Cisco SDA & Cisco DNA Center

Cloud and Virtualization

Cloud Computing:

Cloud computing provides the following benefits:

• Enables access to organizational data anywhere and at any time.
• Streamlines IT operations by making it possible to subscribe to only needed services. 
• Eliminates or reduces the need for onsite IT equipment, maintenance, and management. 
• Reduces costs for equipment, energy, physical plant requirements, and personnel training needs. 
• Enables rapid responses to increasing data volume requirements.

Server Virtualization:

• Takes advantage of idle resources and consolidates the number of required servers.
• Separates the operating system (OS) from the hardware. 
  
• Makes it possible for multiple OSs to exist on a single hardware platform. 

Each instance of an OS is called a virtual machine (VM).

Another method for managing a set of VMs on a server, especially in a data center environment, is to use a virtual switch that connects the VMs to physical NICs.

Cloud Computing Services:

On-Demand Self-Service: The user can order, modify, and end service without human interaction.

Broad Network Access: The service can be accessed from a variety of devices across any network.

Resource Pooling: The provider has a pool of resources that can be dynamically allocated to users. The user typically requires no awareness of the physical location of the resources.

Rapid Elasticity: To the user, the resource pool appears to be unlimited; it can expand and contract as needed.

Measured Service: The provider can measure the usage and then report that usage to the consumer, for both transparency and billing.

Cloud Providers Services:

Software as a Service (SaaS): The cloud provider is responsible for access to services that are delivered over the Internet, such as email, and communication. (Users only need to provide their data).
 
Platform as a Service (PaaS): The cloud provider is responsible for access to the development tools and services used to deliver the applications (Customers can customize the virtualized hardware).
 
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): The cloud provider is responsible for access to the network equipment, virtualized network services, and network infrastructure support.

Primary Cloud Models:

Public Clouds: Cloud-based applications and services offered in a public cloud are made available to the general population. The public cloud uses the Internet to provide services.

Private Clouds: Cloud-based applications and services offered in a private cloud are intended for a specific organization or entity, such as the government. A private cloud uses the organization’s private network.

Hybrid Clouds: A hybrid cloud is made up of two or more clouds (for example, part private and part public). Each part remains a distinct object, but the two parts are connected using a single architecture.

Community Clouds: A community cloud is created for exclusive use by a specific community. The differences between public clouds and community clouds are the functional needs that have been customized for the community.

Virtual Network Infrastructure:

Consists of a collection of virtual network functions (VNFs), including virtual switches, virtual server load balancers (SLBs), virtual routers, and virtual firewalls.

• A cloud provider could offer to a customer (tenant) an IaaS solution that includes a virtual SLB.
• The customer could then install VNFs, such as a virtual version of the Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASAv) and Cisco Cloud Services Router (CSR), to manage network traffic.

Video Link:  https://youtu.be/jGBTd9GjSnM