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#let title = [
*Unit 3: Physical Layer*
]
#set text(12pt)
#set page(
header: [
#box()[
_*Knowledge not shared, remains unknown.*_
]
#h(1fr)
#box()[#title]
],
numbering: "1 of 1",
)
#align(center, text(20pt)[
*#title*
])
#show table.cell.where(y: 0): strong
#outline()
#pagebreak()
= Physical Layer Overview
_Physical compute systems host applications that a provider offers as services to consumers and also execute the software used by the provider to manage the cloud infrastructure and deliver services._
- Consists of compute, storage and network resources.
- A provider offers compute systems to consumers to execute their own applications.
- Storage systems store business data, and data generated or processed by them.
- Networks connect various compute systems and storage systems with each other.
- Networks can also connect various clouds to one another.
= Compute
_A compute system is a computing platform that runs platform and application software._
- Consists of the following:
1. Processors
2. Memory
3. IO devices
4. OS
5. File system
6. Logical volume manager
7. Device drivers
- Providers typically deploy on x86 hosts.
- Compute systems provided in two main ways:
- *Shared hosting*: Multiple consumers share compute systems.
- *Dedicated hosting*: Individual consumers have decided compute systems.
- Compute virtualization is usually used to create virtual compute.
== Key components of compute system
1. *Processor*
- IC that executes the instructions of software by performing:
- Arithmetical operations
- Logical operations
- Input/Output operations
- x86 is a common architecture used with 32 and 64 bit varients.
- Many have multiple cores capable of functioning as individual processors.
2. *RAM*
- Volatile internal data storage
- Holds software programs and for execution and data used by the processor.
3. *ROM*
- Semiconductor memory containing:
- Boot firmware
- Power management firmware
- Device specific firmware
4. *Motherboard*
- PCB on which all compute systems connect
- Contains sockets to hold components
- Contains network ports, I/O ports, etc.
- May contain additional integrated componentsts such as GPU, NIC, and adapters to connect storage drives.
5. *Chipset*
- Collection of microchips on a motherboard designed to perform specific functions.
- Two main types are:
- _Nothbridge_: Manages processor access to RAM and GPU
- _Southbridge_: Connects processor to peripheral ports
== Software on Compute Systems
#table(
columns: (auto,auto),
table.header([Methodology], [Description]),
[Self-service portal], [Enables consumers to view and request cloud services],
[Platform software], [Includes software that the provider offers through PaaS],
[Application software], [Includes application that the provider offers through SaaS],
[Virtualization software], [Enables resource pooling and creating of virtual resources],
[Cloud management software], [Enables a provider to manage the cloud infrastructure and services],
[Consumer software], [Includes a consumer's platform software and business applications]
)
== Types of compute systems
=== Tower compute system
- Built in an upright enclosure called "tower".
- Has integrated power and cooling.
- Require significant floorspace, complex cabling and generate a lot of noise.
- Deploying in large environments may require substancial expenditure.
=== Rack compute system
- Designed to fit on a frame called "rack".
- A rack is a standardized system enclosure containing multiple mounting slots called "bays", each holding a server with the help of screws.
- A single rack contains multiple servers stacked.
- This simplifies network cabling, consolidates network equipment and reduces floorspace use.
- Each rack has it's own power and cooling.
- Administrators may use a console mounted on the rack to manage the computer systems.
- Cumbersome to work with, generate a lot of heat, increased power costs.
=== Blade compute system
- Electronic circuit board containing only core processing components.
- Each is a self contained compute system dedicated to a single application.
- Housed inside a blade enclosure which holds multiple blade servers.
- Blade enclosures provide power, cooling, networking, management functions.
- The modular design minimizes floorspace usage, increases compute density and scalability.
- Best energy effeciency.
- Simplifies compute infrastructure management.
- High in cost and proprietary architecture.
= Storage
_Data created by individuals, businesses, and applications needs to be persistently stored so that it can be retrieved when required for processing or analysis. A storage system is a repository for saving and retrieving data._
- Providers offer storage capacity along with compute systems, or as a service.
- Storage as a service allows for data backup and long term data retention.
- Cloud storage provides massive scalability and rapid elasticity.
- Typically, a provider used virtualization to create storage pools that are shared by multiple consumers.
== Types of Storage Devices
#table(
columns: (auto, auto),
table.header([Type], [Description]),
[Magnetic disk drive], [
- Stores data on a circular disk wirh a ferromagnetic coating.
- Provides random read/write access.
- Most popular storage device with large storage capacity.
], [Solid-State drive], [
- Stores data on a Semiconductor-based memory.
- Very low-latency per I/O, low power requirements, and very high throughput.
], [Magnetic tape drive], [
- Stores data on a thin plastic film with a magnetic coating.
- Provides only sequential data access.
- Low-cost solution for long-term data storage.
], [Optical disk drive], [
- Stores data on a polycarbonate disk with a reflective coating.
- Write once and read many capability: CD, DVD, BD.
- Low-cost solution for long-term storage.
]
)
== Redundant Array of Independent Disks
_RAID is a storage technology in which data is written in blocks across multiple disk drives that are combined into a logical unit called a RAID group._
- Improves storage system performance as I/O is served simultaneously across multiple disks.
- Implemented using a specialized hardware controller present on the host or the array.
- Functions of RAID are:
1. Management and control of drive aggregations
2. Translations of I/O requests between logical and physical drives.
3. Data regeneration in the event of drive failures.
=== Types of RAID
==== Striping
#figure(
image("./images/striping.png")
)
_Striping is a technique to spread data across multiple drives in order to use drives in parallel and increase performance as compared to the use of a single drive._
- Each drive as a predefined numbwe of contiguously addressable blocks called a strip.
- Stripe is a set of aligned strips that span across all the drives.
- All strips in a stripe have the same number of blocks.
- Does not provide any data protection.
==== Mirroring
#figure(
image("./images/mirroring.png")
)
_Mirroring is a technique in which the same data is stored simultainously in two different drives, resulting in two copies of data. This is called a "Mirrored Pair"._
- Even if one fails, the data is safe in the surviving drive.
- When a failed disk is replaced, the controller copies the data from the surviving drive to the mirrored pair.
- Mirroring provides the following:
- Data redundency
- Fast recovery from disk failure
- Twice the number of drives are required.
- Increase in costs.
- Mirroring used for mission critical operations.
- Better read performance, worse write performance.
==== Parity
_Parity is a RAID technique to protect striped data from drive failure by performing a mathematical operation on individual strips and storing the result on a portion of the RAID group._
- RAID controller finds parity using techniques like XOR.
- Parity data can be stored on seperate drives or distributed across drives in a RAID group.
- Parity is calculated everytime data is modified.
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