A Recipe for Cloud Computing: Tools to Use

Don’t assume you have to blow your budget on new products and services to get a cloud computing platform up and running. You might discover that you already have the ingredients for a cloud computing recipe.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• E-mail system: You have one — maybe more than one.
• Directory service: Any LDAP-based service will do.
• Scripting language: If you have a Microsoft Windows Server OS, then you already own PowerShell, which is fantastic. Or if you’re a UNIX shop, you already know about the many powerful scripting shells available.
• Configuration management database: If you don’t have a CMDB tool, create any type of database, rename it CMDB, and you’re in business. PostgreSQL is a wonderful, open-source database.
• Service catalog: Don’t have one? Create a set of web pages. Notepad and straight HTML are free and fine for this purpose. Describe your services and options and make these pages available to your users.
• Web server: This will host the cloud “service interface” web pages. Provide links to these web pages from your service catalog. This doesn’t have to be a dedicated server; you can use one with spare capacity.
• An IT resource: This will be delivered and managed automatically by your cloud service solution. Examples include data storage, virtual servers or application access.
• Automation engine: As the plumbing that makes all the components function as a unified, automated whole, this tool manages approvals, performs automated fulfillment of requests, sends notifications and makes usage-based billing calculations.