Cloud computing portability, where are we heading?

Over the last few months there has been a growing amount of concern around Cloud portability or in other words Cloud API’s portability issues. With Cloud service providers multiplying in numbers everyday, and almost all of them using there own proprietary API’s, moving from one cloud service provider to another is going to be a huge initiative in the near future thus consuming both time and money.

Lets first discuss what cloud API portability really means?

Cloud portability means ensuring that an application has a common method of programmatic interaction to the underlying resources and services. More simply, Cloud Compatibility means your application and data will always work the same way regardless of the cloud provider or platform, internally or externally, open or closed.

So what is the problem?

As we saw with the recent demise of Coghead. Cloud and platform-as-a-service application portability are sure to be big issues this year, as the economy continues to be a question mark. I highly doubt that Coghead will be the only service provider that fades out, leaving customers to fend for themselves. APIs are nice, and open standards are necessary.

This is really needed now -

I believe that its about time someone need to set the API standards to ensure portability when shifting vendors for cloud services. May be its the time for Amazon’s and Microsoft’s to come together and have a consensus on a common API or a Virtualization format that should be used by all cloud service vendors. 

 

Different types of Cloud API’s used right now as we talk -

Control APIs, which allow cloud infrastructure to be added, reconfigured, or removed in real time, either by human control or programmatically based on traffic, outages, or other factors

Data APIs, which are the conduits through which data flows in and out of the cloud.

Application functionality APIs, which enable the functionality with which end users interact, such as shopping carts, wikis, and widgets.

What is been done already?

One such example that address several of these concepts is the Open Virtualization Format (OVF). The format is an “open” standard proposed by the DMTF for packaging and distributing virtual appliances or more generally software to be run in virtual machines. 

However, one of the problems a lot of these system management standards are missing is any kind of usage outside of the traditional “enterprise” system management platforms or in the case of VMWare or Microsoft, they are simply limited to their own platforms - interoperable, but only if you’re using our software.

Where are we heading?

At this point it seems like we are heading towards coexistence of a number of mini clouds. Major cloud players will have there own mini clouds and there cloud API’s will be portable within there platforms.

Please add on to the thoughts and leave your comments, I will probably do another post soon. if you have a better vision / suggestion of where cloud computing portability is heading and how major players should be playing this cloud game, you can leave your comments or email me at info[at]coolwebdeveloper[dot]com.

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