Cloud Computing Concepts
1. Hypervisor
A hypervisor, also known as a Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM), is software that creates and
manages virtual machines (VMs) by abstracting hardware resources.
Types of Hypervisors
1. Type 1 Hypervisor (Bare-Metal): Runs directly on the physical hardware without
requiring an operating system.
Examples: VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix XenServer, KVM.
2. Type 2 Hypervisor (Hosted): Runs on an existing operating system and is suitable for
development and testing.
Examples: Oracle VirtualBox, VMware Workstation, Parallels Desktop, QEMU.
Applications of Hypervisors
• Cloud service providers use hypervisors to create virtual machines for customers (e.g.,
AWS, Azure).
• Companies use hypervisors for testing and software development without requiring
separate hardware.
• Virtual desktops for employees in remote work environments.
2. Virtualization
Virtualization is the process of creating a virtual version of hardware, software, storage, or
network resources.
Types of Virtualization
1. Server Virtualization: Running multiple virtual servers on a single physical server.
Examples: AWS EC2, VMware vSphere.
2. Storage Virtualization: Pooling multiple storage devices into a single storage unit.
Examples: SAN, IBM Cloud Storage.
3. Network Virtualization: Creating virtual networks within a physical network.
Examples: VLAN, SDN (Software-Defined Networking).
4. Desktop Virtualization: Running desktop environments remotely.
Examples: Amazon WorkSpaces, Citrix Virtual Desktops.
5. Application Virtualization: Running applications without installation on local machines.
Examples: Microsoft App-V, Citrix XenApp.
Applications of Virtualization
• Businesses reduce hardware costs by using virtualized servers.
• Cloud providers offer scalable computing resources to users.
• Data centers use storage virtualization for efficient resource management.
3. Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is the delivery of on-demand computing services such as servers, storage,
databases, networking, and software over the internet.
Types of Cloud Computing Services
1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Provides virtualized hardware resources.
Examples: AWS EC2, Microsoft Azure VMs, Google Compute Engine.
2. Platform as a Service (PaaS): Provides a development environment with tools and
databases.
Examples: Google App Engine, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Services.
3. Software as a Service (SaaS): Provides software applications over the internet.
Examples: Google Drive, Microsoft 365, Dropbox.
4. Function as a Service (FaaS): Serverless computing where developers run code without
managing infrastructure.
Examples: AWS Lambda, Google Cloud Functions.
Applications of Cloud Computing
• Hosting websites and web applications (e.g., WordPress on AWS).
• Cloud storage services (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox).
• AI and machine learning applications (e.g., Google AI, AWS SageMaker).
4. Cloud Deployment Models
Cloud deployment models define how the cloud infrastructure is deployed based on
ownership and accessibility.
Types of Cloud Deployment Models
1. Public Cloud: Services are shared among multiple organizations over the internet.
Examples: AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure.
2. Private Cloud: Dedicated cloud infrastructure for a single organization.
Examples: IBM Cloud Private, VMware vSphere, OpenStack.
3. Hybrid Cloud: Combination of public and private clouds.
Examples: Microsoft Azure Hybrid Cloud, AWS Outposts.
4. Community Cloud: Shared cloud infrastructure for a specific industry or community.
Examples: Government Cloud, Healthcare Cloud.
5. Multi-Cloud: Using services from multiple cloud providers for flexibility and redundancy.
Examples: AWS for computing and Google Cloud for AI services.
Applications of Cloud Deployment Models
• Netflix uses the public cloud (AWS) to deliver streaming services.
• A bank uses a private cloud for secure financial transactions.
• A government agency uses a community cloud for secure document sharing.
• A business uses a hybrid cloud for scalable application hosting.
