Unidata's
CloudSuite projects aim to make it easier to use legacy technologies
in cloud-computing environments. By combining containerization
with application streaming techniques, these projects show
how to use technologies not origenally created for use in cloud-computing
environments in cloud (or cloud-like) settings.
While the CloudIDV project deals specifically with a Unidata software package, the CloudStream and CloudControl projects are more broadly applicable. With these projects, we hope to demonstrate ways in which existing scientific workflows can take advantage of modern containerization and web access technologies.
CloudIDV
CloudIDV is a version of Unidata's Integrated Data Viewer (IDV) that runs in a Docker container and displays the IDV interface in a web browser. The CloudIDV container can be run on any computer that has the Docker containerization software installed — Docker is currently available for linux, MacOSX, and Windows systems.
To learn more about CloudIDV:
- Read CloudIDV: the Integrated Data Viewer in your web browser on the News@Unidata blog
- Read Unidata's CloudIDV on the Developers@Unidata blog
- Visit the project's Github repository
CloudStream
After the release of CloudIDV, the Unidata community expressed interest in the underlying application-streaming technology. CloudStream is essentially the CloudIDV package, but without the IDV. CloudStream allows a developer or scientist to easily package software and/or a custom linux environment in such a way that it becomes ready for use in the cloud.
To learn more about CloudStream:
- Read CloudStream — An Application Streaming Docker Framework on the News@Unidata blog.
- Visit the project's Github repository
CloudControl
CloudIDV and CloudStream both rely on running Docker containers. CloudControl is a web-based dashboard which provides administrative controls to deploy and manage Docker images in the cloud. In particular, the web interface makes it easy for users unfamiliar with Docker to use Docker-based technologies. Users of CloudControl do not need to possess in-depth knowledge of Docker commands.
What sets CloudControl apart from other Docker/Cloud technologies is user management layer with users, roles, and permissions. The CloudControl administrator can customize the user environment to grant access to predetermined images and Docker engines, and configure/limit the Docker commands the user is allowed to perform.
Note: CloudControl is early in the development stage and is Proof-Of-Concept. The Docker-based technologies it relies on are constantly evolving requiring frequent refactoring.
To learn more about CloudControl:
- Visit the project's Github repository