Cloud computing is a key strategy to manage the ever-increasing demand for IT services, as businesses face the rising growth of the digital universe and proliferation of data across the enterprise. Cloud computing offers a dynamic alternative to the conventional, static data center model. By providing massively scalable compute resources and storage online, cloud computing gives businesses the ability to develop and launch products and services rapidly and efficiently, allocating resources to meet demand.

To help businesses take advantage of this model, Intel pursues a vision of cloud computing that emphasizes automation, federation, and client-awareness.

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Intel’s Cloud 2015 Vision

To help enable the tools, building blocks, and best practices that represent the future of the open cloud, Intel has created a three-part vision.

• Federated. A federated cloud allows for more secure sharing of communications, data, and services within

and across both private and public cloud-computing infrastructures, and requires smooth interoperability

across many platforms and solutions.

• Automated. An automated cloud enables cloud-computing services and resources to be specified, located, and more securely provisioned with little or no human intervention.

• Client-aware. A client-aware, device-savvy cloud can intelligently take advantage of client capabilities to deliver excellent user experiences anytime, anywhere.

To advance Intel’s Cloud 2015 Vision, delivering open, interoperable solutions that embrace industry standards is essential.

CLIENT-AWAREAUTOMATEDFEDERATED

fOSTerInG InnOVATIOn Inopen standards-based cloud solutions

Working through collaborative open-source projects such as OpenStack*, as well as the Open Data Center Alliance (ODCA), the Intel® Cloud Builders program, academia, and industry research centers, Intel contributes time, energy, and financial support to further this vision and advance the development of open, standards-based solutions.

Intel is one of several corporate sponsors of the OpenStack project, contributing expertise and code to help the project thrive. As a result, businesses that choose OpenStack for their cloud computing infrastructures derive maximum value from their investments in Intel® architecture-based hardware.

Intel Helps OpenstaCk* Drive ClouD innovationAs a member of the OpenStack community, Intel helps advance the OpenStack project to create an enterprise-ready, open-source cloud infrastructure. Our contributions have been instrumental in enhancing its security and efficiency, while also helping streamline deployment and optimize the platform’s ability to deliver optimal value from data center hardware.

Shaping OpenStack for Business Security and EfficiencyIntel’s upstream contributions to collaborative open-source projects such as OpenStack, coupled with its downstream collaboration with open-source ecosystem partners, helps ensure that open cloud solutions benefit from advanced security and power-management technologies.

• Exposing security- and power-related platform properties to the cloud layer. Intel’s contributions to platform security include enablement of Intel® Trusted execution Technology (Intel® TXT) under linux*, KVM, and Xen*. Intel remote attestation ApIs allow OpenStack to establish the root of trust for a virtual machine (VM) that boots on any particular server. The Intel® Intelligent power node Manager can also monitor power use patterns through the Intelligent platform Management Interface (IpMI) interface.

• Distributing cloud workloads intelligently based on platform characteristics. Intel’s enhancements to the OpenStack scheduler enable it to survey platform characteristics and determine the optimal server on which to start a VM, based on a range of hardware characteristics.

Engineering OpenStack for Private Cloud Deployment

While OpenStack has gained enormous traction among hosting companies and enterprise IT, several barriers remain to its wider use. To establish a model for widespread adoption, Intel IT was one of the first organizations to implement OpenStack, making enhancements to adapt it for private cloud deployment. Reference architectures developed by Intel reflect the experience acquired in working with OpenStack and present technical contributions and best practices based on this experience. In addition, Intel is partnering with other vendors in the community to help businesses take advantage of the benefits of OpenStack.

Optimizing the Effective Use of Physical Infrastructure in Public CloudsCloud service providers look for solutions that deliver maximum value from compute, storage, network, and power resources. for those cloud operators who deploy OpenStack, Intel’s contributions enable them to increase the effectiveness of their server infrastructures and deliver differentiated services to multiple tenants with enhanced security.

Cloud service providers also need solutions that simplify the deployment, management, and monitoring of their infrastructures. Although OpenStack is a cost-effective solution today, a service provider must perform several customizations before integrating the technology into its data center. Intel is actively working on additional enhancements to OpenStack that will enable trusted compute pools in the public cloud, where they can host security-sensitive services.

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Astrophysicists using data-intensive computational resources such as Gordon at the San Diego Supercomputer Center store simulations of the direct gravitational collapse model of star formation on an OpenStack

cloud powered by Intel® Xeon® processors (as shown in the image to left). The center uses OpenStack Swift as the object store to support this infrastructure as a service.

Continuing Contributions to OpenStackOpen-source development inspires fresh ideas, accelerates innovation, and lowers costs. for over two decades, Intel’s contributions to open-source projects have enabled a breadth of solutions to run exceptionally well on Intel architecture. To help guide the direction of open-source cloud solutions, Intel participates in the OpenStack project as part of a global community of technologists, developers, researchers, and corporations sharing resources, technology, and ideas. As cloud deployments based on OpenStack gain momentum, Intel looks forward to contributing further enhancements to this project that deliver on the promise of open source.

What is the OpenStack* Project?

A truly open solution, OpenStack is freely

available under the Apache 2.0 license. Anyone

can run, build on, or suggest changes to the code base.

The OpenStack project fosters cloud standards, helping to

create a large ecosystem that avoids high costs and proprietary

lock-in, securing a healthy future for open cloud development.

The project focuses on developing and maintaining two

interrelated technologies.

• OpenStack Compute. As the core management engine behind

OpenStack, this part of the project manages all resources,

networking, authorization, and scalability needs for the cloud.

OpenStack Compute is the internal fabric of the cloud that

creates and manages large groups of virtual private servers.

• OpenStack Object Storage. This technology consists of

software for creating redundant, scalable object storage using

clusters of commodity servers to efficiently store terabytes or

petabytes of data.

www.openstack.org

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To help ensure robust hypervisor support for Intel technologies, Intel is deeply involved in making code contributions and otherwise building support for them into projects such as KVM and Xen. We also work with other members of the ecosystem to make these technologies available through the OpenStack project. These open-source contributions help encourage broader adoption of the cloud and unlock its full potential.

Optimizing Cloud Efficiency through Smart Power ManagementIT efficiency is a key concern in any enterprise environment, and cloud computing is no different. The Intel Intelligent Power Node Manager offers a smart way to optimize and manage power and cooling resources in the cloud data center, making the most of every watt consumed. This technology enables IT administrators to make informed power-management decisions and define dynamic, configurable power policies that help improve the efficiency of their cloud infrastructures.

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The Intel® Xeon® Processor E5 Family: Hardware Engines behind Cloud Innovation

The features and capabilities needed to drive the cloud

forward are built into the Intel Xeon processor e5 family,

including the following:

• Extreme performance. With up to eight cores (16 software

threads) and 20 MB last-level cache per socket, plus Intel®

Turbo Boost Technology 2.01 to help handle peak workloads,

nodes based on the Intel Xeon processor e5 family are

powering the ongoing growth of the cloud.

• Unprecedented energy efficiency. newly enhanced Intel®

Intelligent power Technology2 helps reduce operating costs

in cloud environments, with more sensors, finer-grained

control, faster control loops, and more accurate optimizations.

• Fewer I/O bottlenecks. Intel® Integrated I/O with pCI

express* 3.0 can up to triple3 the movement of data into and

out of the processor, keeping the execution cores supplied

with data, even from I/O-intensive cloud workloads.

• Trusted security. Intel® Advanced encryption Standard new

Instructions (Intel® AeS-nI)4 helps systems quickly encrypt

and decrypt data for cloud applications and transactions.

Intel® Trusted execution Technology5 creates a trusted

foundation to reduce exposure to malicious attacks.

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INTEL VALUE-ADDAn open remote attestation stack to access trustworthiness of a remote virtual machine manager.

INTEL VALUE-ADDTboot/Intel® Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) support hasbeen in Xen since Xen3.2.Tboot support has been in Linux/KVM since 2.6.33.

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Addressing Data Protection in the Cloudpotential adopters of cloud computing consistently report that security is among their prime concerns. The security landscape surrounding cloud computing is complex in that a cloud consists of potentially thousands of servers in multiple locations. Cloud administrators need novel ways to determine the trustworthiness of those remote servers. Intel is working to address data protection in the cloud through technologies that include the following:

INSPIRE

• Intel® Trusted Execution Technology (Intel TXT) compares the critical elements of a cloud launch environment against a known good source. The two must match, creating a measured launch environment for Intel TXT to allow the environment to run.

• Remote attestation provides the means for local or remote users and systems to share measured launch environment credentials, so that platform trustworthiness can be reported across the environment.

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FurtHerIng Intel’s 2015 ClOud VIsIOn

with industry LeadershipIn addition to considerable contributions to open-source projects such as OpenStack, Intel is furthering its cloud computing vision with its work in standards development through industry alliances, including the Open Data Center Alliance (ODCA), and helping improve the developer experience with a wealth of support.

Fostering Open Cloud Standards

Intel has devoted substantial resources to accelerating the development of open standards for the cloud. The strength of that commitment is based on the recognition that such standards are a key requirement for delivering open, interoperable solutions used in cloud computing and next-generation data centers.

A particularly visible example of Intel’s work in open cloud standards is its collaboration with leading IT organizations as a technical advisor to the ODCA. The ODCA is defining a roadmap of high-priority requirements and usage models for cloud computing and next-generation data centers with a focus on open, interoperable solutions. Intel’s engagement with the ODCA and other IT customers globally is helping speed delivery of technology and solutions that enable more secure, efficient, and simplified cloud infrastructures.

In the form of eight usage models published in June 2011, the ODCA outlined specific innovations in security, automation, common management, and service transparency that are needed for widespread adoption of cloud services. recognizing the pace of innovation

sustained by open-source projects, Intel is working with its partners to develop open-source implementations for several of these usage models.

Delivering a Fast Path to the Cloud

ultimately, complete solutions are needed to deploy clouds. Intel is committed to delivering the tools, programs, and resources needed to give businesses a fast path to the cloud. In addition to developing a reference architecture and best practices based on its own early adoption of OpenStack for private cloud deployment, Intel has assembled an alliance of industry thought leaders that collaborates to design, build, and test cloud solutions using high-quality building blocks and well-established best practices through the Intel Cloud Builders program.

By engaging with leading software and equipment makers through this program, Intel brings together premier expertise to create best-of-breed solutions in the form of reference architectures that end customers can use with confidence. As a result, IT organizations can reduce the risk, complexity, and cost associated with making the transition to a cloud infrastructure.

www.opendatacenteralliance.org

Intel® Cloud Builders offers a library of reference architectures that provide proven guidance for cloud computing.

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Inspiring the Next Generation of Ideas through Academic Research

landmark technology breakthroughs in computing arise from ideas in universities and research centers around the world, generating discoveries and advances to lead this generation toward solving the challenges of the future. Intel funds leading-edge academic research and ensures that the results of that work are shared openly within the educational community and technology industry. This approach helps foster collaboration and inspires the next generation of software engineers. participating educational institutions become incubators for the next wave of computing advances.

Cloud computing research aligns with Intel’s Cloud 2015 Vision of federated, automated, and context-aware clouds, and it brings academic resources to bear on meeting the challenges of cloud computing in the coming generation. Key focuses of the Cloud Computing Center, within the global network of Intel Science and Technology Centers, include the following research themes: learn more about how Intel is

helping deliver on the promise of open source at

www.intel.com/opensource

www.intel.com/opensource/openstack

To the edgeextending cloud capabilities

to the boundaries of the network and to mobile clients

Harnessing big dataImproving the efficiency of big data analytics for information

residing in the cloud

AutomationAutomating IT and software

upgrades for cloud computing

Specializationexploring the use of nodes based on heterogeneous

cores to improve efficiency

The energy, time, and people that Intel is putting into the Cloud Center helps energize the students. They see real pillars of industry caring about what’s going on and, in fact, bringing interesting problems and then digging in and working with us on them. It makes it a lot of fun.

– Professor Greg Ganger, Principal Investigator, ISTC for Cloud Computing, Carnegie Mellon University

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Intel® Cloud Builders offers a library of reference architectures that provide proven guidance for cloud computing.

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1 Requires a system with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology. Intel Turbo Boost Technology and Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 are available only on select Intel® processors. Consult your PC manufacturer. Performance varies depending on hardware, software, and system configuration. For more information, visit www.intel.com/go/turbo.

2 Intel® Intelligent Power Technology requires a computer system with an enabled Intel® processor, chipset, BIOS, and for some features, an operating system enabled for it. Functionality or other benefits may vary depending on hardware implementation and may require a BIOS and/or operating system update. Please check with your system vendor for details.

3 Source: Intel internal measurements of maximum achievable I/O R/W bandwidth (512B transactions, 50-percent reads, 50-percent writes) comparing Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2680-based platform with 64 lanes of PCIe* 3.0 (66 GB/s) versus Intel® Xeon® processor X5670-based platform with 32 lanes of PCIe* 2.0 (18 GB/s). Baseline configuration: Green City system with two Intel® Xeon® processor X5670 (2.93 GHz, 6 cores), 24 GB memory at 1333 MHz, 4 x8 Intel internal PCIe 2.0 test cards. New configuration: Rose City system with two Intel Xeon processor E5-2680 (2.7 GHz, 8 cores), 64 GB memory at 1600 MHz, 2 x16 Intel internal PCIe 3.0 test cards on each node (all traffic sent to local nodes).

4 Intel® Advanced Encryption Standard New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) requires a computer system with an Intel AES-NI enabled processor, as well as non-Intel software to execute the instructions in the correct sequence. Intel AES-NI is available on select Intel® processors. For availability, consult your reseller or system manufacturer. For more information, see http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-advanced-encryption-standard-instructions-aes-ni/.

5 No computer system can provide absolute security under all conditions. Intel® Trusted Execution Technology (Intel® TXT) requires a computer with Intel® Virtualization Technology, an Intel TXT-enabled processor, chipset, BIOS, Authenticated Code Modules, and an Intel TXT-compatible measured launched environment (MLE). Intel TXT also requires the system to contain a TPM v1.s. For more information, visit www.intel.com/technology/security.

Information in this document is provided in connection with Intel® products. No license, express or implied, by estoppel or otherwise, to any intellectual property rights is granted by this document. Except as provided in Intel‘s terms and conditions of sale for such products, Intel assumes no liability whatsoever, and Intel disclaims any express or implied warranty, relating to sale and/or use of Intel products including liability or warranties relating to fitness for a particular purpose, merchantability, or infringement of any patent, copyright or other intellectual property right. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by Intel, the Intel products are not designed nor intended for any application in which the failure of the Intel product could create a situation where personal injury or death may occur.Copyright © 2012 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, Xeon, and Xeon Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. 0811/NKR/MESH/PDF 326710-002US

Intel takes pride in being a long-standing member of the open-source community. We believe in open source development as a means to create rich business opportunities, advance promising technologies, and bring together top talent from diverse fields to solve computing challenges. Our contributions to the community include reliable hardware architectures, professional development tools, work on essential open-source components, collaboration and co-engineering with leading companies, investment in academic research and commercial businesses, and helping to build a thriving ecosystem around open source.

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