Types of computing environment support similar tasks of processing & transferring information

What is a Computing Environment?

While solving a problem, a computer uses multiple devices. During which the devices can be arranged in a number of ways to work together towards the solution. As a result, the devices and components constitute a computing environment. 

Moreover, a computing environment organizes components to exchange information. Hence, it uses various devices to process and solve different problems.

Additionally, a single computing environment includes multiple computers, computational devices, software, and networks. Therefore, these components collaborate to support processing and sharing information to solve various tasks and problems.

Features of a Robust Computing Environment

• Firstly, a computing environment has the ability to dynamically choose machines to run tasks. 
• Moreover, it also has the feature to migrate processes from one environment to another.
• Additionally, it offers support for fault tolerance.
• Further, multiple tasks may be mapped to multiple devices and components for faster delivery.
• Consequently, communication between tasks occurs during primitives. Hence, it is an ongoing process mapped to the communication tools in the environment.
• It certainly uses channel-based systems to monitor, redirect, and shift connections during tasks.
• Moreover, it also uses the components to achieve multiple or conflicting goals. 
• Furthermore, it also schedules the work on idle machines to maximize utilization.
• Additionally, it also executes tasks on the best available platforms. As a result, selecting devices that are well-equipped to run the tasks at hand. 

Types of Computing Environments Businesses should learn about:

Traditional Computing

Traditional Computing is a process of using physical data centers for various data assets. As a result, it also runs complete networking systems for day-to-day operations.

However, access to data, software, and storage is limited to users and devices. Hence, it only allows access to authorized devices that connect to the official network.

Therefore, it limits the users to only access the data from the system that stores it. 

Moreover, users processes and systems processes provide services to a user. As a result, it mansges the tasks frequently for optimization of the computer time.

For example, Windows is created, while a user is running another task on the computer. Therefore, the environment is allowing users to simultaneously execute different tasks. 

Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing is the combination of configurable components. Moreover, components like system resources and advanced services help deliver tasks using internet connections.

Further, it runs tasks on third-party servers and enables the ability to access data from multiple locations. It also provides a cost-efficient solution and is more user-friendly.

Above all, it offers more storage space, servers, and computing power to help the apps run efficiently and smoothly. Moreover, it only requires fast, eligible, and stable internet connections to execute tasks.

Grid Computing

Grid Computing is a process where computers and devices from various locations work on a single problem. Further, in this system clusters jointly execute given tasks. As a result, it applies resources from multiple computers and nodes.

Therefore, it is a type of computing environment that utilizes several and scattered resources. Hence, these resources provide a functioning environment for executing a single task. 

Distributed Computing

Distributed Computing takes place when multiple computers and devices connect using a common network but are separated physically. As a result, a single task is performed by various functional units of different and distributed nodes and units. 

Simultaneously, different programs of an application run on separate nodes. Therefore, communication takes place between different nodes of a system over the network to execute the task.

Cluster Computing

In this type of computing environment, clusters execute tasks. Cluster Computing allows clusters to work as a set of loosely or tightly connected computers.

Consequently, it is viewed as a single system and executes tasks parallelly. Hence, it is also similar to a parallel type of computing environment.

As a result, the cluster computing environment prefers cluster-aware applications.

Personal Computing

A Personal Computing Environment includes a single machine. Moreover, it incorporates complete programs on a computer and performs it. 

For example, machines like laptops, mobiles, printers, etc are a part of the Personal Computing Environment. As a result, this type of computing environment is for single users to run tasks at home or offices.

Time-Sharing Computing

A Time-Sharing Computing Environment enables multiple users to share a system concurrently. Furthermore, it allows various time slots for various users and processes. Hence, the processor switches rapidly and changes users according to their slots.

For example, Windows 95 and its later versions, Unix, IOS, Linux OS all run on the time-sharing computing environment.

Client-Server Computing

Client-Server Computing is a type of environment that incorporates two machines. Therefore, it includes a client machine and a server machine. Sometimes, the same machine serves as the client and the server.

Subsequently, a client requests a resource or service and a server provides the same. Moreover, a server provides a resource or service to multiple clients simultaneously. Hence, the communication takes place using a computer network.

Categorization of Client-Server Computing Environment is into two types:

• Computer Server: It provides the interface to the clients. Hence, it helps communicate requests to execute tasks.
  Meanwhile, the server performs the task and responds with the outcome.
  

• File-Server: The environment provides a file-system interface. Therefore, allowing clients to create, update, read, and delete files. 

Peer-to-Peer Computing

Peer-to-Peer Computing is a type of environment similar to a Distributed type of Computing Environment. That is to say, there are no differences between clients and servers in this type of computing environment.

P2P provides an advantage over traditional client-server environments. That is to say, it provides services using several nodes throughout the network.

Mobile Computing

Mobile Computing refers to the type of environment that runs tasks on smartphones and tablets. Hence, it is computing on portable and lightweight devices. 

Although, compared to other devices, mobile systems lack screen size, memory capacity, and other traditional functionalities. However, it does provide remote access to multiple services.

Today, mobile computing environments consist of multiple functions. Hence, it offers services as good as any other traditional device. Moreover, the two main operating systems that dominate this market are Apple iOS and Google Android.