cloud operating system (cloud OS)

A cloud operating system(cloud OS) is software for operating complex and virtualized IT infrastructures with applications, servers, storage components and networks at one or more locations. Well-known cloud operating systems are vSphere from VMware, Windows Azure from Microsoft, OpenStack from the OpenStack Foundation and CoCloud from the Chinese network supplier ZTE.

A cloud OS delivers business-critical services independent of physical infrastructure and location. While adhering to mandatory service levels, porting applications between internal and external cloud infrastructures becomes possible. Because applications run on virtual machines and fewer servers, storage resources and networks are utilized more efficiently. A cloud OS manages applications through service level agreements(SLAs) for availability, security and performance, and runs applications on common and scalable x86 components. It should also be possible to move individual applications between internal and external operating environments to optimize hardware utilization.

The core tasks of a cloud operating system are application control with service level compliance and virtualization of servers, storage components and networks. This also allows separate hardware resources to be combined into virtual computing platforms with a structure similar to a mainframe.

A cloud OS delivers data processing with binding service levels, enabling virtual deployments and cloud operations across data centers in multiple locations. The cloud OS also provides an overview of system processes and dynamic transfer of resources to peak demand, as well as deriving new scenarios for service management.