Piston:Getting started

What is a cloud?

The term cloud is often user with really understanding its meaning. Its a term used across a number of different disciplines to describe a group of things that appear as one, from a distance, such as:

• Meteorology: A waether cloud is a mass of water droplets
• Mathematics: A larger number of points on a graph is a point cloud
• Astronomy: Star Clouds

In computing a cloud refers to a collections of computing technologies that work together to provide a service. While this definitions can be applied to a large number of systems, cloud computing is defined by serveral traits:

• Rapid elasticity - capabilities are easily scaled
• Measured Service - monitoring by consumption
• On demand self service - Provision as much as you need
• Broad Network - Access any where on any device
• Resource Pooling: Infrastructure is shared