Unit 10.3

Cloud, Green, and Virtual Computing Trends

IT 231: IT and Application

Learning Objectives 🎯

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

✅ Define cloud computing and its main service models (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS).
✅ Define green computing and its goals.
✅ Define virtualization and its benefits.

Major IT Trend 1: Cloud Computing ☁️

Cloud Computing: The delivery of on-demand computing services over the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Think of it like electricity: you don't build your own power plant, you just pay for what you use.

Access everything from applications to storage and processing power.
No need to own and maintain your own IT infrastructure.

Cloud Service Models

The cloud offers services in three main "layers", often called the "service models".

SaaS

Software as a Service

PaaS

Platform as a Service

IaaS

Infrastructure as a Service

Comparing Cloud Models: SaaS, PaaS, IaaS

Software as a Service (SaaS)

What it is: Renting ready-to-use software.

Analogy: Renting a fully furnished house.

Examples: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Salesforce

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

What it is: Renting a platform to build/deploy your own apps.

Analogy: Renting land and tools to build your own house.

Examples: Heroku, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Google App Engine

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

What it is: Renting basic computing infrastructure.

Analogy: Renting an empty plot of land.

Examples: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud

Major IT Trend 2: Green Computing ♻️

Green Computing: The environmentally responsible and eco-friendly use of computers and their resources.

It's not just about recycling; it's about the entire lifecycle of IT products.

Goals of Green Computing

🎯 Reduce Energy Consumption: Lowering the power usage of computers, servers, and data centers.
🎯 Minimize E-Waste: Promoting proper disposal and recycling of electronics.
🎯 Promote Sustainability: Designing energy-efficient and long-lasting products.

Simple Tip: Enabling sleep mode on your computer is a basic form of green computing!

Major IT Trend 3: Virtualization 🖥️

Virtualization: The process of creating a virtual (rather than actual) version of something, like a server, storage device, or network.

⚡ Crucial Concept: Virtualization is the foundational technology that makes cloud computing possible!

How Virtualization Works

It allows a single physical machine to act like many.

Before Virtualization

1 Physical Server
=
1 Operating System
=
1 Application

❌ Very inefficient! Server might only use 15% of its power.

After Virtualization

1 Physical Server
=
Multiple Virtual Machines (VMs)
=
Multiple OS & Apps

✅ Highly efficient! Server utilization can reach 80% or more.

Benefits of Virtualization 📊

Cost Savings: Fewer physical servers means lower hardware and electricity costs.
Increased Efficiency: Maximizes the use of hardware resources.
Improved Disaster Recovery: Virtual machines are easier to back up and migrate.
Faster Deployment: New virtual servers can be created in minutes.

Practical Application in Nepal 🇳🇵

☁️ Cloud Computing

Startups like Khalti or Daraz use cloud services (IaaS/PaaS) to scale their operations without buying expensive servers. This is crucial for handling high traffic during festivals.

♻️ Green & Virtual Computing

ISPs and banks in Nepal use virtualization to consolidate servers. This reduces their high electricity bills (leveraging Nepal's hydro-power) and saves physical space in expensive city centers like Kathmandu.

Summary & Key Takeaways 🔍

Cloud Computing is the on-demand delivery of IT resources over the internet, allowing you to "rent" instead of "own".
Green Computing is the practice of environmentally sustainable IT, focusing on energy efficiency and reducing e-waste.
Virtualization is the key enabling technology for the cloud, allowing one physical server to run many virtual machines to improve efficiency.

Thank You!

Any questions?

Next Topic: Unit 11 - Networking Fundamentals

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