An associative optimizing method on reliability and cost in clouds

Cloud computing enables users to use shared system resources in an efficient pay-as-you-go manner. However, the reliability of cloud computing is a challenging proposition. Cloud users cannot improve the reliability of their cloud environment from the hardware and system level. On the other hand, due to the cost and complexity of the system, improving the reliability of specific users using practical methods is not straightforward for the operators of cloud systems. In this paper, we attempt to optimize the reliability of the cloud system by using the correlation between cost and reliability. We conduct a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the reliability of clouds, extract vital features that can be used to improve system reliability and consider cost constraints. We propose the reliability model and virtual machine (VM) provisioning/request model; based on this model, we propose an SLA-oriented reliability assurance scheme to continuously optimize the reliability of clouds. The experimental results not only indicate the validity of the model and schemes proposed in this paper but also provide a new perspective for the continuous optimization of cloud system reliability.