Introduction
The software industry is a dynamic industry which has undergone several changes and one of the current trends in the industry is cloud computing. This technology is known as software as a service (SaaS), using this technology service delivery has improved in the software industry.
Several outsourcing tools are available online for different uses and purposes. Outsourcing tools rely on the technology of cloud computing whereby all processes are run on a web browser. Several cloud computing technologies are available online and they include from simple tasks such as scheduling meeting, backup solutions. All these solutions are run or processed using software technologies.
Software as a Service
Cloud computing relies heavily on software to undertake the processes needed by customers. Several cloud computing tools were developed to make processes and other activities easier for customer use.
This essay is going to investigate one cloud computing tool used in management of data centers on a pre-defined environment. OpenNebula is cloud computing tool that is used in enterprise-class cloud computing management. Through opennebula.org, customers get the opportunity to download an enterprise management cloud computing tool (FornesThe Software as a Service Dilemma).
The OpenNebula project was dedicated to making a total virtual machine (VM) software toolkit. OpenNebula runs on different software platforms in providing deployed solutions in networking, storage, user management and virtualization. The importance of using a cloud computing system like OpenNebula is that it makes operations effective by providing different resources at one go.
Cloud computing systems like OpenNebula are developed as bundled applications into one suite. As a result, operating such softwareis cost effective compared to other software because operating different software which is license based are expensive. Operating different software on one platform is challenging and it not scalable since it takes a lot of computer resources (Buyya 138).
The biggest advantage in using open-source software like OpenNebula is the availability in many versions. Open-source software is designed by a team of developers who form a community of developers. In the development of OpenNebula, several developers were involved in the development of the software and thus they test the software to come up with high-quality software (Chee 42).
Compared to use of other software or systems such as telephones or e-mail communication is that cloud systems operate remotely. Total control over cloud systems is difficult considering the fact that some companies offer cloud computing services at a fee or free. These companies could go bankrupt or be bought out by a competitor and therefore the services offered might disappear.
The use of OpenNebula cloud computing suite could be replaced by Amazon’s EC2 cloud computing system which is operates on a user managed web interface (Buyya 141). EC2cloud is not open source and the configuration options are set by the admin and the software is compatible with various computer operating system environments like OpenNebula.
Conclusion
Cloud computing is the new wave in processing activities through the use of online computer resources. The benefits of cloud computing are endless but several challenges lie in the implementation of cloud computing technologies.
Some of these challenges outlined include cost and trust issues. The cost of procuring a good cloud computing software or service is costly and it is difficult to trust cloud computing firms with your data (Chee 28). Although, the adoption of open source cloud computing software has lessened the challenges and revolutionalized the IT industry in resource allocation, data storage or data manipulation.
Works Cited
Buyya, Rajkumar, Broberg, James, and Gościński Andrzej. Cloud Computing: Principles and Paradigms. Boston, MA: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. Print.
Chee, Brown, and Franklin Conroe. Applications for Clouds, Chapter 4 in Cloud Computing: Technologies and Strategies of the Ubiquitous Data Center. London: CRC Press, 2010. Print.
Fornes, Daniel. The Software as a Service Dilemma. The Software Advice Blog, 10 Nov.2010. Web.