Cloud infrastructure
Cloud infrastructure is a term used to describe the components needed for cloud computing, which includes hardware, abstracted resources, storage, and network resources. Think of cloud infrastructure as the tools needed to build a cloud. In order to host services and applications in the cloud, you need cloud infrastructure.
An abstraction technology or process like virtualization is used to separate resources from physical hardware and pool them into clouds; automation software and management tools allocate these resources and provision new environments so users can access what they need when they need it.
Cloud infrastructure is made up of several components, each integrated with one another into a single architecture supporting business operations. A typical solution may be composed of hardware, virtualization, storage, and networking components.
As a term, cloud infrastructure can be used to describe a complete cloud computing system once all the pieces are put together as well as the individual technologies themselves.
Hardware
Although you probably think of clouds as being virtual, they require hardware as part of the infrastructure.
A cloud network is made up of a variety of physical hardware that can be located at multiple geographical locations.
The hardware includes networking equipment, like switches, routers, firewalls, and load balancers, storage arrays, backup devices, and servers.
Virtualization connects the servers together, dividing and abstracting resources to make them accessible to users.
Virtualization
Virtualization is technology that separates IT services and functions from hardware.
Software called a hypervisor sits on top of physical hardware and abstracts the machine’s resources, such as memory, computing power, and storage.
Once these virtual resources are allocated into centralized pools, they’re considered clouds.
With clouds, you get the benefits of self-service access, automated infrastructure scaling, and dynamic resource pools.
Storage
Within a single datacenter, data may be stored across many disks in a single storage array. Storage management ensures data is correctly being backed up, that outdated backups are removed regularly, and that data is indexed for retrieval in case any storage component fails.
Virtualization abstracts storage space from hardware systems so that it can be accessed by users as cloud storage.
When storage is turned into a cloud resource, you can add or remove drives, repurpose hardware, and respond to change without manually provisioning separate storage servers for every new initiative.
Network
The network is composed of physical wires, switches, routers, and other equipment. Virtual networks are created on top of these physical resources.
A typical cloud network configuration is composed of multiple subnetworks, each with varying levels of visibility. The cloud permits the creation of virtual local area networks (VLANs) and assigns static and/or dynamic addresses as needed for all network resources.
The cloud resources are delivered to users over a network, such as the internet or an intranet, so you can access cloud services or apps remotely on demand.
Dynamic Infrastructure
Dynamic Infrastructure is an information technology concept related to the design of data centers, whereby the underlying hardware and software can respond dynamically and more efficiently to changing levels of demand. In other words, data center assets such as storage and processing power can be provisioned (made available) to meet surges in user’s needs.
Dynamic infrastructures take advantage of intelligence gained across the network. By design, every dynamic infrastructure is service-oriented and focused on supporting and enabling the end users in a highly responsive way. It can utilize alternative sourcing approaches, like cloud computing to deliver new services with agility and speed.
Global organizations already have the foundation for a dynamic infrastructure that will bring together the business and IT infrastructure to create new possibilities. For example:
- Transportation companies can optimize their vehicles’ routes leveraging GPS and traffic information.
- Facilities organizations can secure access to locations and track the movement of assets by leveraging RFID technology.
- Production environments can monitor and manage presses, valves and assembly equipment through embedded electronics.
- Technology systems can be optimized for energy efficiency, managing spikes in demand, and ensuring disaster recovery readiness.
- Communications companies can better monitor usage by location, user or function, and optimize routing to enhance user experience.
- Utility companies can reduce energy usage with a “smart grid.”
- Service management: This type of special facility or a functionality is provided to the cloud IT services by the cloud service providers. This facility includes visibility, automation and control to delivering the first class IT services.
- Asset-Management: In this the assets or the property which is involved in providing the cloud services are getting managed.
- Virtualization and consolidation: Consolidation is an effort to reduce the cost of a technology by improving its operating efficiency and effectiveness. It means migrating from large number of resources to fewer one, which is done by virtualization technology.
- Information Infrastructure: It helps the business organizations to achieve the following: Information compliance, availability of resources retention and security objectives.
- Energy-Efficiency: Here the IT infrastructure or organization sustainable. It means it is not likely to damage or effect any other thing.
- Security: This cloud infrastructure is responsible for the risk management. Risk management Refers to the risks involved in the services which are being provided by the cloud-service providers.
- Resilience: This infrastructure provides the feature of resilience means the services are resilient. It means the infrastructure is safe from all sides. The IT operations will not be easily get affected.