A hybrid cloud expands a private network with infinite resources, which means a business can grow without any hardware or software upgrades on the local network.
When traffic spikes increase, the resource usage increases and must be upgraded if performance issues occur. The upgrades and hardware expenses are lowered when the business incorporates a hybrid cloud. The traffic spikes “spill” into the cloud host’s resources, which take up the slack for overloaded servers. The end result is a fast network that facilitates growth while keeping infrastructure costs at a minimum.
Here’s a look at the various components of hybrid cloud architecture that make it all possible.
Cloud Controller
The cloud controller is a divider between the Internet and its requests and the hybrid cloud. The cloud controller determines the route to which the traffic will go for the best response. It also determines if the traffic needs to use the hybrid public cloud for additional resources. Cloud controllers can also monitor the type of traffic such as mobile users to route the user to the appropriate mobile cloud location.
Master and Slave Databases
Most companies have a repository of data, and the repository is handled by some kind of database server. Database servers take most of the resource dependence and they can serve millions of users a month.
A hybrid cloud uses a master and slave database model. The master database is located within the internal network. The slave database is the public cloud resource used as a backup. These databases work together to deliver the same content to the end user, but they are independent servers located in the different cloud structures.
Load Balancers
Load balancers are somewhat similar to cloud controllers, but the specific job of the load balancer is to determine which server has the resources to handle the traffic. Load balancers are also seen in non-cloud environments for the server management component.
For example, in web farms, the load balancer directs traffic to a specific, online server. Once that server’s resources are capped, the load balancer sends the traffic to the next server in the rotation. When a server goes offline, the load balancer detects the offline server and redirects traffic to the next online server.
Load balancers are especially useful when the administrator must take a server offline for maintenance. Any current user sessions are sent to the next server and additional connections are sent to the next server in the rotation. This rotation architecture is completely invisible to the user.
Application Servers
Applications come in a variety of types including mobile, desktop and web. Each application delivers to different types of hardware. For instance, a mobile user must be redirected to the application server that hosts content customized for a mobile device.
The application servers can also host web applications or internal desktop applications for employees. Application servers also use the hybrid cloud when several users hit the same server at once. The cloud controller will redirect traffic to the necessary server to navigate to servers with the most optimal response.
While these cloud components are usually a part of a hybrid network, the company can pick and choose which components best suit the corporate technology requirements. A good hybrid cloud host will work with the business to create the best environment for the company and its applications and users.
This post is written by Rackspace blogger Jennifer Marsh. Rackspace Hosting is the service leader in cloud computing, and a founder of OpenStack, an open source cloud operating system. The San Antonio-based company provides Fanatical Support to its customers and partners, across a portfolio of IT services, including Managed Hosting and Cloud Computing.
