
Cloud computing	Code: 22.601 : 6

View general information Description Professional fields to which it applies Prior knowledge Learning objectives and results Content View the UOC learning resources used in the subject Guidelines on assessment at the UOC View the assessment model

This is the course plan for the first semester of the academic year 2024/2025. To check whether the course is being run this semester, go to the Virtual Campus section More UOC / The University / Programmes of study section on Campus. Once teaching starts, you'll be able to find it in the classroom. The course plan may be subject to change.

Description

In this subject, the fundamental concepts of Cloud Computing will be presented in a vision from the most general to the most applied. For this, conceptual and practical aspects will be analyzed and the student will carry out activities to consolidate knowledge on different aspects that are part of the functional base of these technological environments. Aspects such as infrastructures, operating systems, deployment environments, and most important actors (private and public) will be analyzed among others.

This subject assumes that the student has minimal knowledge about the operating systems internals and deployment and service environments. Considering this, the subject starts from a basic level of the Linux Operating System (since it is an essential factor in the technological ecosystems of Cloud Computing and services) and increases its complexity in the next modules until explains the different parts, services, and environments that are used today in the business and private/ institutional infrastructures.

Professional fields to which it applies

The knowledge taught in this subject will allow to the student obtain skills and competencies for different aspects related to Cloud Computing. This knowledge will be centred on some aspects such as design & deployment of virtual infrastructures & services, configuration and management, and services performance analysis and which are an essential part of the professional skills in business environments and also in private development environments or institutional environments among others.

Prior knowledge

For the development of this subject, very basic knowledge of information systems is required, and minimal skills about computers and operating systems, since the rest will be essential contents of the course.

The methodology includes case studies, reading of technical documentation about the Linux operating system, administration and management, virtualization, cloud computing infrastructures, deployment of services and administration, and monitoring of infrastructures as well as the autonomous search for information.

In this aspect, the student must have skills with the advanced use of Internet Search Engines, the analysis of quantitative and qualitative information, the ability to synthesize and obtain conclusions, as well as having oral and written communication skills. Likewise, it is also necessary that students can read and understand documents in English; since the material and bibliography / referenced documents are in this language.

Learning objectives and results

The objectives that the student is expected to achieve through this subject are the following:

- Understand the concepts and formal definitions associated with operating systems & cloud computing infrastructures that process user data.

- Know how to distinguish and configure the different parts of the operating systems processes & services and cloud computing infrastructure considering aspects such as management, performance and security.

- Understand the most appropriate technologies for the deployment of Cloud Computing infrastructures securely and efficiently, considering aspects such as scalability, performance evaluation and high availability aspects.

- Know the main actors available in the Cloud Computing ecosystem such as hypervisors, IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, open-source cloud infrastructures (i.e. OpenNebula), environments (i.e. Proxmox) and public cloud (i.e. AWS, Azure).

- Understanding the concepts of automated and verified deployment of infrastructures and applying these concepts to use benchmarks in the cloud providers will be considered.

The subject is organized into six modules, and three challenges (carrying out the corresponding CAA activities).

Content

The subject is organized into six modules and four challenges (PEC).

- M1.- Introduction to Linux

- M2.- Linux Administration

- M3.- Fundamentals and Platforms of Cloud Computing

- M4.- Virtualization and Hypervisors

- M5.- Cloud Infrastructure (Iaas, Paas/SaaS)

- M6.- Introduction to Cloud Administration

In the "Introduction to Linux" module, a user-level introduction to the open-source GNU-Linux operating system will be presented. The main functional aspects of this operating system will be analyzed (concepts that can later be exported to MacOS or Windows) and this will be a solid base to develop the following topics.

The "Linux Administration" module will focus on aspects of Linux operating system administration including sections such as local administration (processes and procedures to manage a desktop machine without external services), network management, service administration and security of the whole environment.

The essential aspects of Cloud Computing will be presented in the "Fundamentals and Platforms of Cloud Computing" module, where aspects such as models, infrastructures, advantages and disadvantages will be analyzed, as well as the most relevant aspects and the important actors in public o private cloud computing ecosystem.

An essential aspect of the functional model of Cloud Computing is virtualization, which allows the use of hardware infrastructures efficiently and profitability way, reducing space and improving the use of energy and resources. These contents will be analyzed in the "Hypervisors" module.

The "Cloud Infrastructure (Iaas, Paas/SaaS)" module will present the most important deployment models such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS). These categories are the most important ones and all the advantages/disadvantages can be analyzed and different activities can be carried out that allow conceptualizing and learning new skills in this type of environment.

Finally, the "Introduction to Cloud Administration" module will allow the student to learn about the management and administration processes of the cloud (both in private and public environments) and to acquire skills that allow designing, manage a cloud infrastructure based on virtual machines/containers to provide services using a public or private cloud environment.
The challenges (CAT, continuous assessment tests) will be oriented to cases study deployment to carry out some real & common and practical tasks in Linux & Cloud Computing environments.

View the UOC learning resources used in the subject

Guidelines on assessment at the UOC

Assessment at the UOC is, in general, online, structured around the continuous assessment activities, the final assessment tests and exams, and the programme's final project.

Assessment activities and tests can be written texts and/or video recordings, use random questions, and synchronous or asynchronous oral tests, etc., as decided by each teaching team. The final project marks the end of the learning process and consists of an original and tutored piece of work to demonstrate that students have acquired the competencies worked on during the programme.

To verify students' identity and authorship in the assessment tests, the UOC reserves the right to use identity recognition and plagiarism detection systems. For these purposes, the UOC may make video recordings or use supervision methods or techniques while students carry out any of their academic activities.

The UOC may also require students to use electronic devices (microphones, webcams or other tools) or specific software during assessments. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that these devices work properly.

The assessment process is based on students' individual efforts, and the assumption that the student is the author of the work submitted for academic activities and that this work is original. The UOC's website on academic integrity and plagiarism has more information on this.

Submitting work that is not one's own or not original for assessment tests; copying or plagiarism; impersonation; accepting or obtaining any assignments, whether for compensation or otherwise; collaboration, cover-up or encouragement to copy; and using materials, software or devices not authorized in the course plan or instructions for the activity, including artificial intelligence and machine translation, among others, are examples of misconduct in assessments that may have serious academic and disciplinary consequences.

If students are found to be engaging in any such misconduct, they may receive a Fail (D/0) for the graded activities in the course plan (including final tests) or for the final grade for the course. This could be because they have used unauthorized materials, software or devices (such as artificial intelligence when it is not permitted, social media or internet search engines) during the tests; copied fragments of text from an external source (the internet, notes, books, articles, other students' work or tests, etc.) without the corresponding citation; purchased or sold assignments, or undertaken any other form of misconduct.

Likewise and in accordance with the UOC's academic regulations, misconduct during assessment may also be grounds for disciplinary proceedings and, where appropriate, the corresponding disciplinary measures, as established in the regulations governing the UOC community (Normativa de convivència).

In its assessment process, the UOC reserves the right to:

Ask students to provide proof of their identity as established in the UOC's academic regulations.
Ask students to prove the authorship of their work throughout the assessment process, in both continuous and final assessments, through a synchronous oral interview, of which a video recording or any other type of recording established by the UOC may be made. These methods seek to ensure verification of the student's identity, and their knowledge and competencies. If it is not possible to ensure the student's authorship, they may receive a D grade in the case of continuous assessment or a Fail grade in the case of the final assessment.

Artificial intelligence in assessments

The UOC understands the value and potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, but it also understands the risks involved if it is not used ethically, critically and responsibly. So, in each assessment activity, students will be told which AI tools and resources can be used and under what conditions. In turn, students must agree to follow the guidelines set by the UOC when it comes to completing the assessment activities and citing the tools used. Specifically, they must identify any texts or images generated by AI systems and they must not present them as their own work.

In terms of using AI, or not, to complete an activity, the instructions for assessment activities indicate the restrictions on the use of these tools. Bear in mind that using them inappropriately, such as using them in activities where they are not allowed or not citing them in activities where they are, may be considered misconduct. If in doubt, we recommend getting in touch with the course instructor and asking them before you submit your work.

View the assessment model

You can only pass the course if you participate in and pass the continuous assessment. Your final mark for the course will be the mark you received in the continuous assessment.