In common usage, the term “the cloud” is essentially a metaphor for the Internet. Cloud computing architecture refers to the components and sub-components required for cloud computing. These components typically consist of a front-end platform (fat client, thin client, mobile device), back-end platforms (servers, storage), a cloud-based delivery, and a network (Internet, Intranet, Intercloud). Combined, these components make up Cloud Computing Architecture.
Client platforms
Tablets, mobiles, desktops etc. interact with the cloud data storage via an application (middleware), via a web browser, or through a virtual session.
Cloud storage
An online network storage where data is stored & accessible to multiple clients. Cloud storage is generally deployed in configurations as: public cloud, private cloud, community cloud, or some combination of the three also known as hybrid cloud. In order to be effective, the cloud storage needs to be agile, flexible, scalable, multi-tenancy, and secure.
Cloud-based delivery
- Software as a service (SaaS): The SaaS service-model involves the cloud provider installing and maintaining software in the cloud and users running the software from their cloud clients over the Internet (or Intranet). The users’ client machines require no installation of any application-specific software – cloud applications run on the server (in the cloud).
- Development as a service (DaaS): This is web based, community shared development tools. This is the equivalent to locally installed development tools in the traditional (non-cloud computing) delivery of development tools.
- Platform as a service (PaaS): is cloud computing service which provides the users with application platforms and databases as a service. This is equivalent to middleware in the traditional (non-cloud computing) delivery of application platforms and databases.
- Infrastructure as a service (IaaS): is taking the physical hardware and going completely virtual (e.g. all servers, networks, storage, and system management all existing in the cloud). This is the equivalent to infrastructure and hardware in the traditional (non-cloud computing) method running in the cloud. Businesses pay a fee to run virtual servers, networks, storage from the cloud. This will mitigate the need for a data center, heating, cooling, and maintaining hardware at the local level.
Google Compute Engine, Amazon Web Services (AWS, EC2), Salesforce, Microsoft Windows Azure, VMWare, IBM Smartcloud, Rackspace, OpenStack, HP Cloud, Joyent Cloud are some well-known cloud providers.
Source: Internet