First let’s define cloud computing, before jumping to its autonomy. A 2009 survey by Jeremy Geelan, CEO of the 21st Century Internet Group, suggests that the cloud has multiple definitions, which can range from “Everything you can use over the internet” to very specific ones like “virtual servers available over the internet”. In a nutshell, cloud computing is a broad term for services, storage space, and resources on demand hosted over the Internet. As a matter of fact, most internet users are using cloud services on a day to day basis, even if they do not realize it, driven by providers with the likes of Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft, IBM and Amazon.
In the side of companies, cloud computing opens a lot of doors as it enables them to consume computer resources just like using utility, like electricity, instead of having to keep up the costs of building and maintaining their own respective computing infrastructures in-house.
Autonomous and semi-autonomous
On the other hand, Autonomous Cloud Computing is that which aims as much as possible to decrease human involvement in computer systems. In a book by author Richard hill, et al. titled, Guide to Cloud computing: Principles and Practice, it was discussed that ultimately, this schema would lead towards the production of systems which are autonomous or semi-autonomous, and who are able to manage themselves and by themselves self-adapt as well to many inevitable but unpredictable changes, with the latter involved in more externalities. There are many significant advantages do this, which is only exponentially multiplied in many folds when it comes to dealing with large data centers especially those that are characterized by large, international companies.
Semi-autonomous machines have three elements that are fundamental for them to be reliable. These fundamental aspects include an engine, which acts as effectors to apply any of the constantly required changes to the system, an adoption engine, as well as monitoring gauges and probes. Usually, the decisions that are made by these sophisticated machines are already predetermined from a set of defined policies.
One of the leading proponents of semi-autonomous cloud computing is Hewlett-Packard, especially with its service called HP Public Cloud. This provides on-demand and pay-as-you-go cloud services both for computing platform and storage infrastructure. This Cloud built its infrastructure on OpenStack technology, which is an open source cloud project, and delivers end-to-end cloud capabilities, which let their users manage their deployments. As a result, HP Public Cloud is able to offer an open, intuitive and a reliable cloud.
Collaboration as a Service
One of the examples of their many services is called Collaboration as a Service, this enables many organizations and companies to manage data as well as enable the filing and information sharing with the least amount of latency. Also, many businesses use what is called the HP Helion Managed Virtual Private Cloud, which performs a daily encrypted backup and automated load balancing on its many virtual servers. The data is stored off-site and the many user-companies and organizations can choose to retain their data by HP, for which there is a high-availability clustering option that can be added.
If you want to know more about cloud computing, its system and its platforms, contact Four Cornerstone now!
