Cloud Computing and Virtualization
Cloud Computing
Comworld Networks views our X-CLOUD cloud computing offering as a technique for accessing computing resources without having to possess any real knowledge about the underlying mechanics. Most market analysts divide the space into two parts, private clouds (use within an enterprise) and public clouds (utilizing external third party compute services). In reality, public clouds have existed for awhile, whether as a simple Software as a Service (salesforce.com) or Infrastructure as a Service (Amazon).
Comworld Networks addresses cloud markets in two ways: as a technology provider to public cloud providers, and as a solution provider to private cloud deployments.
With private clouds, the goal for the data center is to make the right amount and the right kind of resources available at the moment such resources are needed, but with an additional ability to quickly reconfigure when the demand profile changes. Examples of enabling technologies are the ability to move applications back and forth between virtual to native operation (depending on load and utilization), or consolidating workloads so that unused CPU's can be powered down, or having the option to utilize external third party compute resources when needed. Virtualization plays a key role in private cloud designs as it permits the best efficient usage of servers both in terms of utilization as well as providing multiplatform support.
Key for successful deployment of private clouds within the data center are hardware high reliability, quick deployment of new hardware resources on demand, and a single tool to control large number of possibly heterogeneous systems.
Cloud computing is gaining interest as a potential driver of value generation and cost savings for migrating and creating new applications, but enterprises must choose carefully from among varied architectural alternatives based on their degree of alignment with business processes and existing architectural constraints.
X-CLOUD USA powered by Comworld Networks provides CIOs, CTOs, Web architects and developers, Web application development and project managers with the necessary data and recommendations for making good decisions when sourcing or constructing new cloud-based custom solutions.
Virtualization
Virtualization disconnects software from a specific piece of dedicated hardware. Physical resources such as servers and storage devices appear as single logical resources, and virtualization software determines which and how many of these physical devices to employ. This can result in increased utilization of computing assets, lowered power and cooling costs, easier lifecycle management, and less complex backup/disaster recovery.
Although many associate the word "virtualization" with just server virtualization, there are in fact many opportunities within the software stack to beneficially introduce virtualization concepts. Comworld Networks currently offers solutions to address three such areas: server virtualization, storage virtualization, and application/desktop virtualization.