Welcome!



Cloud Expo Authors:

Related Topics: Cloud Expo

Cloud Expo: Blog Post

## What is Elastic Computing?

For me, the economic-centric definition is the best way to apply elasticity to cloud computing

Recently there has been a lot of talk about private clouds, public clouds and inter clouds and the problem in attempting to define their key attributes. The problem facing all the various cloud terms is the apparent lack of quantifiable characteristics. In contrast most other areas of technology include standard characteristics such as units of measurement that allows us to define specific quantifiable aspects.

These aspects allow for the creation of complex models and formulas that enable a continued improvement and enhancement to the underlying platforms. I thought I'd briefly take a closer look at core concepts of elasticity and how it can be applied to cloud computing.

For a lot of companies looking at entering the cloud computing marketplace the lack of quantifiable capacity metrics has become a particular problem point. Currently trying to plan future resource & capacity requirements is an extremely difficult endeavor. Recent high profile cloud outages have made the need for quantifiable proactive capacity measurement painfully clear. When it comes to scaling infrastructure it seems that a lot of cloud computing has come down to a best guess mentality. (Although companies like SOASTA have done a great job at attempting to solve this problem) At the end of the day these outages are generally because of the unforeseen aspects, namely the inability to adequately determine and measure an application or infrastructure's breaking point. For this reason I believe that going forward the concept of elasticity will quickly become one of the most important aspects when designing most modern cloud centric system architectures.

To give you some background, I've been pitch my vision for elastic computing for almost 6 years. (I'm told others have also used the term before me as well) Generally my theory for Elastic Computing is in the ability to apply a quantifiable methodology that allows for the basis of an adaptive introspection with in a real time hybrid cloud centric infrastructure. But this doesn't actually address the question of "What is Elastic Computing" for that we need to dig deeper.

First we must look at what "elasticity" is and how it can be applied. According wikipedia, "in physics, elasticity is the physical property of a material when it deforms under stress (e.g. external forces), but returns to its original shape when the stress is removed. The relative amount of deformation is called the strain." Similarly elasticity applied to computing can be thought as the amount of strain an application or infrastructure can withstand while either expanding or contracting to meet the demands place on it.

One of the best examples of elasticity can be found in economics where elasticity is described as "the ratio of the percent change in one variable to the percent change in another variable. It is a tool for measuring the responsiveness of a function to changes in parameters in a relative way. A typical example is analysis of the elasticity of substitution, price and wealth. Popular in economics, elasticity is an approach used among empiricists because it is independent of units and thus simplifies data analysis."

For me, the economic-centric definition is the best way to apply elasticity to cloud computing. In this approach the main benefit is the ability to measure quantifiable capacity metrics using standard mathematical formulas such as "arc elasticity" -- a formula where the elasticity of one variable is measured with respect to another between two given points. The arc elasticity method of introspection is used when there is no general function for the relationship of two variables. (Think of an unknown or sudden increase in demand placed on an application or infrastructure) Therefore this formula provides the ability of to act as a predictive estimator for required system elasticity.

Wikipedia provides this economic example.

The y arc elasticity of x is defined as:
$E_{x,y} = \frac{\% \mbox{ change in } x}{\% \mbox{ change in } y}$

where the percentage change is calculated relative to the midpoint

$\% \mbox{ change in } x = \frac{x_2 - x_1}{(x_2 + x_1)/2}$
$\% \mbox{ change in } y = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{(y_2 + y_1)/2}$

What is Elastic Computing?
The quantifiable ability to manage, measure, predict and adapt responsiveness of an application based on real time demands placed on an infrastructure using a combination of local and remote computing resources.

## More Stories By Reuven Cohen

An instigator, part time provocateur, bootstrapper, amateur cloud lexicographer, and purveyor of random thoughts, 140 characters at a time.

Reuven is an early innovator in the cloud computing space as the founder of Enomaly in 2004 (Acquired by Virtustream in February 2012). Enomaly was among the first to develop a self service infrastructure as a service (IaaS) platform (ECP) circa 2005. As well as SpotCloud (2011) the first commodity style cloud computing Spot Market.

Reuven is also the co-creator of CloudCamp (100+ Cities around the Globe) CloudCamp is an unconference where early adopters of Cloud Computing technologies exchange ideas and is the largest of the ‘barcamp’ style of events.

 Webinar: Integrating #Microservices By @FioranoGlobal | @DevOpsSummit [#DevOps #Containers]By Liz McMillanEnterprises are fast realizing the importance of integrating SaaS/Cloud applications, API and on-premises data and processes, to unleash hidden value. This webinar explores how managers can use a Microservice-centric approach to aggressively tackle the unexpected new integration challenges posed by proliferation of cloud, mobile, social and big data projects. Industry analyst and SOA expert Jason Bloomberg will strip away the hype from microservices, and clearly identify their advantages and d...May. 25, 2015 07:00 PM EDT  Reads: 2,202 Monetize the 'Internet of Things' By @AriaSystemsInc | @ThingsExpo [#IoT]By Elizabeth WhiteThere's no doubt that the Internet of Things is driving the next wave of innovation. Google has spent billions over the past few months vacuuming up companies that specialize in smart appliances and machine learning. Already, Philips light bulbs, Audi automobiles, and Samsung washers and dryers can communicate with and be controlled from mobile devices. To take advantage of the opportunities the Internet of Things brings to your business, you'll want to start preparing now.May. 25, 2015 07:00 PM EDT  Reads: 5,819 ‘DevOps on Hybrid Cloud’ By @IBMcloud | @DevOpsSummit [#DevOps]By Liz McMillanIn a world of ever-accelerating business cycles and fast-changing client expectations, the cloud increasingly serves as a growth engine and a path to new business models. Dynamic clouds enable businesses to continuously reinvent themselves, adapting their business processes, their service and software delivery and their operations to achieve speed-to-market and quick response to customer feedback. As the cloud evolves, the industry has multiple competing cloud technologies, offering on-premises ...May. 25, 2015 06:00 PM EDT  Reads: 4,190 DevOps Summit Silicon Valley 'Call for Papers' | @DevOpsSummit [#DevOps] By Pat RomanskiThe 5th International DevOps Summit, co-located with 17th International Cloud Expo – being held November 3-5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA – announces that its Call for Papers is open. Born out of proven success in agile development, cloud computing, and process automation, DevOps is a macro trend you cannot afford to miss. From showcase success stories from early adopters and web-scale businesses, DevOps is expanding to organizations of all sizes, including the...May. 25, 2015 05:30 PM EDT  Reads: 4,421 OpenStack Trove and DBaaS API By @Fred_Dalrymple | @CloudExpo [#Cloud]By Pat RomanskiThe OpenStack cloud operating system includes Trove, a database abstraction layer. Rather than applications connecting directly to a specific type of database, they connect to Trove, which in turn connects to one or more specific databases. One target database is Postgres Plus Cloud Database, which includes its own RESTful API. Trove was originally developed around MySQL, whose interfaces are significantly less complicated than those of the Postgres cloud database. In his session at 16th Cloud...May. 25, 2015 05:00 PM EDT  Reads: 1,694 Traditional and #Agile Distributed Environments | @DevOpsSummit [#DevOps #Docker]By Pat RomanskiOver the years, a variety of methodologies have emerged in order to overcome the challenges related to project constraints. The successful use of each methodology seems highly context-dependent. However, communication seems to be the common denominator of the many challenges that project management methodologies intend to resolve. In this respect, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can be viewed as powerful tools for managing projects. Few research papers have focused on the way...May. 25, 2015 05:00 PM EDT  Reads: 1,978 Architecting with @CloudFoundry | @DevOpsSummit [#DevOps #Microservices]By Elizabeth WhiteAs the world moves from DevOps to NoOps, application deployment to the cloud ought to become a lot simpler. However, applications have been architected with a much tighter coupling than it needs to be which makes deployment in different environments and migration between them harder. The microservices architecture, which is the basis of many new age distributed systems such as OpenStack, Netflix and so on is at the heart of CloudFoundry – a complete developer-oriented Platform as a Service (PaaS...May. 25, 2015 05:00 PM EDT  Reads: 1,858 Cloud Innovation with Thorsten Leiduck By @SAPinMemory | @CloudExpo [#Cloud]By Liz McMillanSAP is delivering break-through innovation combined with fantastic user experience powered by the market-leading in-memory technology, SAP HANA. In his General Session at 15th Cloud Expo, Thorsten Leiduck, VP ISVs & Digital Commerce, SAP, discussed how SAP and partners provide cloud and hybrid cloud solutions as well as real-time Big Data offerings that help companies of all sizes and industries run better. SAP launched an application challenge to award the most innovative SAP HANA and SAP HANA...May. 25, 2015 04:00 PM EDT  Reads: 3,297 Sponsor @ThingsExpo | [#IoT #M2M #WebRTC #DevOps #Microservices]By Liz McMillanWith major technology companies and startups seriously embracing IoT strategies, now is the perfect time to attend @ThingsExpo in Silicon Valley. Learn what is going on, contribute to the discussions, and ensure that your enterprise is as "IoT-Ready" as it can be! Internet of @ThingsExpo, taking place Nov 3-5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA, is co-located with 17th Cloud Expo and will feature technical sessions from a rock star conference faculty and the leading in...May. 25, 2015 04:00 PM EDT  Reads: 3,001 The #DevOps Event of 2015 | @DevOpsSummit [#Docker #Containers #Microservices]By Carmen GonzalezThe widespread success of cloud computing is driving the DevOps revolution in enterprise IT. Now as never before, development teams must communicate and collaborate in a dynamic, 24/7/365 environment. There is no time to wait for long development cycles that produce software that is obsolete at launch. DevOps may be disruptive, but it is essential. The DevOps Summit at Cloud Expo – to be held June 3-5, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City – will expand the DevOps community, enable a wide...May. 25, 2015 03:00 PM EDT  Reads: 2,434 ‘Future of the Cloud’ By @Hookflash | @ThingsExpo [#IoT #Cloud #WebRTC]By Elizabeth WhiteP2P RTC will impact the landscape of communications, shifting from traditional telephony style communications models to OTT (Over-The-Top) cloud assisted & PaaS (Platform as a Service) communication services. The P2P shift will impact many areas of our lives, from mobile communication, human interactive web services, RTC and telephony infrastructure, user federation, security and privacy implications, business costs, and scalability. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Robin Raymond, Chief Architect...May. 25, 2015 03:00 PM EDT  Reads: 4,314 Virtual Machines vs #Containers at @DevOpsSummit New York [#DevOps #Docker #Microservices]By Elizabeth WhiteThere is no question that the cloud is where businesses want to host data. Until recently hypervisor virtualization was the most widely used method in cloud computing. Recently virtual containers have been gaining in popularity, and for good reason. In the debate between virtual machines and containers, the latter have been seen as the new kid on the block – and like other emerging technology have had some initial shortcomings. However, the container space has evolved drastically since coming on...May. 25, 2015 02:45 PM EDT  Reads: 1,798 Architecture for the 'Internet of Things' By @RedHatNews | @ThingsExpo [#IoT]By Elizabeth WhiteExplosive growth in connected devices. Enormous amounts of data for collection and analysis. Critical use of data for split-second decision making and actionable information. All three are factors in making the Internet of Things a reality. Yet, any one factor would have an IT organization pondering its infrastructure strategy. How should your organization enhance its IT framework to enable an Internet of Things implementation? In his session at Internet of @ThingsExpo, James Kirkland, Chief Ar...May. 25, 2015 02:00 PM EDT  Reads: 4,958 Cloud Expo Silicon Valley 'Call for Papers' Open | @CloudExpo [#Cloud]By Elizabeth WhiteThe 17th International Cloud Expo has announced that its Call for Papers is open. 17th International Cloud Expo, to be held November 3-5, 2015, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA, brings together Cloud Computing, APM, APIs, Microservices, Security, Big Data, Internet of Things, DevOps and WebRTC to one location. With cloud computing driving a higher percentage of enterprise IT budgets every year, it becomes increasingly important to plant your flag in this fast-expanding bu...May. 25, 2015 02:00 PM EDT  Reads: 4,583 Andi Mann @DevOpsSummit Chair | @AndiMann [#DevOps #Microservices]By Roger StrukhoffCloud Expo, Inc. has announced today that Andi Mann returns to DevOps Summit 2015 as Conference Chair. The 4th International DevOps Summit will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City. "DevOps is set to be one of the most profound disruptions to hit IT in decades," said Andi Mann. "It is a natural extension of cloud computing, and I have seen both firsthand and in independent research the fantastic results DevOps delivers. So I am excited to help the great team at ...May. 25, 2015 02:00 PM EDT  Reads: 2,045 All-Star @ThingsExpo Faculty Announced | [#InternetOfThings #Microservices #IoT #DevOps] By Carmen GonzalezAll major researchers estimate there will be tens of billions devices - computers, smartphones, tablets, and sensors - connected to the Internet by 2020. This number will continue to grow at a rapid pace for the next several decades. With major technology companies and startups seriously embracing IoT strategies, now is the perfect time to attend @ThingsExpo, June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City. Learn what is going on, contribute to the discussions, and ensure that your enter...May. 25, 2015 01:15 PM EDT  Reads: 2,450 Five Steps to DevOps Success By @AAkela | @DevOpsSummit [#DevOps]By Elizabeth WhiteIn a recent research, analyst firm IDC found that the average cost of a critical application failure is $500,000 to$1 million per hour and the average total cost of unplanned application downtime is $1.25 billion to$2.5 billion per year for Fortune 1000 companies. In addition to the findings on the cost of the downtime, the research also highlighted best practices for development, testing, application support, infrastructure, and operations teams.May. 25, 2015 01:00 PM EDT  Reads: 1,480 Secure the 'Internet of Things' By @JamesKobielus | @ThingsExpo [#IoT]By Elizabeth WhiteThe security devil is always in the details of the attack: the ones you've endured, the ones you prepare yourself to fend off, and the ones that, you fear, will catch you completely unaware and defenseless. The Internet of Things (IoT) is nothing if not an endless proliferation of details. It's the vision of a world in which continuous Internet connectivity and addressability is embedded into a growing range of human artifacts, into the natural world, and even into our smartphones, appliances, a...May. 25, 2015 01:00 PM EDT  Reads: 6,453 Agile Big Data at @CloudExpo New York [#BigData #Docker #Microservices]By Liz McMillanThere is no doubt that Big Data is here and getting bigger every day. Building a Big Data infrastructure today is no easy task. There are an enormous number of choices for database engines and technologies. To make things even more challenging, requirements are getting more sophisticated, and the standard paradigm of supporting historical analytics queries is often just one facet of what is needed. As Big Data growth continues, organizations are demanding real-time access to data, allowing immed...May. 25, 2015 12:30 PM EDT  Reads: 3,282 Docker Management By @CenturyLink | @CloudExpo [#Agile #DevOps #IoT]By Elizabeth WhiteContainer frameworks, such as Docker, provide a variety of benefits, including density of deployment across infrastructure, convenience for application developers to push updates with low operational hand-holding, and a fairly well-defined deployment workflow that can be orchestrated. Container frameworks also enable a DevOps approach to application development by cleanly separating concerns between operations and development teams. But running multi-container, multi-server apps with containers ...May. 25, 2015 12:00 PM EDT  Reads: 2,306