtain and configure capacity with minimal friction. It provides you with
complete control of your computing resources and lets you run on Amazon’s proven computing
environment. Amazon EC2 reduces the time required to obtain and boot new server instances to minutes, allowing you to quickly scale capacity, both up and down, as your computing requirements change.”
(Best Cloud Server, 2010)
Options CPU RAM Storage Bandwidth Cost
Small (Basic) n/a 1.7GB n/a 250GB $112/mo
Large (Enhanced) n/a 7.5GB n/a 850MB $422/mo
Extra Large (Extreme) n/a 15GB n/a 1.6TB $828/mo
Options in Review
Now that we have identified all the basic necessities for all three hosting companies along with the Cloud options we will now compare and contrast the different companies to find out which one is the better option to choose. Remember, we are comparing the three packages of these companies which in are: Basic, Enhanced, and the Extreme packages that they offer.
(Managed Services)
PACKAGES BASIC ENHANCED EXTREME BASIC ENHANCED EXTREME BASIC ENHANCED EXTREME
RAM 376MB 1.5GB 6.7GB 256MB 2GB 4GB 1.7GB 7.5GB 15GB
STORAGE 10GB 40GB 180GB 10GB 80GB 160GB N/A N/A N/A
BANDWIDTH 1TB 4TB 18TB 250GB 1TB 4TB 250GB 850GB 1.6TB
COST (mo.) $20 $65 $234 $70 $311 $1059 $112 $422 $828
As you can see from the diagram shown above VPS.net appears to have the most quantity and quality available to the consumer. This being said each company has its own advantages and
disadvantages. Personally VPS.net seems to be better able to serve your needs and capabilities. The more vigorous your virtual server needs to be the only action you need to do is to purchase more nodes from VPS.net. The more nodes you buy the more discounts you are able to receive from the company.
VPS.net also provides the consumer the options of assigning and reassigning the RAM and CPU to your servers as needed, and also helps the consumer in doing this by providing a web interface to edit your actions.
The rise of the managed cloud services is unavoidable as the web industry evolves from the traditional hosting environment to a more cloud based environment. Those industries who are able to see their business model shaken by the cloud will try to adapt to the changed surroundings. Whether this will makes sense in the long run is open for debate. As for me, I will have to choose VPS.net for my main choice out of these three companies. One reason is for the price, but the other reason is the flexibility and quality of service that is provided. Sure you can go with the managed service from Rackspace or the name brand service of Amazon, but for higher costs and less storage and bandwidth, I will go with the VPS.net. I leave you with the words of Matt who back in 2009 wrote an article about VPS.net in which he stated, “I would definitely recommend VPS.net to anyone who has outgrown shared hosting. Between their flexible resource node model and their customer service, they’re definitely worth considering.”
Works Cited
• VPS.net. (2012). Hosting for the Future. Retrieved April 5, 2012, from VPS: http://www.vps.net/
• Wikipedia. (2012). Rackspace Cloud. Retrieved April 5, 2012, from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rackspace_Cloud#Cloud_Servers
• Virtual private server. (2012). Virtual Private Server. Retrieved April 5, 2012, from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_server
• Search Cloud Computing. (2007). Cloud Computing. Retrieved April 5, 2012, from Search Cloud Computing: http://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/definition/cloud-computing
Professional Reviews
• Mat. (2009, September 29). VPS.net Review. Retrieved April 5, 2012, from Webmaster-Source:
http://www.webmaster-source.com/2009/09/29/vps-net-review/
• Cloudhostingguy. (2010, April 26). Amazon EC2 Cloud Hosting Review. Retrieved April 5, 2012, from bestcloudserver.com: http://www.bestcloudserver.com/amazon-ec2-cloud-hosting- review/
• Taylor Jasko. (2010, December 14). Rackspace Cloud Review – The Best Cloud Host. Retrieved April 5, 2012, from Techcores: http://techcores.com/2010/12/rackspace-cloud-review-the-best- cloud-host/
