User subscription-based resource management for Desktop-as-a-Service platforms

The Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) idiom consists of utilizing a cloud or other server infrastructure to host the user's desktop environment as a virtual desktop. Typical for cloud and DaaS services is the pay-as-you-go pricing model in combination with the availability of multiple subscription types to accommodate the needs of the users. However, optimal cost-efficient allocation of the virtual desktops to the infrastructure proves to be a combinatorial NP-hard problem, for which a heuristic is presented in the current article. We present a cost model for the DaaS service, from which a revenue of different configurations of virtual desktops to the servers can be derived. In this cost model, both subscription fee and penalties for degraded service are recorded, that are described in service-level agreements (SLAs) between the service provider and the users, and make realistic assumptions that different subscription types result in particular SLA contracts. The heuristic proposed states that for a given user base for which the virtual desktops (VDs) must be hosted, the VDs should be spread evenly over the infrastructure. Experiments through discrete event simulation show that this heuristic yields an approximation within 1 % of the theoretically achievable revenue

Cloud-based desktop services for thin clients

Cloud computing and ubiquitous network availability have renewed people's interest in the thin client concept. By executing applications in virtual desktops on cloud servers, users can access any application from any location with any device. For this to be a successful alternative to traditional offline applications, however, researchers must overcome important challenges. The thin client protocol must display audiovisual output fluidly, and the server executing the virtual desktop should have sufficient resources and ideally be close to the user's current location to limit network delay. From a service provider viewpoint, cost reduction is also an important issue

Inter-Domain Integration of Services and Service Management

The evolution of the global telecommunications industry into an open services market presents developers of telecommunication service and management systems with many new challenges. Increased competition, complex service provision chains and integrated service offerings require effective techniques for the rapid integration of service and management systems over multiple organisational domains. These integration issues have been examined in the ACTS project Prospect by developing a working set of integrated, managed telecommunications services for a user trial. This paper presents the initial results of this work detailing the technologies and standards used, the architectural approach taken and the application of this approach to specific services

Cloudbus Toolkit for Market-Oriented Cloud Computing

This keynote paper: (1) presents the 21st century vision of computing and identifies various IT paradigms promising to deliver computing as a utility; (2) defines the architecture for creating market-oriented Clouds and computing atmosphere by leveraging technologies such as virtual machines; (3) provides thoughts on market-based resource management strategies that encompass both customer-driven service management and computational risk management to sustain SLA-oriented resource allocation; (4) presents the work carried out as part of our new Cloud Computing initiative, called Cloudbus: (i) Aneka, a Platform as a Service software system containing SDK (Software Development Kit) for construction of Cloud applications and deployment on private or public Clouds, in addition to supporting market-oriented resource management; (ii) internetworking of Clouds for dynamic creation of federated computing environments for scaling of elastic applications; (iii) creation of 3rd party Cloud brokering services for building content delivery networks and e-Science applications and their deployment on capabilities of IaaS providers such as Amazon along with Grid mashups; (iv) CloudSim supporting modelling and simulation of Clouds for performance studies; (v) Energy Efficient Resource Allocation Mechanisms and Techniques for creation and management of Green Clouds; and (vi) pathways for future research.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, Conference pape

Transparent resource sharing framework for internet services on handheld devices

Handheld devices have limited processing power and a short battery lifetime. As a result, computationally intensive applications cannot run appropriately or cause the device to run out of battery too early. Additionally, Internet-based service providers targeting these mobile devices lack information to estimate the remaining battery autonomy and have no view on the availability of idle resources in the neighborhood of the handheld device. These battery-related issues create an opportunity for Internet providers to broaden their role and start managing energy aspects of battery-driven mobile devices inside the home. In this paper, we propose an energy-aware resource-sharing framework that enables Internet access providers to delegate (a part of) a client application from a handheld device to idle resources in the LAN, in a transparent way for the end-user. The key component is the resource sharing service, hosted on the LAN gateway, which can be remotely queried and managed by the Internet access provider. The service includes a battery model to predict the remaining battery lifetime. We describe the concept of resource-sharing-as-a-service that allows users of handheld devices to subscribe to the resource sharing service. In a proof-of-concept, we evaluate the delay to offload a client application to an idle computer and study the impact on battery autonomy as a function of the CPU cycles that can be offloaded

On the Business Models of Cloud-based Modelling and Simulation for Decision Support

Simulation modelling is one of the techniques used for decision support in a wide range of domains and cloud computing is beginning to make some impact on simulation modelling by enabling ubiquitous, convenient and on-demand access to a variety of computing services. The cloud-based modelling and simulation (CBMS) literature has focused on how to develop CBMS tools using existing technologies. While this technical aspect is important, understanding the business aspect of CBMS is instrumental for its adoption by users and for ensuring the sustainability of the broader CBMS service supply chain. This paper presents a review of the business models adopted by vendors that provide Web or mobile applications for simulation modelling. An analysis of the offerings of these vendors provides some insights into how cloud services can be provided and used as part of CBMS business models. The study is conducted by reviewing the websites of simulation vendors. This study fills a gap in the literature on the business aspect of CBMS by providing insights into CBMS business model patterns. It highlights the importance of developing innovative business models that can help generate new market opportunities and revenue streams along the CBMS service supply chain. It also stresses the role of contracting in addressing the reported challenges and risks underpinning the provision and use of CBMS services