Future Cloud Architecture Part II: Using Multicloud to Federate Cloud Applications
May 16, 2023
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Learn about leveraging multicloud to create federated cloud applications, exploring federated distribution and portable containerization, using multicloud for resilient and flexible cloud architecture, and the challenges and potential of a federated cloud application architecture.
Federated cloud applications leverage multicloud to distribute different parts of an application across multiple clouds based on specific needs, promoting scalable and cost-effective architectures.
Portable containerization enables dynamic allocation and autonomous migration of containers across platforms for optimal performance and cost savings, relying on AI-based decision-making logic.
Deep dives
Federated Cloud Applications: Running Components on Different Cloud Providers
Federated cloud applications involve running different aspects of an application on multiple physical cloud providers based on the specific needs of the application. This architectural model allows for leveraging the best capabilities, cost efficiencies, and innovation from different cloud providers. While building complexity and incurring additional costs are considerations, the core business benefits may outweigh these factors. The ability to monitor and manage these applications through abstraction automation enables the seamless integration of components across heterogeneous cloud environments, promoting scalable and cost-effective application architectures.
Portable Containerization: Dynamic Allocation and Autonomous Migration
Portable containerization allows for containers to dynamically allocate and autonomously migrate across various platforms for optimal performance and cost savings. This architectural concept involves launching containers into a pool that automatically determines the best platform based on container properties and behaviors. The use of AI-based decision-making logic plays a crucial role in dynamically deploying services and resources, optimizing performance, and ensuring scalability. The continued development of tools and technologies is required to fully implement and operationalize this concept, with implications for both architectural design and resource management.
Challenges and Future Directions
The implementation of federated cloud applications and portable containerization is still in its early stages, with limited mature technologies available. Tool providers, developers, architects, and hyperscalers need to collaborate to create the necessary infrastructure and knowledge in this domain. The adoption of heterogeneous environments and fragmented technologies will require leadership and demand from the industry, as well as viable cost analytics and tangible benefits. While still in the realm of science fiction, the logical application of AI and containerization makes a compelling case for its eventual realization. The evolving concept of meta cloud can serve as a stepping stone towards federated cloud applications, with the abstraction automation layer as a prerequisite for successful implementation and management.
In the second part of a three-part discussion with Thomas Erl and cloud computing visionary, David Linthicum, we delve into how we can leverage multicloud to create federated cloud applications that are distributed across multiple clouds, each providing an environment optimal for a given part of the application (as also documented in David's new book "An Insider's Guide to Cloud Computing").