The network. Clouds generally refer to wide area networks (WANs) such as the Internet, but can also refer to a private cloud, which is a company's own network. However, the term "cloud computing" most always refers to the public Internet and not to private networks (see cloud computing).
A cloud-like symbol in a network diagram is used to reduce an entire communications network into points of entry and exit. An actual cloud symbol is drawn when the network architecture is not material to the illustration. Inside the cloud, there may be any number of cables, servers, routers, switches and other network devices.
Network Cloud
The cloud symbol represents a communications network without specific details of its architecture. Diagrams use cloud symbols when only the points of entry and exit need to be identified.
A cloud-like symbol in a network diagram is used to reduce an entire communications network into points of entry and exit. An actual cloud symbol is drawn when the network architecture is not material to the illustration. Inside the cloud, there may be any number of cables, servers, routers, switches and other network devices.
Network Cloud
The cloud symbol represents a communications network without specific details of its architecture. Diagrams use cloud symbols when only the points of entry and exit need to be identified.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2010 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Microsoft's weakest cloud link: The Windows Azure Console?
- It's just one early user's opinion, but it sounds like Microsoft needs to beef up the integrated console component of Windows Azure to keep its cloud-computing customers happy. by Mary Jo Foley
- Blog posts 2010-02-09
- Is cloud computing hype, or something riskier?
- Beware not only the cloud hype, but also overreaching by cloud vendors that may cause crashes over the coming year. by Joe McKendrick
- Blog posts 2010-02-08
- Converged infrastructure approach paves way for improved data center productivity, private clouds
- This latest BriefingsDirect discussion explores how converged infrastructure provides more business results productivity and offers a stepping stone to private cloud implementations. by Dana Gardner
- Blog posts 2010-02-08
- SharEHR is a cloud-based EHR that uses your current records
- Because SharEHR uses current files, including scanned paper, it takes a staff just a few weeks to learn how to use it by Dana Blankenhorn
- Blog posts 2010-02-08
- "Cloud computing": What is it exactly?
- Wall Street Journal comments on cloud computing by Dan Kusnetzky
- Blog posts 2010-02-08
- Maze 2.0: Differentiating Business Value from Fashions
- There's always a bewildering maze of terms and trends in the technology world: like the entertainment industry, the million dollar question is which ones will wind up meaning anything, which will be one hit wonders and which ones will stick and sustain. For many people of...
- Blog posts 2010-02-07
- SAP: the challenges ahead
- It's started. Speculation around whether SAP ex-CEO Leo Apotheker jumped or was pushed, a trawl through past failures, an implied writing off of SAP because its strategy seems muddled and as for SaaS? Pfft. This is what SAP insiders are telling me. The...
- Blog posts 2010-02-07
- SAP: Apotheker gone, co-CEO's appointed
- In a tightly worded press release, SAP has announced that Leo Apotheker has resigned as CEO with immediate effect: "The SAP Executive Board, in agreement with the SAP Supervisory Board, has appointed two Co-CEOs: Bill McDermott, head of field organization and Jim Hagemann Snabe, head of product development, both...
- Blog posts 2010-02-07
- NetSuite hits record earnings
- Having had a dreadful start to 2009, NetSuite announced record earning for the fourth quarter and year ended 31st December, 2009. From the release: "Total revenue for the year was $166.5 million, a year-over-year increase of 9%. Total revenue for the fourth quarter was $43.0 million. Revenue from...
- Blog posts 2010-02-04
- Microsoft, NSF team to provide research in the cloud
- Microsoft and the National Science Foundation announced on February 4 that they are teaming to provide NSF-selected researchers with free cloud computing resources built around Microsoft's Windows Azure public-cloud operating system. by Mary Jo Foley
- Blog posts 2010-02-04
- IBM to design cloud computing network for Air Force
- IBM will unveil advanced cybersecurity and analytics technology as part of a 10-month project to design and demonstrate secure cloud computing infrastructure for the Air Force. by Larry Dignan
- Blog posts 2010-02-04
- SAP's 12Sprints joins the social enterprise bandwagon
- I spent some time this morning working with SAP's new 12Sprints collaboration service, which was announced earlier this week. Available free in open beta immediately, it's a cloud-based service that's a cross between Basecamp and Google Wave and is ostensibly designed for team collaboration. Not incidentally, 12Sprints is...
- Blog posts 2010-02-04
- ColoRotate Plugin 1.461 (Mac)
- With the ColoRotate color picker, you can easily create palettes and manipulate colors in 3D space for better control of foreground and background colors. Colors come to life because the 3D view matches how our minds understand color. Slider controls and joysticks give you more intuitive controls than Photoshop's color...
- Software downloads 2010-02-04
- NetSuite to crack the cloud channel?
- In what otherwise might be regarded as an innocuous announcement, NetSuite has entered into a partnership with Hein & Associates. It means Hein's "professional consultants will deliver sophisticated, vertically focused solutions for needs ranging from tax and financial reporting to growth plan development." So what you might think? ...
- Blog posts 2010-02-03
- CERN’s evolution toward cloud computing could portend next revolution in extreme IT productivity
- Track the evolution of high-performance computing HPC from clusters to cloud models through the eyes of CERN, with analysis from IDC and technical thought leadership from Platform Computing. by Dana Gardner
- Blog posts 2010-02-03
- BigCloud Archives 0.8.3 (Mac)
- Works with office documents, images, PDFs, web pages, audio and video files and more Backup and synchronize Archives using an external disk or network storage device Fully integrated with BigCloud Archives Online service for cloud backup, syncing and sharing Strong encryption available to keep Archives safe from snooping,...
- Software downloads 2010-02-03
- YoWindow 2.0 build 250 (Windows)
- YoWindow displays a nice landscape that changes over time, reflecting the weather. It has it all: actual cloud cover, sun, moon, rain, snow, wind, mist, even thunderstorms. It's like watching the weather out your window. But in YoWindow you can scroll the time smoothly into the future. So you can...
- Software downloads 2010-02-03
- The Open Group's Cloud Work Group advances understanding of cloud-use benefits for enterprises
- Qe examine the evolution of cloud, how businesses are grappling with that, and how they can learn to best exploit cloud-computing benefits, while fully understanding and controlling the risks. by Dana Gardner
- Blog posts 2010-02-02
- Troubleshooting Windows 7 deployments: Maybe two trips to Vegas are in my future
- The Microsoft Management Summit MMS 2010, back in Las Vegas yet again, has some interesting sessions on the docket, even for those IT pros who aren't Configuration Manager geeks. Expect more on Microsoft's private cloud strategy, two of its key management products, and even some Windows 7 troubleshooting goodness. by...
- Blog posts 2010-02-02
- Microsoft delivers beta of 'Xdrive' tool for moving Windows apps to the Azure cloud
- Microsoft is making available to testers a beta of Windows Azure Drive formerly known as XDrive, which will allow them to create automatic backups of Windows applications that they may want to move to the Azure cloud. by Mary Jo Foley
- Blog posts 2010-02-02
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
SmartPlanet
- Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
- More from IBM
-
- How to Drive Better Business Outcomes with Exceptional Web Experiences Download the eBook
- Driving Business Agility through SOA Connectivity & Integration Read the White Paper from IBM
- Linking Decisions and Information for Organizational Performance Read the Tom Davenport study
