Cloud Computing

Question 1

What is scalability?

Answer 1

Think “scaling.” It’s the ability for an application to automatically add preconfigured compute resources to meet increasing demand (i.e. automatically launching new server instances to add extra compute power to your existing cluster).

Question 2

What is elasticity?

Answer 2

Think of a rubber band that stretches and returns back to its normal size. It’s the ability of an application to increase or decrease compute resources to match changing demand. We have the responsibility to set the min/max performance levels, and AWS will either add servers or decrease the amount of servers depending on the demand.

Question 3

What are some direct benefits of server virtualization?

Answer 3

Fast resourcing, provisioning and launching (speed)

Efficient (high-density) use of resources (efficiency)

Question 4

What is server virtualization?

Answer 4

Logically partitioning physical compute and storage devices into multiple smaller virtual devices

Question 5

What is a hypervisor?

Answer 5

Software used to administrate virtualized resources on physical infrastructure

Question 6

What is IaaS?

Answer 6

Infrastructure as a Service is a service that gives you direct control over underlying compute and storage resources (i.e. EC2).

Question 7

What is PaaS?

Answer 7

Platform as a Service is a service that hides infrastructure complexity behind a simple interface (i.e. Elastic Beanstalk and ECS).

Question 8

What is SaaS?

Answer 8

Software as a Service is a service that provides a service to end users through a public network (Simple Email Service).