Cloud Computing Questions Medium
Cloud computing and distributed computing are two different concepts, although they share some similarities.
Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services over the internet. It involves the provision of on-demand access to a shared pool of computing resources, such as servers, storage, databases, software, and applications. Users can access these resources remotely and pay only for the resources they use. Cloud computing offers scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, as it eliminates the need for organizations to invest in and maintain their own physical infrastructure.
On the other hand, distributed computing refers to the use of multiple computers or servers to solve a complex problem or perform a task. In distributed computing, the workload is divided among multiple machines, which work together to achieve a common goal. Each machine in the distributed system has its own processing power and memory, and they communicate and coordinate with each other to complete the task efficiently. Distributed computing is often used for high-performance computing, data-intensive applications, and parallel processing.
The main difference between cloud computing and distributed computing lies in their focus and architecture. Cloud computing is primarily concerned with the delivery of computing services over the internet, while distributed computing focuses on dividing a task among multiple machines to improve performance and efficiency. Cloud computing can utilize distributed computing techniques to allocate resources and manage workloads, but it also encompasses other aspects such as virtualization, service models (such as Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service), and resource pooling.
In summary, cloud computing is a broader concept that encompasses the delivery of computing services over the internet, while distributed computing specifically refers to the use of multiple machines to solve a task or perform a complex computation.