This paper show how a layered Cloud service model of software (SaaS), platform (PaaS), and infrastructure (IaaS) leverages multiple independent Clouds by creating a federation among the providers. The layered architecture leads naturally to a design in which inter-Cloud federation takes place at each service layer, mediated by a broker specific to the concerns of the parties at that layer. Federation increases consumer value for and facilitates providing IT services as a commodity. This business model for the Cloud is consistent with broker mediated supply and service delivery chains in other commodity sectors such as finance and manufacturing. Concreteness is added to the federated Cloud model by considering how it works in delivering the Weather Research and Forecasting service (WRF) as SaaS using PaaS and IaaS support. WRF is used to illustrate the concepts of delegation and federation, the translation of service requirements between service layers, and inter-Cloud broker functions needed to achieve federation.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Federation of Clouds
- 2.1. Brokering at the SaaS layer
- 2.2. Brokering at the PaaS layer
- 2.3. Brokering at the IaaS layer
- 3. Use Case (WRF) Weather Research and Forecasting as a service
- 3. Service Layer
- 3.1. Software as a Service layer
- 3.2. Platform as a Service layer
- 3.3. Infrastructure as a Service layer
- 4. Related work
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to demonstrate how a layered cloud service model (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS) can leverage multiple independent clouds through federation, enhancing service delivery and consumer value. It explores the concept of inter-cloud federation at each service layer, mediated by layer-specific brokers. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) service is used as a case study to illustrate the proposed architecture and its functionalities.
- Layered cloud service model (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS)
- Inter-cloud federation and brokering mechanisms
- Service delegation and translation between service layers
- Impact of federation on cost-effectiveness, scalability, and resource utilization
- WRF as a service case study illustrating the proposed architecture
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by discussing the evolution of cloud computing, highlighting the shift towards on-demand IT resource provision as a commodity. It introduces the concept of cloud federation, where cooperating providers fulfill customer requests under a brokering structure, drawing parallels with interoperating grid resources. The chapter uses a diagram (Fig. 1) to visually represent a federated cloud structure with brokers mediating service requests between independent clouds at each service layer (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS), illustrating delegation and federation within the architecture. The chapter concludes by outlining the application of this model to a Software as a Service (SaaS) offering and its analogy to subcontracting in traditional business sectors.
2. Federation of Clouds: This chapter delves into the complexities of cloud federation, emphasizing the inherent conflict between user demands for optimized application performance and cloud providers' goals of efficient resource utilization. It discusses the role of efficient brokering policies in balancing these competing objectives and introduces the layered service model, enabling isolation between brokering policies at different layers. The chapter then explores existing work in cloud brokering, primarily focused on the IaaS layer, before diving into a detailed analysis of brokering at the SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS layers, outlining specific considerations and goals for each.
3. Use Case (WRF) Weather Research and Forecasting as a service: This chapter presents the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) application as a compelling case study for the federated cloud architecture. It highlights WRF's parallel nature and the critical need for timely and accurate weather predictions, emphasizing the importance of resource sharing for elasticity and dynamic capacity during extreme events. The chapter discusses the benefits of a hosted service architecture for WRF, separating scientific concerns from underlying platform and infrastructure complexities. The development of a web portal to abstract IT concerns from users is mentioned as a significant step toward this goal. The chapter establishes WRF as a strong example demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed architecture.
3. Service Layer: This chapter details the three layers of the proposed architecture for the WRF as a service implementation. It describes the SaaS layer, responsible for user interaction through a web portal, taking high-level requirements as input and generating necessary files for WRF execution. The PaaS layer is described as managing MPI libraries, middleware, and software licenses, ensuring the availability of required software and managing task decomposition for parallel execution. Finally, the IaaS layer is detailed, emphasizing its role in provisioning the execution environment, including VM instantiation and data staging, managing interactions with the PaaS layer through a translation component to optimize resource allocation and execution costs.
4. Related work: This chapter defines cloud federation, highlighting its benefits in achieving increased dynamic scalability and efficient resource utilization. It clarifies the distinctions between public, private, and hybrid clouds, providing examples. It then briefly defines Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), citing exemplary service providers for each model.
Keywords
Cloud computing, Service layers, SaaS, AaaS, PaaS, IaaS, Interoperability, Service delegation, Federation of Clouds, Cloud brokering, Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF), Parallel computing, Resource management.
Frequently Asked Questions: Comprehensive Language Preview of Federated Cloud Services for Weather Research and Forecasting
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper explores a layered cloud service model (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS) that leverages multiple independent clouds through federation to enhance service delivery and consumer value. It focuses on inter-cloud federation at each service layer, using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) service as a case study.
What are the key themes addressed in the paper?
Key themes include a layered cloud service model, inter-cloud federation and brokering mechanisms, service delegation and translation between service layers, the impact of federation on cost-effectiveness, scalability, and resource utilization, and a detailed case study of WRF as a service.
What is the purpose of the layered cloud service model (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS)?
The layered model allows for isolation between brokering policies at different layers, enabling better management of resources and optimization of application performance while balancing the needs of users and providers. Each layer (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS) handles specific functionalities, leading to better efficiency and scalability.
How does the paper address inter-cloud federation and brokering?
The paper details the complexities of cloud federation and the role of efficient brokering policies in balancing user demands and provider goals. It analyzes brokering at each service layer (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS), outlining specific considerations and goals for each.
What is the significance of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) case study?
WRF serves as a compelling case study due to its parallel nature and the critical need for timely and accurate weather predictions. The paper demonstrates how a federated cloud architecture can provide elasticity and dynamic capacity for WRF, addressing the challenges of resource sharing and ensuring timely execution, especially during extreme weather events.
How is the WRF service implemented across the three service layers?
The SaaS layer handles user interaction via a web portal, the PaaS layer manages software and task decomposition for parallel execution, and the IaaS layer provisions the execution environment, including VM instantiation and data staging.
What are the benefits of using a federated cloud architecture for WRF?
A federated cloud architecture for WRF offers benefits such as increased scalability, efficient resource utilization, and the ability to handle dynamic computational demands during extreme weather events. It also separates scientific concerns from underlying platform and infrastructure complexities.
What is the role of cloud brokering in this architecture?
Cloud brokering plays a crucial role in mediating service requests between independent clouds at each service layer. Brokers manage resource allocation, service delegation, and translation between layers, ensuring efficient resource utilization and optimized application performance.
What are the key takeaways from the "Related Work" chapter?
The chapter defines cloud federation, its benefits, and the differences between public, private, and hybrid clouds. It also defines SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS, and provides examples of service providers for each model.
What are the key words associated with this research?
Cloud computing, Service layers (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS), Interoperability, Service delegation, Federation of Clouds, Cloud brokering, Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF), Parallel computing, Resource management.
- Quote paper
- Ajit Singh (Author), 2019, Architecture of Cloud Federation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/488801
