This document summarizes a presentation on cloud computing solutions. It discusses what cloud computing is, including key features like everything as a service and scalability. It also compares cloud computing to grid and utility computing. The presentation outlines various cloud vendors and why cloud-based solutions are useful, including reducing costs and scaling applications. It then describes a case study on Facebook application popularity and growth. The document focuses on the University of Calgary's cloud solution called ASPEN, which automates service provisioning using a Utility Provider Orchestrator and Service Provider Agents. It demonstrates this solution using a fire dynamics simulator application.

1. Cloud Computing on the
HP Labs Data Centre at
the University of Calgary
Cameron Kiddle
Grid Research Centre
University of Calgary

2. Outline
What is cloud computing?
Who are the players?
Why use cloud-based solutions?
What is our (GRC’s) cloud solution?
How do you integrate services in our solution?
Demonstration
Cybera Summit Cloud Computing Workshop - 2
September 29, 2008

3. What is Cloud Computing?
A wide variety of definitions floating around
Key features:
Everything as a Service (EAAS)
Utility/On-demand
Accessibility/Transparency
Scalability
Virtualization
Cybera Summit Cloud Computing Workshop - 3
September 29, 2008

4. Cloud vs. Grid vs. Utility Computing
Cloud Computing
Transparent access to scalable and dynamic
services over the Internet
Grid Computing
Coordinated sharing of heterogeneous resources
across administrative domains
Utility Computing
Business model for providing resources on-demand
as a metered service
Cybera Summit Cloud Computing Workshop - 4
September 29, 2008

5. Who are the Players?
Rapidly growing number of cloud vendors
Offering many different services at many different
levels (proprietary solutions)
No standards, lack of portability
Vendor lock-in is an issue
Cybera Summit Cloud Computing Workshop - 5
September 29, 2008

6. Why Use Cloud-based Solutions?
Reduce capital, support and maintenance costs
Pay only for what you use
Get access to more/fewer resources when needed
Ready to use for users
No more downloads, installations or updates
Simplify and speed up software development
Don’t have to support multiple platforms
Application popularity and lifespan difficult to predict
Scale applications according to user demand
Cybera Summit Cloud Computing Workshop - 6
September 29, 2008

7. Case Study: Application Popularity on
Facebook
Difficult to predict popularity Monthly Active Users
and lifespan of applications vs.
Rank of Facebook Applications
(September 12, 2008)
Facebook Application Growth
Sep. 2007: ~ 3700
Sep. 2008: ~39000
Facebook Application
Popularity (Sep. 12, 2008)
39181 applications
Active user data for 37155 apps
3 apps > 10 million active users
80% apps < 1000 active users
Cybera Summit Cloud Computing Workshop - 7
September 29, 2008

8. Case Study: Animoto – A Cloud
Computing Success Story
Animoto (http://animoto.com)
Produces professional quality videos from images
Runs on Amazon EC2
Popularity soared when promoted on Facebook
During the course of 4 days:
Jumped from 8 to 450 renderings per minute
~20000 new users per hour
3500 instances running on Amazon EC2 at peak
(Source: D. Barker. You Need 3,500 Servers by When?! On-demand Enterprise. 2008.07.07)
Cybera Summit Cloud Computing Workshop - 8
September 29, 2008

9. GRC and Cloud Computing
GRC is collaborating with HP Labs to:
Explore the use of virtualization in data centre
automation
Explore the use of social networking platforms in
improving user experience
Research conducted on HP Labs Data Centre at
the University of Calgary
320 HP ProLiant BL465 C-class blades (1280 cores)
Donated in large part by HP
Cybera Summit Cloud Computing Workshop - 9
September 29, 2008

10. Our Cloud-based Solution
ASPEN: Automated Service Provisioning ENvironment
Cybera Summit Cloud Computing Workshop - 10
September 29, 2008

11. ASPEN: Key Components
Utility Provider Orchestrator (UPO)
Schedules, allocates and manages virtual appliances
Handles requests from Service Provider Agents (SPAs)
Service Provider Agent (SPA)
Facilitates communication between UPO and service
provider
Implemented custom to type of service environment
Monitors service environment
Requests/returns virtual appliances from/to UPO as needed
Cybera Summit Cloud Computing Workshop - 11
September 29, 2008

12. Integrating Services in ASPEN
Create Virtual Appliances
Establish Service Environments
Create Service Provider Agents (SPAs)
Establish Service Level Agreements
Cybera Summit Cloud Computing Workshop - 12
September 29, 2008

13. Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS)
Demonstrator
FDS – legacy application developed by NIST
Created comprehensive environment for FDS
Upload/edit input files
Submit/resubmit simulations
Download results
Visualize results
Share/interact with other users
Cybera Summit Cloud Computing Workshop - 13
September 29, 2008

14. FDS Demonstrator Infrastructure
Cybera Summit Cloud Computing Workshop - 14
September 29, 2008

15. FDS Demonstration
Cybera Summit Cloud Computing Workshop - 15
September 29, 2008

16. Contact Information
Cameron Kiddle
kiddlec@cpsc.ucalgary.ca
http://grid.ucalgary.ca/
Cybera Summit Cloud Computing Workshop - 16
September 29, 2008