Recent Advances in Applied Computer Science and Digital Services

Study on advantages and disadvantages of Cloud Computing – the

advantages of Telemetry Applications in the Cloud
ANCA APOSTU1, FLORINA PUICAN2, GEANINA ULARU3, GEORGE SUCIU4, GYORGY
TODORAN5
1, 2, 3
Economic Informatics and Cybernetics Department
Academy of Economic Studies
15-17, Calea DorobanŃi, Bucharest
4, 5
University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest
ROMANIA
1
ancaiapostu@gmail.com, puicanflorina@yahoo.com, 3ularugeanina@yahoo.com,
2
4
george.suciu@radio.pub.ro, 5todoran.gyorgy@gmail.com

Abstract: - As companies of all shapes and sizes begin to adapt to cloud computing, this new technology is
evolving like never before. Industry experts believe that this trend will only continue to grow and develop even
further in the coming few years. While Cloud computing is undoubtedly beneficial for mid-size to large
companies, it is not without its downsides, especially for smaller businesses. In this paper we are presenting a
list of advantages and disadvantages of Cloud computing technology, with a view to helping enterprises fully
understand and adopt the concept of Cloud computing. Also, in the last chapter we are presenting a cloud
application for telemetry with a focus on monitoring hydro-energy, in order to demonstrate the advantages that
cloud technology can have for this domain. We consider that the way to make cloud vastly benefit all types of
businesses is to know very well it's ups and downs and adapt to them accordingly.

Key-Words: - Cloud Computing, Grid Computing, telemetry, architecture, advantages, disadvantages.

1 Introduction simultaneously in their browsers, and even make

Nowadays evolution has its premises on the fact that changes that other authorized users can see in real-
faster access to innovation drives higher time. Eliminating attachment round-trips by storing
productivity. The Web is recognized as epicenter of data in the cloud saves time and reduces frustrations
innovation. Rapid innovation powered by the Cloud for teams who need to work together efficiently.
has an advantage over traditional technology cycles: Through synchronous replication, data and user
employees adapt to a continuous stream of actions are mirrored in nearly real-time across
manageable improvements better than they tolerate multiple data centers. If one data center becomes
large, disruptive batches of change. Gradual unavailable for any reason, the system is designed to
iterations in bite-sized chunks substantially reduce instantly fall back to a secondary data center with no
change-management challenges. Conversely, user-visible interruption in service.
employees are subjected to a painful re-learning Cloud provides extensive flexibility and control.
cycle each time companies upgrade traditional Nevertheless, moving to the cloud doesn't mean that
software. businesses lose control of their data or their
technology. For example, the Google Apps Terms
of Service explicitly state that customers retain
ownership of their data in Google Apps.
2 Cloud Computing – actual context Furthermore, cloud providers give controls so
Because data is stored in the Cloud instead of on
administrators can manage which applications their
employee computers, Cloud computing enhances
users can access and how employees can use each
multiple users to access and contribute to projects
service. They also allow administrators build
simultaneously without worrying about using the
custom functionality and integrations with other
same operating system, software, or browser. For
technologies.
example, instead of collaborating on a document by
Going detailed in the topic of Cloud Computing
sending back and forth revision after revision as
we must mention that Cloud Computing is split in
attachments, documents are stored in the cloud.
three different categories according to [1]:
Coworkers can access the web-based document

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 Recent Advances in Applied Computer Science and Digital Services

1) IaaS - Infrastructure as a Service: Virtual computing, because the grid holds the control on
provision of computing power and/or memory. the resources, without necessarily virtualzing them.
Source [2] mentions a prominent example of an From the security model perspective, there might
IaaS service the Amazon WS service. be a potential issue in cloud. For data protection, the
2) PaaS – Platform as a Service: Provision of a users might desire to manage their own private keys,
runtime environment, like application servers, but for this, detailed private key management should
databases, In this area, paper [2] provides be provided. Nevertheless, from Grid computing
Google’s App Engine as probably the most perspective resources are heterogeneous and have
prominent example. their autonomy. The security in Grid computing is
3) SaaS – Software as a Service: Provision of
assured in the infrastructure.
usually browser based applications that can
Our comparison between the two technologies
directly be used. Google Docs or the Customer
puts in spot light the common share of visions and
Relationship Management software of
architectures, but also the differences between them
salesforce.com might serve as examples.
at the data management and security model. We
have identified the weaknesses that should be
overcome by both technologies in order to speed up
3 Evolution is shown by new their evolution.
achievements - Distributed Computing
versus Grid Computing
Cloud evolved from Grid computing, but the latter 4 Analysis of advantages and
can function separately. Cloud definition usually disadvantages of Cloud Computing
superposes with Grid computing technology or more In the following section we are presenting the main
generally with distributed computing definition. advantages and disadvantages of Cloud Computing
From the end user perspective, the interest in what applying them for telemetry applications.
actually happens “behind the scenes” in Cloud is
minimum, in comparison with system administrators
who virtualize servers and handle applications in 4.1 Advantages of Cloud Computing
cloud. Grid Computing is the infrastructure on Speaking about advantages of Cloud Computing we
which cloud computing relies. present bellow the main benefits for businesses in
There are differences and similarities between general, focusing at some points on examples for
the two mentioned technologies. Cloud and grid small businesses:
computing assure scalability, they are multitasking
Cost efficiency - Cloud computing is probably
and share resources among a large number of end the most cost efficient method to use, maintain
users. The differences come by analyzing the and upgrade, as explained in [5]. Traditional
computing model, data management, the desktop software costs companies a lot, in terms
of finance. Adding up the licensing fees for
visualization or security model. Grid Computing
multiple users can prove to be very expensive
“enables resource sharing and coordinated problem
for the establishment concerned. The cloud, on
solving in dynamic, virtual organizations”[3]. From the other hand, is available at much cheaper
computing model perspective, grid computing uses rates and hence, can significantly lower the
batch computation and via batches there are company’s IT expenses. Besides, there are many
identified users and the number of processors one-time-payment, pay-as-you-go and other
required, whereas Cloud computing functions with scalable options available, which makes it very
resources shared by users in the same time. reasonable for the company in question.
Data management structure is very important to Paper [6] adds up that it lowers the cost for
provide management implementation to the needed smaller firms which intend to apply the
data and also a fast and efficient data retrieval. Grid compute-intensive techniques.
computing is using dataware schedulers[4], but
Almost Unlimited Storage. Storing information
Cloud might be challenged by the data handling in the cloud gives you almost unlimited storage
from applications, without investing in the data capacity.
access patters. Virtualization and encapsulation are
Backup and Recovery. Since all the data is
very used in cloud and more intensively in grid stored in the cloud, backing it up and restoring
the same is relatively much easier than storing
the same on a physical device. Furthermore,

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 Recent Advances in Applied Computer Science and Digital Services

most cloud service providers are usually standardized API used to implement parallel
competent enough to handle recovery of applications.
information. Hence, this makes the entire The MPI implications for virtualized resources
process of backup and recovery much simpler might be analysed through its implementation. The
than other traditional methods of data storage. analysis of performance achievement implies the

Automatic Software Integration. In the cloud, understanding of the complex process of the
software integration is usually something that application's adoption of MPI and its impact on
occurs automatically. This means that Cloud cloud resources. MPI sustains I/O operations,
users don’t need to take additional efforts to collective communication and point-to-point
customize and integrate their applications as per communication [6]. The improvements of MPI on
own preferences. This aspect usually takes care the application reflect the mapping of the processors
of itself. from the clusters. The CPUs evaluation might

Easy Access to Information. Once the users provide indicators regarding this aspect.
register in the cloud, they can access the From the performance point of view we propose
information from anywhere, where there is an a comparison for different characteristics of the
Internet connection. This convenient feature lets parallel computing technologies. From the
users move beyond time zone and geographic programming languages perspective, for MPI, there
location issues. are used C++, Java and C#, for Dryad there are C#

Quick Deployment. Lastly and most and DryadLINQ, for MapReduce and Hadopp the
importantly, Cloud computing gives the main used language is Java. The data usage is
advantage of quick deployment. Once opting for assured by MPI, Dryad and MapReduce through
this method of functioning, the entire system directories, shared files and local disks and for
can be fully functional in a matter of a few Hadoop by HDFS. The communication is achieved
minutes. Of course, the amount of time taken in MapReduce by distribution network, in Hadoop
here will depend on the exact kind of by HDFS, in MPI and Dryad by files and TCP
technology that is needed for the business. pipes. The failures are worked on differently

Easier scale of services. It makes it easier for according to what technology is utilized; for MPI
enterprises to scale their service according to the there is OpenMPI and for Dryad the failure is
demand of clients. handled by the re-execution of maps.

Deliver new services. It makes possible new Cloud technologies enhance the way Big data is
classes of applications and deliveries of new handled and the processes used for failures
services that are interactive in nature. approaches. The minuses might be considered when
the computation is moved to data and the parallel
4.2 Performance achievement with Cloud computing is done on the local storage.
Technologies and Parallel Computing
Among the benefits of Cloud Computing there can
be mentioned the accessibility to customized virtual 4.3 Disadvantages of Cloud Computing
machines, the payment done for what it is used and In spite of its many benefits, as mentioned above,
efficient resource allocation. Cloud computing Cloud computing also has its disadvantages.
brings advantages not only to large companies, but Businesses, especially smaller ones, need to be
also to small and medium-sized ones, by aware of these aspects before going in for this
outsourcing data infrastructure. The data can be technology. The main risks involved in Cloud
accessed from any location, from the clouds. Computing are:
Better performance is achieved in the context of
Technical Issues. Though it is true that
parallel computing with Cloud technologies. information and data on the Cloud can be
Applications that encounter latencies can overcome accessed any time and from anywhere, there are
their deficiencies by utilizing technologies such as moments when the system can have some
Apache Hadoop(a study on Apache Hadoop is serious malfunction. Businesses should be
presented in paper [7]), MapReduce (former CGL- aware of the fact that this technology is always
MapReduce) and Dryad. Nevertheless, more prone to outages and other technical issues.
complex applications, with higher expectations from Even the best Cloud service providers run into
the performance point of view, require this kind of trouble, in spite of keeping up high
communication paradigms and customized network standards of maintenance.
settings such as MPI (Message Passing Interface), a
Security in the Cloud. The other major issue of
Cloud is represented by security. Before

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 Recent Advances in Applied Computer Science and Digital Services

adopting this technology, beneficiaries should applications make it difficult to get customer
know that they will be surrendering all their service promptly – or at all. Sending an email
company’s sensitive information to a third-party and hoping for a response within 48 hours is not
cloud service provider. This could potentially an acceptable way for most of us to run a
impose a great risk to the company. Hence, business".
businesse need to make sure that they choose The New York Times writes: "The bottom line:
the most reliable service provider, who will If you need handholding or if you are not
keep their information totally secure. comfortable trying to find advice on user
Switching to the cloud can actually improve forums, the cloud probably is not ideal"
security for a small business, as mentioned by Thinking About Moving to the Cloud? There
Michael Redding, managing director of Are Trade-Offs.
Accenture Technology Labs. "Because large As paper [8] explains about adoption of Cloud
cloud computing companies have more computing, “it doesn't mean that every small
resources, he says, they are often able to offer business should immediately throw out all their
levels of security an average small business may servers and software and conduct all their business
not be able to afford implementing on its own operations in the cloud”. Small business owners
servers" (Outsource IT Headaches to the Cloud have different needs and different comfort levels. It
(The Globe and Mail)). may be more advantageous for you to use cloud

Prone to attack. Storing information in the computing only for certain applications. Or even not
cloud could make the companies vulnerable to at all. Previously to adopting Cloud computing,
external hack attacks and threats, therefore there business owners should consider how these
is always the lurking possibility of stealth of disadvantages of cloud computing could affect their
sensitive data. small business.

Possible downtime. Cloud computing makes the
small business dependent on the reliability of
their Internet connection. 4.4. Cloud Advantages for Telemetry

Cost. At first glance, a cloud computing Applications
application may appear to be a lot cheaper than After analysing the advantages and disadvantages of
a particular software solution installed and run Cloud, in this chapter we present a Cloud test
in-house. Still, the companies need to ensure platform for clean energy production telemetry, with
that the cloud applications have all the features focus on hydro-energy. We use different types of
that the software does and if not, to identify RTU’s (Remote Telemetry Units) and sensors that
which are the missing features important to monitor and transmit important information from
them. selected locations such as temperature, precipitation,
A total cost comparison is also required. While water level in the dam, quantity of water captured
many cloud computer vendors present during winter or summer.
themselves as utility-based providers, claiming Our system can be connected with other
that they only charge for what customers use, management systems to make better use of
Gartner says that this isn't true; in most cases, a resources keeping in view other factors like energy
company must commit to a predetermined price, consumption trends and to improve risk
contract independent of actual use. Companies management [9].
need to look closely at the pricing plans and SlapOS[10] is an open source Cloud Operating
details for each application. system which was inspired by recent research in

Inflexibility. Choosing a Cloud computing Grid Computing and in particular by Bonjour Grid
vendor oftenly means locking the business into [11], a meta Desktop Grid middleware for the
using their proprietary applications or formats. coordination of multiple instances of Desktop Grid
For instance, it is not possible to insert a middleware. It is based on the motto that
document created in another application into a ”everything is a process”.
Google Docs spreadsheet. Furthermore, a SlapOS Master follows an Enterprise Resource
company needs to be able to add and/or subtract Planning (ERP) model to handle at the same time
Cloud computing users as necessary as its process allocation optimization and billing. SLAP
business grows or contracts. stands for “Simple Language for Accounting and

Lack of support. Anita Campbell(OPEN Forum) Provisioning”.
writes, "Customer service for Web apps leaves a
lot to be desired - all too many cloud-based

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 Recent Advances in Applied Computer Science and Digital Services

4.5 Cloud Telemetry Components Master node. This may include the URL of a
On our Cloud testing environment we provide the backup service which keeps an online copy of
platform for processing information from hundreds data so that in case of failure of a Slave node, a
different sensors, enabling the analysis of replacement Slave node can be rebuilt with the
environmental data through a large sample of RTUs. same data.
In previous approaches RTUs were implemented in B. Telemetry Architecture
most cases on a local server and no company could In Fig. 1 we present the general structure of the
aggregate enough sensor data to consider system that we are proposing for the tele-
automating the production process and providing the monitoring of installation sites in hydro power
required resilience [12]. stations. At each of the monitored installation
A. Cloud Architecture. site is mounted an installation built mainly from
SlapOS is based on a Master and Slave design. distant RTU, sensors and actuators. There will
Slave nodes request to Master nodes which be used especially RTUs capable to
software they should install, which software communicate with the Gateway through GSM-
they show run and report to Master node how GPRS and Internet. For the installation sites
much resources each running software has been which are situated in no GSM coverage areas
using for a certain period of time. Master nodes will be used RTUs in the UHF band of 430-440
keep track of available slave node capacity and MHz. These will communicate with the date
available software. Master node also acts as a concentrator through a bridge station (bridge)
Web portal and Web service so that end users which will ensure the UHF-GPRS and GPRS-
and software bots can request software instances UHF conversion.In the relatively few instances
which are instantiated and run on Slave nodes. when this will be possible, the RTU-Gateway
Master nodes are stateful. Slave nodes are communication will be held radio exclusively in
stateless. More precisely, all information the UHF band of 430-440 MHz.
required to rebuild a Slave node is stored in the

Gateway Application
Server

GSM - GPRS Internet

RTU

Presentation
Server
Sensors and
Actuators User User
Fig. 1. General structure of the tele-monitoring system

presentation in various forms, entirely available

The key elements of the system are: to users.

Gateway, which ensures the communication
Application Server (AS), focused on special
with the RTUs and available resource tasks, which PS can’t perform.
management; Practically, all system communication is done

Presentation Server (PS) which is hosted on a through Internet and this gives the system
computer with server features (for example, investment and mostly operational advantages. It is
unattended operation 24/24), equipped with a mentioned that the users can access the processed
software packet focused mainly on data data, offered by the PS and AS anywhere and

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 Recent Advances in Applied Computer Science and Digital Services

anytime, from any terminal with Internet access through Data Diffusion, International Workshop
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[10] J.P. Smets-Solanes, C. Cerin, and R.
Cloud Computing these three trends represent major
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Cloud advances in the future and these will be
Distributed Cloud Operating System Based on
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