Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services over the internet through the use of hardware and software. It involves the delivery of services such as servers, databases, networking, analytics and also storage. Google‘s Gmail is an example of a Cloud Computing provider. This is mainly because Gmail users can access files and applications presented by Google through the internet. On the other hand, Grid Computing can be defined as a processor design that syndicates computer resources from various domains in order to reach a central objective. In this type of computing, computers generally work together on a particular task hence functioning as a supercomputer. Below is a comprehensive analysis of the similarities and differences between cloud computing and grid computing.
The first similarity between Cloud Computing and Grid Computing is that they are both scalable. Scalability is described as the capability of a system or network to handle a growing amount of work. This is accomplished through balancing loads of application requests that run separately on a variety of operating systems which are connected through web services. Scalability is often a sign of stability and competitiveness (Hashemi & Bardsiri, 2012). This is because the network, system or software is always ready to handle the inflow of demand, increased output, and even the introduction of new competitors in the market.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The second similarity between Cloud Computing and Grid Computing is that both computing types involve multi-tenancy and multitasking (Preve, 2011). Multi-tenancy refers to a situation where a single case of software is able to attend to multiple clienteles. Multitasking refers to a progression where numerous tasks share processing resources. These two are common to both grid and cloud computing since they allow various users to perform diverse tasks and multiple application orders. Multi-tenancy helps in cost reduction when shared by many users. It also simplifies data mining. This is achieved by storing all the data in a single database scheme. Multitasking is a common feature in computer operating systems because it allows for a more efficient use of the computer hardware.
The first difference between the two computing systems is that cloud computing delivers services through the internet. Preve (2011) notes that this is done by expelling the need of buying hardware and software, which need complex configuration and hence are very costly in maintenance and hence provide the service. On the other hand, in Grid Computing, a group of computers work together to solve a gigantic problem. This is achieved by splitting it into several small units which are consequently distributed to different computers.
The second difference between Cloud Computing and Grid Computing is that in cloud computing, its infrastructure is operated by a consolidated management system whereas in grid computing there is a decentralized administration (Hashemi & Bardsiri, 2012). In grid computing, different sites are spread globally and each site has an independent administration. In addition to this, cloud users pay for the services as they use them while in grid computing there is no defined business model.
In conclusion, Cloud computing as mentioned above is not only an emerging technology but also a successor of Grid computing. This is because Cloud computing provides user-friendly services on a steadfast internet connection and unlimited resources. It is evident that cloud offers more services that grid computing. As a matter of fact, almost all services on the internet can be obtained from the cloud, for example, web hosting and multiple operating systems.
References
Hashemi, S. M., & Bardsiri, A. K. (2012). Cloud computing vs. grid computing. ARPN Journal of Systems and Software , 2 (5), 188-194.
Preve, N. (Ed.). (2011). Computational and Data Grids: Principles, Applications and Design: Principles, Applications and Design . IGI Global.
