Private Cloud
What is Private Cloud?
In cloud computing, one of the most specific models involving a distinct and secure cloud basement where only a particular client operates is known as private cloud. Compared to other cloud options, private cloud offers computing power as one of the services in an environment that is relatively virtualized. This is through a principle poor of well created physical computing resources.
Under the private computing model, the resources can only be accessed via a sole organization offering privacy and more control compared to other organizations. The technical mechanisms used in service provision under private cloud services however vary a great deal. This makes it even hard to classify issues that make up private cloud platform from a technical point of view.
Classification of the services often involves keeping in mind features offered to clients. Through essential traits making up private cloud are cloud ring fencing solely to be used in a single company and which are relatively higher compared to higher network security levels. Such features are additionally defined via public cloud comparison with many clients being in a position to explore virtualized services thus, drawing resources from the same pool of servers across active public networks.
Private cloud services are also enhanced through resources from clear pool of physical computers that are externally hosted or from within. They can also be accessed via secure encrypted connections and privately leased lines via public connections.
Security is also accessible through the hedged ring cloud model that is very ideal for any organization for instance, an enterprise with necessities to gather and process its information. Private clouds can also be used by many financial organizations in regulation of internal sensitive information storage. This is so because such organizations would still benefit from cloud computing in a business environment in such cases that call for allotment of resources. Some of the most significant features of private cloud model include
Highest privacy and security
Private clouds utilize unique techniques for instance, clear pool of resources that can be accessed in the firewall of an organization, internal onsite hosting and dedicated lines ascertaining that activities are protected from any prying eyes.
More control
Private cloud services can be accessed only by one organization with the ability to configure and manage the service based on its requirements to achieve set goals and tailor made network solutions. Even so, such level of control in many cases eliminates significant levels of economies of scale that is generated through public cloud using centralized hardware management
Energy and Cost efficiency
Private cloud model implementation enhances the relative significant resource allocation in an organization by ensuring availability of the assets. This includes business operations/departments to flexibility and responding directly to demand features. Private cloud models therefore are more efficient computing resources since they facilitate minimization of investment into unutilized capacity. It can also reduce an organization’s carbon path.
Improved reliability
Even in cases with servers or internally hosted networks creation of a virtualized operating environment makes the network highly resilient to cases of personal failure across the physical infrastructure of an organization. Virtual partitions cases also help in pulling of resources from the remaining untampered servers. Additionally, when cloud is horded via a third party, a company as ability to profit from accessible physical security to communication network that is hosted in the data centers framework.
Cloud bursting
Some of the most important cloud services providers can offer an incredible opportunity to utilize cloud bursting in a private cloud thus, offering applicable in the event of demand spikes. The service also helps a provider to change non sensitive specific functions into cloud to create more space inside private cloud. This is essential for sensitive duties calling for such space.
Why Use Private Cloud in Small Companies
Small organizations in many cases often consider changing into private cloud because they do not like sharing of resources with larger organizations because of the number of clients they have. Such small organizations tend to avoid sharing of CPU, disk, RAM and bandwidth with larger organizations.
They save the risk of sharing resources by utilizing private cloud which its use in small organizations is very ideal. This is because of enhanced scalability, security, small upgrade cost, elimination of dedicated servers and redundancy. Cloud computing with security measures has undoubtedly become more secure in reference to private cloud where data is highly protected under the firewall that is established by the organization.
As long as small organizations update their virus protection and prevent sharing of cloud services with larger companies to maintain the right security measures, data will always be secure. Data is also secure in small company because, besides having inbuilt private security cloud, such organizations also mainly operate on enterprise-grade data centers with essential security measures that are applicable.
The issue of flexibility also enables smaller organizations to created servers that are highly customized. It adds a lot of storage for data in the organization. The private cloud platform grows with such operations and the platforms become even more customized compared to public cloud services through larger organizations.
Additionally, private cloud is more convenient for smaller organizations because there is no need for more upgrade costs. The Information Technology infrastructure upgrade and maintenance is in many cases a burden to small company more specifically when utilizing public cloud. With the private platform, the corresponding cloud service provider for smaller organizations often handles the expenses.
Private cloud in the event of redundancy, ensures when the server goes down, the data of the organization is transferred automatically to the next server. Data is therefore protected and the organization has more control over redundancy issue since it has the chance to design personal environment with the essential redundancy.
Small organizations also call for significant server amounts for proper operations. The availability of multiple on site server ensures that small organizations do not worry about upgrades and cost of maintenances. Private cloud also has proven beneficial when using a dedicated server which also enhances the interests of the organization a great deal by reducing overall operation costs.
How to build a private cloud
A private cloud has private cloud looks and functions to an organization with all the speed, agility and cost saving strategies of cloud technology. Creating private cloud often depends on the budget, needs, security, ability, policies and the time of operation of the organization. There are also five essential steps that are used in creation of private cloud and they include computerization, consolidation, standardization, virtualization and orchestration.
Using such a multi-usage strategies aims at enhancing the chances of success in an organization since it allows for determination of weaknesses and strengths of the operating systems.
Standardization
This is the basis towards creation of private cloud to set up an ideal success platform in all subsequent steps. In this step, hardware and software apparatus decisions are essential for deployment of private cloud. The environment is also made simple to prevent complex and hefty charges. The process of standardization also aims at creating an efficient private cloud infrastructure.
Consolidation
Once the system to be utilized is known, consolidate gallows. This step involves limiting essential requirements needed for designing private cloud. Replacement of low performing and outdated tools and the system that scales necessities of the process is essential.
Virtualization
This often depends on the issue of delivery model and aspect of design. Many of usage models need virtualization for PaaS model. This doesn’t need any virtualization of the server because the platform in itself is able to manage the allotment of underlying resources. The virtualization techniques to be used also offer flexibility in the network resources processes.
Automation
This includes modification of IT processes. The goal is to change the common repetitive guide that cloud tasks to a phase that is more automated. This is the main key to freeing IT personnel of more significant duties including deployment. The set tools, chosen for automation also involves underlying consolidation and standardization decisions being reached.
Orchestration
This is the final private cloud creation step and it offers self-service functionality architecture. It also includes self-service portal and service catalogue components. The chosen product for the process should additionally include chargeback or trackback functionality.
How can PCs be connected with Private cloud?
What are software and hardware used to build private cloud?
The virtualization enabled hardware for such as the processes with Intel VT to ensure flexibility in the choice of hypervisor and virtual infrastructure manager
- Gigabit Ethernet network equipment
- Virtual infrastructure manager
- Right Scale cloud management software essential in eating routine tasks including policy definition, installation and monitoring
- Hypervisor with VMware ESXi among other common alternatives
- Storage area network equipment to centralize storage
- Software for application setting with the following essentials:
| Operating System | Tested Private Cloud Version |
| Ubuntu 12.04 | All versions |
| Ubuntu 12.10 and later | None |
| CentOS 6.3 | v4.0.0 and earlier |
| CentOS 6.4 | v4.1.2 and later |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.0 | None |
Two modernized specifications machines to server as the server and client with a cluster node having the following essentials
| Node Type | Requirements |
| Nova Controller |
|
| Nova Compute |
|
Cloud platform with CentOS and Open Nebula recommendable
The chef, server hardware needed for private cloud needs to meet these essentials
- 500 GB disk space
- Dual socket CPU with dual core
- 4 GB RAM
During private cloud creation, access of internet is essential to complete the installation process. This is to ensure that the devices acquired in place already have access to internet to facilitate the download of file installation.
| How much it cost to set up a private cloud | |||
| Hardware and software | Cost ($) | Units | Total ($) |
| two HP ProLiant DL360p Gen8 | 8,500 | 2 | 17,000 |
| SQL Server Enterprise Edition (4 cores per processor) | 26,000 | 2 | 52,000 |
| Windows sever 2012 Std | 7,000 | 2 | 14,000 |
| Maintenance cost | 16,600 | ||
| Total cost | 99,600 | ||