Using a lifecycle model for developing and executing real-time online applications on clouds

Abstract

We describe how the generic Lifecycle Model developed in the S-Cube project for the design and management of service-based applications (SBA) can be utilized in the context of Cloud Computing. In particular, we focus on the fact that the Infrastructure-as-a-Service approach enables the development of Real-Time Online Interactive Applications (ROIA), which include multi-player online computer games, interactive e-learning and training applications and high-performance simulations in virtual environments. We illustrate how the Lifecycle Model expresses the major design and execution aspects of ROIA on Clouds by addressing the specific characteristics of ROIA: a large number of concurrent users connected to a single application instance, enforcement of Quality of Service (QoS) parameters, adaptivity to changing loads, and frequent real-time interactions between users and services. We describe how our novel resource management system RTF-RMS implements concrete mechanisms that support the developer in designing adaptable ROIA on Clouds according to the different phases of the Lifecycle Model. Our experimental results demonstrate the influence of the proposed adaptation mechanisms on the application performance. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.