Ubi-Flex-Cloud: ubiquitous flexible cloud computing: status quo and research imperatives

Abstract

PurposeCloud computing originated in central data centers that are connected to the backbone of the Internet. The network transport to and from a distant data center incurs long latencies that hinder modern low-latency applications. In order to flexibly support the computing demands of users, cloud computing is evolving toward a continuum of cloud computing resources that are distributed between the end users and a distant data center. The purpose of this review paper is to concisely summarize the state-of-the-art in the evolving cloud computing field and to outline research imperatives.Design/methodology/approachThe authors identify two main dimensions (or axes) of development of cloud computing: the trend toward flexibility of scaling computing resources, which the authors denote as Flex-Cloud, and the trend toward ubiquitous cloud computing, which the authors denote as Ubi-Cloud. Along these two axes of Flex-Cloud and Ubi-Cloud, the authors review the existing research and development and identify pressing open problems.FindingsThe authors find that extensive research and development efforts have addressed some Ubi-Cloud and Flex-Cloud challenges resulting in exciting advances to date. However, a wide array of research challenges remains open, thus providing a fertile field for future research and development.Originality/valueThis review paper is the first to define the concept of the Ubi-Flex-Cloud as the two-dimensional research and design space for cloud computing research and development. The Ubi-Flex-Cloud concept can serve as a foundation and reference framework for planning and positioning future cloud computing research and development efforts.

Operating Systems and Hypervisors for Network Functions: A Survey of Enabling Technologies and Research Studies

“…Advanced techniques for container management consider the migration of containers from one GPC platform to another based on the user mobility and application requirements. Container migration is also adopted for the offloading of computing requirements from the cloud to the edge so as to reduce the latency between user and cloud-application [84], [88], [224].…”