Cloud computing: A cloudy future?

In this paper, we review and summarize some of the leading computing concepts including cluster, grid, and cloud computing. These ideas relate to bringing computers together to build a more powerful computational engine that is capable of processing multiple tasks concurrently. In cluster computing, a group of computers are located close by and directly linked with extremely high speed connections in order to perform as a single computer system. In grid computing, computer resources from multiple Internet domains are combined to reach a common computational goal. Compared with clusters, grids tend to be more loosely coupled, heterogeneous, and geographically distributed. Cloud computing is an emerging technology allowing a large number of interconnected computers, hardware and/or software to be rented as a commodity like electricity. The service types of cluster, grid, and cloud have been compared. We conclude that cloud computing has the potential to meet various computing demands in a cost effective easy way provided that some crucial issues like privacy, security, migration, and management are properly addressed.