The document discusses cloud computing and Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM), defining cloud computing as scalable and elastic IT-enabled capabilities delivered via internet technologies. It outlines the advantages of cloud computing, including cost savings and manageability, and describes various cloud delivery and deployment models such as IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of DCIM in optimizing data center performance and resource management while enabling businesses to provision resources flexibly across multiple platforms.

1. Cloud Computing & DCIM
by: Shekhar Dasgupta, Founder
GreenField Software Private Limited
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2. Definitions
Cloud Computing: Gartner defines it as a style of computing in which scalable
& elastic IT-enabled capabilities are delivered using Internet technologies.
Scalability and elasticity are not the same thing. Scalability lets you plan in
advance and adapt your IT systems accordingly, whereas Elasticity
provides you the resources to handle emergencies.
DCIM is a system that collects and manages information about a datacenter’s
assets, resource use and operational status. This information is then analyzed
and delivered in ways that help managers meet business objectives, service
goals and optimize the datacenter’s performance.
- Andrew Donoghue (Analyst, Eco-Efficient IT), 451 Research
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3. Cloud Computing – Why do we need it?
More and more companies are moving to a cloud infrastructure
because of the massive potential for cost savings and easy
manageability.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defines cloud
computing as “a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network
access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g.,
networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly
provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service
provider interaction”.
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4. Cloud Delivery Models
Infrastructure as a Service
(IaaS) Equipment used to support
operations, such as storage, hardware,
servers and networking components,
is outsourced to a cloud provider.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Provision and deployment of
enterprise-wide software applications
is outsourced to a third party who
owns both the hardware and the
software applications and the
responsibility of maintaining them.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Customer facing applications are
hosted and maintained by a cloud
provider, and are made available to
end-users over the Internet or a
computer network.
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5. Cloud Deployment Models
Public clouds exist outside of the end user’s firewall where a cloud
provider makes resources like software or data storage available
over the Internet e.g. Amazon Web Services and Windows Azure.
Private clouds can exist within the client’s firewall or could be a
private space dedicated to the client company within the cloud
provider’s own data centers.
Hybrid clouds are an amalgamation of the above two types of cloud
where a business hosts some of its servers on its own premises and
the two clouds work seamlessly together.
Community clouds are shared by several organizations that have
shared concerns such as security requirements and compliance
considerations.
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6. Cloud Computing – Characteristics
According to NIST, the five fundamental characteristics of cloud
computing are A consumer can unilaterally provision
• On-demand self-service computing capabilities, such as server
time and network storage, as needed
• Broad network access automatically without requiring human
interaction with each service provider.
• Resource pooling
• Rapid elasticity
• Measured service
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7. Cloud Computing – Characteristics
According to NIST, the five fundamental characteristics of cloud
computing are
Capabilities are available over the
• On-demand self-service network and accessed through standard
mechanisms that promote use by
• Broad network access heterogeneous thin or thick client
• Resource pooling platforms (e.g., mobile phones, tablets,
laptops, and workstations).
• Rapid elasticity
• Measured service
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8. Cloud Computing – Characteristics
According to NIST, the five fundamental characteristics of cloud
computing are
• On-demand self-service The provider’s computing resources are
pooled to serve multiple consumers using
• Broad network access a multi-tenant model, with different
physical and virtual resources dynamically
• Resource pooling assigned and reassigned according to
• Rapid elasticity consumer demand. Examples of resources
include storage, processing, memory, and
• Measured service network bandwidth.
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9. Cloud Computing – Characteristics
According to NIST, the five fundamental characteristics of cloud
computing are
• On-demand self-service
• Broad network access
Capabilities can be elastically provisioned
• Resource pooling and released, in some cases
automatically, to scale rapidly outward
• Rapid elasticity and inward commensurate with demand.
• Measured service To the consumer, the capabilities available
for provisioning often appear to be
unlimited and can be appropriated in any
quantity at any time.
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10. Cloud Computing – Characteristics
According to NIST, the five fundamental characteristics of cloud
computing are
• On-demand self-service
• Broad network access
Cloud systems automatically control and
• Resource pooling optimize resource use by leveraging a metering
• Rapid elasticity capability at some level of abstraction
appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,
• Measured service processing, bandwidth, and active user
accounts). Resource usage can be monitored,
controlled, and reported, providing transparency
for both the provider and consumer of the
utilized service.
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11. Elasticity – The Main Attraction of Cloud
The PROBLEM - Over-provisioning
Traditional on-site data centers are designed to handle peaks in demand. Typically
only 15% of this capacity is used during other times resulting in unused capacity
and inefficient use of costly resources. In most cases, businesses cannot afford to
do away with over-provisioning altogether and the total cost of ownership (TOC)
of the data center is very high.
The SOLUTION - Elasticity
Shifting some or all of their data and applications to the cloud gives businesses the
ability to handle sudden, unanticipated and extraordinary loads. Cloud providers
have the extra capacity to handle these peaks in usage and users only pay for what
they use and the total spending on IT goes down.
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12. How is it done?
Orchestration refers to combining
multiple and distinct automated
tasks into a single workflow and
provides centralized The Data Centric Framework
management across systems and Management (DMF)
networks including multiple approach to cloud orchestration
devices, applications, solutions aims to maintain a conceptually
and entire data centers. centralized data repository of all
It even takes care of the financial the resources being managed
aspect of managing your IT including computational, storage
infrastructure including, billing, and network devices.
metering and power
consumption.
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13. Where does DCIM comes in?
Data Center Infrastructure DCIM could act as a cloud agent or
Management (DCIM) cloud brokering software to
allow businesses to provision
DCIM gives businesses a unified and “elastic” resources across cloud
enhanced management interface providers and to make optimal
across multiple data centers choices for deriving the least Cost
whether on-site or on the cloud. of Application Delivery.
It assists with load balancing and on-
demand provisioning of both
physical and virtual resources The Next Gen DCIM will be the Cloud
and provides for broad platform platform to enable Massive
compatibility across your entire IT Scalability & High Availability
infrastructure. WITHOUT OVER-PROVISIONING.
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14. Questions?
GreenField Software is pioneering the Next Gen DCIM for Tomorrow’s
Software Defined Data Centers
Email: sales@greenfieldsoft.com
Visit us on the web at www.greenfieldsoft.com
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