3 1 1 Overview of Cloud infrastructure

Summary

This script discusses cloud infrastructure architecture, emphasizing the importance of Regions, Zones, and Data Centers for fault tolerance and reduced latency. It outlines three compute options: Virtual Servers, Bare Metal Servers, and Serverless computing. The script also covers various storage options, highlighting Object Storage's suitability for cloud environments. Networking is explored, including Software Defined Networking (SDN), security measures like Security Groups and ACLs, and additional services like VPNs and CDNs. The video promises further details on these topics in future episodes.

Takeaways

• 🌐 **Cloud Regions**: Cloud providers have infrastructure spread across multiple geographic Regions to ensure high availability and disaster recovery.
• 🏢 **Availability Zones**: Each Region contains multiple isolated Zones (AZs) which are distinct data centers, enhancing fault tolerance and reducing latency.
• 💻 **Compute Options**: Cloud computing offers virtual servers, bare metal servers, and serverless computing resources to cater to various customer needs.
• 🔒 **Security**: Isolation of Zones helps in avoiding a single point of failure and enhances the overall security of cloud operations.
• 🗄️ **Storage Options**: Cloud storage solutions include local drives, block storage, file storage, and object storage, each with different use cases and performance characteristics.
• 🚫 **Data Persistence**: Local drives on cloud servers are temporary; for persistent data storage, customers must use additional cloud storage options.
• 🌐 **Networking**: Cloud data centers use a combination of traditional networking hardware and Software Defined Networking (SDN) for efficient network management.
• 🌐 **Public and Private Networks**: Cloud servers have public interfaces for internet access and private interfaces for secure connectivity within the cloud environment.
• 🛡️ **Security Measures**: Security Groups and Access Control Lists (ACLs) are used to control access to cloud resources.
• 🔗 **Advanced Networking**: Cloud providers offer advanced networking features like VLANs, VPCs, VPNs, and CDNs for enhanced security and performance.
• 📈 **Continuous Improvement**: Cloud infrastructure is in a state of constant evolution, with upcoming videos detailing virtualization and virtual machines.

Q & A

What is the significance of the infrastructure layer in cloud computing?

The infrastructure layer is the foundation of the cloud, consisting of physical resources that form the basis for all cloud services.

How are cloud providers' IT environments typically distributed?

Cloud providers' IT environments are typically distributed across many Regions around the world to ensure redundancy and availability.

What is a Cloud Region and how does it contribute to cloud operations?

A Cloud Region is a geographic area where a cloud provider's infrastructure is clustered. It contributes to cloud operations by providing a localized infrastructure that can operate independently in case of regional disasters.

What are Zones in cloud computing and how do they enhance fault tolerance?

Zones, also known as Availability Zones, are distinct Data Centers within a Region. They enhance fault tolerance by isolating resources so that a failure in one Zone does not affect the others.

How are Availability Zones connected to other components of the cloud infrastructure?

Availability Zones are connected to other AZs, Regions, private datacenters, and the Internet using high bandwidth network connectivity, ensuring robust interconnectivity.

What is a cloud Data Center and what does it typically contain?

A cloud Data Center is a large facility that houses cloud infrastructure, including pods, racks, servers, storage, and networking equipment.

What are the different types of computing resources offered by cloud providers?

Cloud providers offer Virtual Servers, Bare Metal Servers, and Serverless computing resources, each serving different customer needs and use cases.

Why are hypervisors important in cloud datacenters?

Hypervisors are important because they enable the creation of virtual servers or VMs, which allow for flexible and scalable resource allocation.

What are the storage options available for cloud servers and what are their purposes?

Cloud servers are provisioned with default storage in local drives, but for persistent data storage, customers can choose from Block storage, File storage, and Object storage based on their specific requirements.

Why is Object storage considered the most common mode of storage in the cloud?

Object storage is the most common in the cloud because it is highly distributed and resilient, making it ideal for storing large amounts of unstructured data.

How does Software Defined Networking (SDN) simplify cloud networking?

SDN simplifies cloud networking by virtualizing certain networking resources and making them programmatically accessible through APIs, facilitating easier provisioning, configuration, and management.

What are the differences between public and private network interfaces in cloud servers?

Public network interfaces connect servers to the internet, while private interfaces provide secure connectivity to other cloud resources within the same network.

What security measures are typically implemented in cloud networking?

Security measures in cloud networking include setting up Security Groups, Access Control Lists (ACLs), Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs), and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

What is the role of Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) in cloud infrastructure?

CDNs play a role in cloud infrastructure by distributing content to multiple points worldwide, allowing users to access content more quickly from a nearby location.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Cloud Infrastructure Basics

This paragraph discusses the foundational elements of cloud infrastructure. It starts with the importance of planning the infrastructure architecture after selecting a cloud service model and vendor. The infrastructure layer is described as the base of the cloud, composed of physical resources located in Regions, Zones, and Data Centers. Regions are geographic areas where cloud infrastructure is clustered and are isolated for disaster resilience. Zones, or Availability Zones (AZs), are distinct data centers within a region, enhancing fault tolerance and reducing latency. Data centers house the physical infrastructure, including pods, racks, servers, storage, and networking equipment. The paragraph also covers computing resources like virtual servers, bare metal servers, and serverless computing. Storage options are mentioned, including the risks of local drives and the availability of persistent storage options like block, file, and object storage. Lastly, it touches on networking infrastructure, including SDN, public and private network interfaces, and the importance of IP addresses and subnets.

05:04

🔒 Cloud Networking and Security

The second paragraph delves into the networking and security aspects of cloud environments. It emphasizes the need to configure access to resources by setting up Security Groups and Access Control Lists (ACLs). The paragraph introduces Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs), and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for enhanced security and isolation. It also mentions the virtualization of traditional hardware appliances like firewalls, load balancers, and traffic analyzers. Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) are highlighted for their role in distributing content globally to improve access speed. The paragraph concludes by noting the continuous advancement of cloud infrastructure, with a预告 of the next video focusing on virtualization and virtual machines.

Keywords

💡Cloud Service Model

A Cloud Service Model refers to the different ways cloud computing services can be delivered to users. This includes Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). In the script, choosing the right cloud service model is critical as it determines the level of control and management responsibility the customer has over the cloud infrastructure.

💡Cloud Type

Cloud Type refers to the various deployment models of cloud computing services, such as Public Cloud, Private Cloud, Community Cloud, and Hybrid Cloud. The choice of cloud type affects the security, cost, and compliance considerations for customers, as discussed in the script when planning the infrastructure architecture.

💡Regions

In the context of cloud computing, Regions are geographic areas where cloud service providers cluster their infrastructure. They are designed to be isolated from each other to ensure that a disaster in one region does not affect others, as mentioned in the script with the example of an earthquake.

💡Zones

Zones, also known as Availability Zones, are distinct data centers within a Region. They have their own power, cooling, and networking resources. The script highlights that these zones improve fault tolerance and reduce latency, avoiding a single point of failure.

💡Data Centers

Data Centers are the physical locations that house the cloud infrastructure, including servers, storage, and networking equipment. The script describes them as huge rooms or warehouses containing the physical resources that form the foundation of cloud services.

💡Virtual Servers

Virtual Servers, or Virtual Machines (VMs), are software-based computers created using virtualization technologies. They run on hypervisors installed on physical servers within cloud data centers. The script explains that customers can provision VMs on-demand to run their workloads.

💡Bare Metal Servers

Bare Metal Servers are physical servers that are not virtualized and offer customers direct access to the underlying hardware. The script mentions that these servers can be provisioned as needed, providing a non-virtualized option for running workloads.

💡Serverless Computing

Serverless Computing is an abstraction layer on top of virtual machines where the cloud provider manages the servers and the customer only pays for the compute time they consume. The script indicates that serverless computing resources allow cloud users to run workloads without managing servers.

💡Storage Options

Storage Options in the cloud refer to various methods of storing data, including Block Storage, File Storage, and Object Storage. The script emphasizes the importance of choosing the right storage option based on factors like data importance, access speed, frequency of access, and security requirements.

💡Object Storage

Object Storage is a highly distributed and resilient mode of storage commonly used in the cloud. It is designed to handle large unstructured data and is scalable. The script points out that object storage is the most common storage mode in the cloud due to its ability to handle the scale and distributed nature of cloud environments.

💡Software Defined Networking (SDN)

SDN is a networking approach where network functions are decoupled from hardware and managed programmatically through software, often via APIs. The script explains that cloud providers offer SDN options, allowing for easier network provisioning, configuration, and management in the cloud.

💡Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)

CDNs are networks of distributed servers that deliver web content to users from the server closest to them. This improves the speed and performance of content delivery. The script mentions CDNs as a capability provided by cloud providers to distribute content globally for faster access.

Highlights

Customers need to plan the infrastructure architecture after choosing the cloud service model and cloud type.

The infrastructure layer is the foundation of the cloud.

Cloud infrastructure consists of physical resources housed in Regions, Zones, and Data Centers.

A Cloud Region is a geographic area where a Cloud provider's infrastructure is clustered.

Cloud Regions are isolated from each other for disaster recovery purposes.

Each Cloud Region can have multiple Zones, which are distinct Data Centers.

Zones improve fault tolerance, decrease latency, and avoid single points of failure.

Availability Zones are connected to other AZs, regions, private datacenters, and the Internet using high bandwidth network connectivity.

A cloud Data Center contains pods and racks or standardized containers of computing resources.

Cloud providers offer compute options like Virtual Servers, Bare Metal Servers, and Serverless computing resources.

Most servers in a cloud datacenter run hypervisors to create virtual servers or virtual machines.

Customers can provision VMs and Bare Metal servers as needed and run their workloads on them.

Serverless computing resources provide an abstraction layer on top of virtual machines.

Data can be stored in various storage options on the Cloud, including Block, File, and Object storage.

Object storage is the most common mode of storage in the cloud due to its distributed and resilient nature.

Networking infrastructure in a cloud datacenter includes traditional hardware like routers and switches, and Software Defined Networking (SDN) options.

Cloud providers offer virtualized networking resources through APIs for easier provisioning, configuration, and management.

Servers in the cloud need to be set up with public and private network interfaces.

Security Groups and Access Control Lists (ACLs) are used to configure network traffic and user access to cloud resources.

Cloud providers offer Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs), and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for security and isolation.

Traditional hardware appliances like firewalls and load balancers can be virtualized and provided as cloud services.

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) distribute content globally for faster access to users.

Cloud infrastructure is constantly advancing and improving.

Transcripts

After choosing the cloud service model and the cloud type offered by vendors, customers

need to plan the infrastructure architecture.

The infrastructure layer is the foundation of the cloud.

This layer consists of physical resources that are housed in Regions, Zones and Data

Centers.

A Cloud provider’s IT environment is typically distributed across many Regions around the

world.

A cloud Region, is a geographic area or location where a Cloud provider’s infrastructure

is clustered, and may have names like NA South or US East.

The cloud Regions are isolated from each other so that if one Region was impacted by a natural

disaster like an Earthquake, the Cloud operations in other Regions would keep running.

Each Cloud Region can have multiple Zones (or Availability Zones or AZ for short), which

are typically distinct Data Centers with their own power, cooling and networking resources.

These Zones can have names like DAL-09 or us-east-1.

The isolation of zones improves the cloud’s overall fault tolerance, decreases latency,

and avoids creating a single shared point of failure.

The Availability Zones (and DataCenters within them) are connected to other AZs and regions,

private datacenters and the Internet using very high bandwidth network connectivity.

A cloud Data center is a huge room or a warehouse containing cloud infrastructure.

These data centers contain pods and racks or standardized containers of computing resources

such as servers, as well as storage, and networking equipment - virtually everything that a physical

IT environment has.

Computing Resources: Cloud providers offer several compute options

– Virtual Servers, Bare Metal Servers, and “Serverless” computing resources.

Most of the servers in a cloud datacenter run hypervisors to create virtual servers

or virtual machines (also called VMs for short), that are software-based computers, based on

virtualization technologies.

Other servers in the racks are bare metal servers that are physical servers that aren’t

virtualized.

Customers can provision VMs and Bare Metals servers as and when they need them and run

their workloads on them.

Cloud users can also run their workloads on serverless computing resources, which are

an abstraction layer on top of virtual machines.

We will talk about all three compute options in greater detail in subsequent videos.

Storage: Information and data can consist of files,

code, documents, images, videos, backups, snapshots, and databases and can be stored

in many different types of storage options on the Cloud.

Bare Metal Servers and Virtual Servers are provisioned with default storage in local

drives.

Since these cloud servers can be provisioned and decommissioned by customers on demand

and freed up for use by other users, any information stored in a local drive can be lost when you

delete or decommission a cloud server.

However there are other storage options available on the cloud to persist data that you can

choose depending on factors like how important your data is, how quickly you want to be able

to access it, how often you access it, and how secure you need it to be.

These additional storage options include Block storage, File storage, and Object storage.

Block and file storage modes are commonly used in traditional data centers, but “often

struggle with scale, performance and distributed characteristics of cloud.”

Object storage is the most common mode of storage in the cloud as it’s both highly

distributed and resilient.

We will examine Object Storage and the other storage options in more detail in later videos.

Networking: Networking infrastructure in a cloud datacenter

includes traditional networking hardware like routers and switches, but more importantly

for users of the Cloud, the Cloud providers have Software Defined Networking (or SDN)

options where certain networking resources are virtualized or made available programmatically,

through APIs.

This allows for easier network provisioning, configuration, and management in the cloud.

When servers in the cloud are provisioned, you need to setup their public and private

network interfaces.

The public network interfaces, as the name suggests, connect the servers to the public

internet, whereas the private ones provide connectivity to your other cloud resources

and help keep them secure.

As in the physical IT world, network interfaces in the cloud need to have IP addresses and

subnets either assigned automatically or configured.

In a cloud environment it is even more important to configure which network traffic and users

can access your resources, which can be done by setting up Security Groups and Access Control

Lists (or ACLs).

For further security and isolation of your resources in the cloud, most Cloud providers

provide Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs), and Virtual

Private Networks (VPNs).

Some of the traditional hardware appliances such as firewalls, load balancers, gateways

and traffic analyzers can also be virtualized and made available as services in the cloud.

Another networking capability provided by the Cloud Providers is Content Delivery Networks

or CDNs, that distribute content to multiple points throughout the world so users accessing

the content can access it more quickly by getting it from a point nearest to them.

We will learn more about some of these cloud networking options and terminology in subsequent

videos.

Cloud infrastructure is constantly advancing and improving.

In the next video, we explain virtualization and virtual machines.