A Cloud Reference Architecture and AT&T PaaS

[#1]

A simple cloud reference architecture was introduced in the book "Cloud Computing Architected" by John Rhoton and Risto Haukioja. Based on their model, key components that should be considered when creating a Cloud solution are platform, presentation, identity, integration, information, resilience, monetization, deployment and operation.

Platform, at the center of the model, provides an environment that supports app developers to develop, integrate and deliver their apps. The choice of platform is fundamental to the architecture since the platform will provide a set of basic services and, at the same time, a set of limitations. Most app developers choose Platform as a Service (PaaS) to leverage automatic scalability and to avoid the setup as well as support the operating system. Before choosing which platform to use, app developers should be familiar with various PaaS in the market.

AT&T PaaS is a new service that is available in both the public and private cloud. It provides a web server, a database server and an app server. There are three ways to build a new app; starting with a template, importing from a spreadsheet or building an app from a development wizard. It supports the complete app development lifecycle - from coding to building applications to testing to deployment - all can be done within the AT&T cloud.

To become more familiar with the AT&T PaaS, sign up a tutorial webcast on March 22^nd at 10am PT.

[#2]

The videos are very well done!  As a Beta customer of AT&T PaaS, it was great to see how easy it was to get started with a new app.  The heart of a cloud app is in how the users work together and the data they work on.  PaaS services (like AT&T PaaS) provide the plumbing like identity management and a quick way to define the app's data model which helps the developer get to the interesting part of the business scenario.  

[#3]

juanjperez: Thanks for sharing your experience as a beta customer. We’re really excited to see all of the innovative applications being built using our services.

[#4]

Juan,

Thanks for the comment. I like the statement, "The heart of a cloud app is in how the users work toghther and the data they work on".

Your webcast on "Patterns and Business Applications of the Cloud" shared your experience as a seasoned Cloud app developer and architect. Thank you for your contribution to our developer community.