Cloud Instances

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• Each cloud solution comprises one or more workloads
  • each requires resources:
    • compute (CPU and memory)
    • storage
    • network
  • resources are allocated using virtualization:
    • virtual machine
      • is an instance of a computer or network appliance running an OS and applications software
      • can be allocated
        • CPU
        • RAM
        • local storage
        • network links
      • managed via RDP or SSH
    • container
      • lightweight computing instance designed to run a single application service or a single workload task
      • don’t have emulated hardware components
      • still use compute resources and can connect to storage devices and networks
• can provision virtual appliances
  • vendor either:
    • develops a software product that emulates the functions of an existing dedicated hardware appliance
      • e.g., router, firewall, load balancer, or malware/intrusion detection
    • or creates software that implements that kind of functionality in a new product
  • might be developed against a standard architecture
    • ETSI’s Network Functions Virtualization (NFV)
      • divides the provisioning of appliances into three domains:
        • Virtual network function (VNF)
          • Specifies and deploys instances of each virtual appliance
          • designed to run as VMs on standard CPU platforms
        • NFV infrastructure
          • Controls the allocation of compute, storage, and networking resources to each VNF
        • Management and orchestration (MANO)
          • Positions VNFs within workflows to perform the forwarding and filtering tasks they are designed for
      • advantage:
        • makes the configuration and operation of the appliance more open to automation and orchestration via scripting