What are the important architectural principles in designing cloud architecture?

Cloud Computing , which is one of the demanding technology of the current time and which is giving a new shape to every organization by providing on demand virtualized services/resources. Starting from small to medium and medium to large, every organization use cloud computing services for storing information and accessing it from anywhere and any time only with the help of internet. In this article, we will know more about the internal architecture of cloud computing.

Transparency, scalability, security and intelligent monitoring are some of the most important constraints which every cloud infrastructure should experience. Current research on other important constraints is helping cloud computing system to come up with new features and strategies with a great capability of providing more advanced cloud solutions.

Cloud Computing Architecture :
The cloud architecture is divided into 2 parts i.e.

1. Frontend
2. Backend

The below figure represents an internal architectural view of cloud computing.

Architecture of Cloud Computing

Architecture of cloud computing is the combination of both SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) and EDA (Event Driven Architecture). Client infrastructure, application, service, runtime cloud, storage, infrastructure, management and security all these are the components of cloud computing architecture.

1. Frontend :
Frontend of the cloud architecture refers to the client side of cloud computing system. Means it contains all the user interfaces and applications which are used by the client to access the cloud computing services/resources. For example, use of a web browser to access the cloud platform.

• Client Infrastructure – Client Infrastructure is a part of the frontend component. It contains the applications and user interfaces which are required to access the cloud platform.
• In other words, it provides a GUI( Graphical User Interface ) to interact with the cloud.

2. Backend : 
Backend refers to the cloud itself which is used by the service provider. It contains the resources as well as manages the resources and provides security mechanisms. Along with this, it includes huge storage, virtual applications, virtual machines, traffic control mechanisms, deployment models, etc.

1. Application –
   Application in backend refers to a software or platform to which client accesses. Means it provides the service in backend as per the client requirement.
2. Service –
   Service in backend refers to the major three types of cloud based services like SaaS, PaaS and IaaS. Also manages which type of service the user accesses.
3.  Runtime Cloud-
   Runtime cloud in backend provides the execution and Runtime platform/environment to the Virtual machine.
4. Storage –
   Storage in backend provides flexible and scalable storage service and management of stored data.
5. Infrastructure –
   Cloud Infrastructure in backend refers to the hardware and software components of cloud like it includes servers, storage, network devices, virtualization software etc.
6. Management –
   Management in backend refers to management of backend components like application, service, runtime cloud, storage, infrastructure, and other security mechanisms etc.
7. Security –
   Security in backend refers to implementation of different security mechanisms in the backend for secure cloud resources, systems, files, and infrastructure to end-users.
8. Internet –
   Internet connection acts as the medium or a bridge between frontend and backend and establishes the interaction and communication between frontend and backend.

Benefits of Cloud Computing Architecture :

• Makes overall cloud computing system simpler.
• Improves data processing requirements.
• Helps in providing high security.
• Makes it more modularized.
• Results in better disaster recovery.
• Gives good user accessibility.
• Reduces IT operating costs.

Architecture principles are basically the “rules” about how architecture design should be constructed. Architecture principles are used to separate out the key architecture features into architecture rules in solution architecture.

The four key principles and examples of how these principles are used in cloud computing solutions are shown here:

• Architecture Partitioning
• Architecture Distribution
• Architecture Federation
• Elastically Scalable Architecture

Architecture Partitioning

According to this principle, the workload is spread across server resources enabling a number of performance-enhancing features including:

● Clusters: A computer cluster is a set of loosely connected or tightly connected computers that work together so that, in many respects, they can be viewed as one system. It is possible to cluster physical and virtual machines, storage, computer, and other resources together.

● Virtualization: This is the process of creating a virtual (rather than physical) version of something like a server or an operating system. Examples of virtualization include virtual hardware platforms such as a server machine, virtual operating system, virtual storage device, or virtual network resource such as a switch or router in a Virtual Private Network (VPN). There are many advantages of this technique, including the ability to make many versions of a virtual resource on a physical resource.

● Parallelism: In computing, parallelism refers to the simultaneous use of computer processors to execute a program or multiple threads (a computerized set of instructions). This technique is used in massive parallel processing and in massive file management systems such as Big Data systems.

Architecture Distribution

This principle relates to the movement and connectivity of systems. The separation of concerns technique supports the principle of distributed systems. Portability and interoperability are the major methods for distributed architecture design.

● Interoperability: Interoperability refers to the ability to operate part of a whole product and service across two or more service providers such that it maintains the original part or whole product and service operations performance and contract terms of conditions.

○ Cloud Computing Interoperability: Cloud computing interoperability refers to the ability to operate part or a whole cloud computing service between two or more cloud computing platforms such that it maintains the original part or whole cloud computing service operating performance and contract terms and conditions.

● Portability: Portability refers to the ability to transport a product and service from the original provider to an alternative provider while maintaining the original operating performance and terms and conditions of the contract.

○ Cloud Computing Portability: Cloud computing portability refers to the ability to move a cloud service from the original cloud platform to an alternative cloud platform while maintaining the original operability performance and terms and conditions of the contract.

Architecture Federation

This principle relates to the ability to separate and spread workloads across a number of separate environments or business units. Federation is a form of distribution systems where parts of the system can operate as semi-autonomous and are separate from other areas of the system. In cloud computing, there are many examples of federated systems that may manage part or all of a cloud service. Some of the major examples of federated services are integration, aggregation, syndication, brokering, crowdsourcing, composition, and orchestration.

Elastically Scalable Architecture

According to this principle, the separation of resources enables the use of multiple resources that can be increased or decreased with the demand workload.

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