Overview of Cloud Computing The Wikipedia entry on Cloud Computing uses the analogy of an electricity grid to describe the basic concepts underlying cloud computing "Cloud computing provides computation, software, data access, and storage services that do not require end-user knowledge of the physical location and configuration of the system that delivers the services. Parallels to this concept can be drawn with the electricity grid, wherein end-users consume power without needing to understand the component devices or infrastructure required to provide the service."

The attraction of cloud computing is the in the possibility of adding extra IT capacity, or data processing capabilities or access to new applications without having to invest in extra infrastructure, having to train new admin staff, or having to purchase new software, but, instead being able to make use of a usage or subscription-based service. This is now a realistic possibility thanks to the widespread availability of broadband internet connectivity and web service oriented technology.

Applications can be accessed either via a web browser, or by applications that make use of the basic HTTP protocol such as those based on RESTful services (which do not necessarily need a web browser) , or via thin client technologies (Linux, or Windows based).

The various services that constitute a cloud computing infrastructure may be either private, or, commercial, delivered through shared data-centers. The courses outlined below cover the range from a high level technical overview, through to cloud service deployment and application framework development on either Linux or Microsoft Windows platforms.

Click on the links below for HTML versions of the full course outllines

Crs	Title	Days	Outline
CLD101	Overview of Cloud Computing	1	HTML
CLD102	Cloud Computing with Microsoft's Azure Platform	5	HTML
CLD103	Building Google App Engine Applications in Python	5	HTML
CLD104	Developing Cloud Computing Applications using Amazon Web Services	5	HTML
CLD105	Cloud Computing using Openstack and Linux	5	HTML