Cloud Computing

Summary of module for applicants:

This module provides students with an overview of the field of Cloud Computing, its enabling technologies, main building blocks, and hands-on experience. The course will introduce this domain and cover the topics of data centres, virtualization, cloud storage, and various Cloud paradigms. Motivating factors, benefits, challenges, and service models will be discussed. Modern data centres enable many of the economic and technological benefits of the cloud paradigm; hence, the module describes several concepts behind data centre design and management.

Main topics of study:

• Fundamental ideas behind Cloud Computing, the evolution of the paradigm, its applicability, benefits, as well as current and future challenges
• Basic ideas and principles in data centre design and management
• Different CPU, memory and I/O virtualization techniques that serve in offering software, computation and storage services on the cloud
• Deploying and managing resources in the Cloud
• Variety of data centre standards and energy efficiency best practices

Learning Outcomes for the module

• Digital Proficiency - Code = (DP)
• Industry Connections - Code = (IC)
• Emotional Intelligence Development - Code = (EID)
• Social Intelligence Development - Code = (SID)
• Physical Intelligence Development - Code = (PID)
• Cultural Intelligence Development - Code = (CID)
• Cognitive Intelligence Development – Code = (COI)
• Community Connections - Code = (CC)
• UEL Give-Back - Code = (UGB)

At the end of this module, students will be able to:

Knowledge

• Explain the core concepts of the cloud computing paradigm: how and why this paradigm shift came about, the characteristics, advantages and challenges brought about by the various models and services in cloud computing.
• Apply the fundamental concepts in data centers to understand the trade-offs in power, efficiency and cost.

Thinking skills

• Discuss system virtualization and outline its role in enabling the cloud computing system model (COI).
• Critically assess the principles and characteristics of data centre standards (IC, COI).

Subject-based practical skills

• Apply virtualization techniques and cloud computing models (DP)

Skills for life and work (general skills)

• Critically develop and evaluate solutions for real-life computational challenges (EID)
• Assimilate new knowledge through research and be able to describe this in a written report.