Just what is cloud computing anyway? Skeptics might say it is nothing but industry hyperbole, visionaries might say it is the future of IT. In reality, both statements are true—cloud computing has been embellished by the tech industry, but it does hold real potential for new types of on-‐demand dynamic IT services. This paper seeks to clarify the definition of cloud computing, identify how far along users are in terms of cloud deployment, and examine the role of the network in the cloud computing model. In summary:
Cloud computing spans numerous models. Perhaps the most confusing thing about cloud computing is that it isn’t one thing; rather, it can be a number of customizable options to fit IT and business requirements. This paper will look at various alternatives around the cloud computing consumption, services, and deployment models.
Large organizations are on an evolutionary journey to the cloud. Cloud computing builds upon current IT trends like data center consolidation and server virtualization. Enterprises will follow a pragmatic path to the cloud by adopting new technologies, transitioning from physical to virtual IT assets, and adapting existing IT best practices to a new dynamic world.
The network acts as the foundation for cloud computing. Cloud computing moves Web-based applications to the Internet inexorably tying user connectivity and productivity to networking equipment. Of all networking technologies available, WAN optimization will play a major role in the transition to the cloud. As this happens, WAN optimization must become a virtual service, support mobile users, support innovative applications and protocols, and provide network visibility at a granular level.
Contents:
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De-‐mystifying Cloud Computing
- The Cloud Consumption Model
- The Cloud Computing Services Model
- Cloud Computing Deployment Models
- The Evolution of Cloud Computing
- The Cloud Depends Upon the Network
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WAN Optimization is a Critical Underpinning of Cloud Computing
- Will Cloud Computing Change WAN Optimization?
- The Bigger Truth
About Riverbed Technology
Riverbed® Technology is the IT infrastructure performance company with a family of wide area network (WAN) optimization solutions that give businesses an order-of-magnitude increase in value and performance of their existing networks, applications and storage. Riverbed liberates enterprises from common IT constraints by offering optimization solutions that accelerate application performance, enable consolidation, and provide enterprise-wide network and application visibility — while eliminating the need to increase bandwidth, storage or servers. Thousands of companies with worldwide operations trust Riverbed to make their entire IT infrastructure faster, less expensive and more responsive.
Solutions:
Riverbed products are powered by the Riverbed Optimization System (RiOS®) software platform, which is based on patented technologies that address four main solution areas in a variety of simple-to-deploy IT appliances and software products:
Application Acceleration – Riverbed accelerates all TCP traffic — Mail, file transfers, FTP, Web, Notes, databases, ERP, backup applications, and other key enterprise applications — delivering LAN-like performance and improved application visibility that dramatically improves collaboration, file sharing and productivity for distributed enterprises.
Bandwidth Optimization – Riverbed eliminates redundant WAN traffic, effectively expanding bandwidth by a factor of 10 or more. This reduces congestion, makes room for other applications, and enables network managers to delay or avoid WAN bandwidth upgrades, or even de-provision their current bandwidth.
IT Infrastructure Consolidation – Riverbed enables network architects to consolidate file servers, email servers, NAS and tape libraries from remote offices to data centers — without degrading end user performance. Successful site consolidation cuts IT CapEx, maintenance and management costs dramatically.
Backup & Replication Acceleration – Riverbed reduces backup windows and transfer times for applications like NetApp SnapMirror, EMC SRDF/A, and IBM Tivoli — enabling organizations to quickly and securely back up and replicate data across the WAN from systems that are hundreds, or even thousands of miles from the data center.
Riverbed Technology at a Glance:
Founded: 2002
World Headquarters: San Francisco, California
Revenues: $396 million (2009)
Customers: More than 8,700 (including 76 percent of the Forbes Global 100)
InfoWorld “Technology of the Year-WAN Accelerators” for five years running (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009)
For more information, visit Riverbed Technology at http://www.riverbed.com
