Fujitsu Global Cloud Platform
Encyclopedia
Fujitsu Global Cloud Platform (FGCP) is a Fujitsu
cloud computing
platform that aims to deliver standardized enterprise-class public cloud services globally.
It offers Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS
) from Fujitsu's data centers to provide computing resources that can be employed on-demand and suited to customers' needs. The service ensures a high level of reliability that is sufficient for deployment in mission-critical systems.
In Japan, the service was offered as the On-Demand Virtual System Service (OViSS) and is now known as FGCP/S5. Globally, the service is delivered under the name Global Cloud Platform and operated from Fujitsu data centers located in Australia, Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany.
Fujitsu has also launched a Windows Azure powered Global Cloud Platform
in a partnership with Microsoft. This is a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS
) offering, known as FGCP/A5 in Japan. It is operated from a Fujitsu data center in Japan. It offers a set of application development frameworks, such as Microsoft .NET, Java and PHP, and data storage capabilities consistent with the Windows Azure platform provided by Microsoft. The basic service consists of compute, storage, Microsoft SQL Azure, and Windows Azure AppFabric technologies such as Service Bus and Access Control Service, with options for interoperating services covering implementation and migration of applications, system building, systems operation, and support.
Provision of services from this platform was offered on a trial basis to 200 companies in Japan from the following month.
Fujitsu announced general availability of the IaaS service in Japan, under the name On-Demand Virtual System Service (OViSS), starting on 1 October 2010. As part of the service's global rollout, it was launched in Australia under the name Fujitsu Global Cloud Platform (FGCP) in February 2011.
This was followed by launches in March 2011 in Singapore and in May 2011 in the United Kingdom,
Germany
and the United States of America.
and one or multiple network segments in which customers can host their virtual machines. Once signed up, customers can deploy multiple VSYS within their environment, much like a virtual data center.
A template consists of a firewall, network segment definitions and virtual servers
with OS
/middleware
installed and set up. This allows quick selection of for example a system of three network zones, with pre-installed a web server
in the DMZ, an application server
in the secure zone and a database
in another secure zone. A virtual system includes a firewall to control access between the network segments and from and to the Internet
and intranet
. The intranet connection is for communication between the virtual servers and customers' existing servers hosted in the same Fujitsu data center.
Servers with different computational resources are offered.
. Particular regions may offer additional operating systems, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux
.
connection to a virtual zone.
based, using SSL
to encrypt its messages and certificates for authentication.
Fujitsu has submitted their cloud API specification to the Distributed Management Task Force
's Open Cloud Standards Incubator to promote open standards for cloud interoperability.
Fujitsu
is a Japanese multinational information technology equipment and services company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is the world's third-largest IT services provider measured by revenues....
cloud computing
Cloud computing
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....
platform that aims to deliver standardized enterprise-class public cloud services globally.
It offers Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS
IAAS
IAAS can refer to the following:*Incorporated Association of Architects and Surveyors, British professional body renamed 1993 as the Association of Building Engineers* Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, institute of Tribhuvan University, Nepal...
) from Fujitsu's data centers to provide computing resources that can be employed on-demand and suited to customers' needs. The service ensures a high level of reliability that is sufficient for deployment in mission-critical systems.
In Japan, the service was offered as the On-Demand Virtual System Service (OViSS) and is now known as FGCP/S5. Globally, the service is delivered under the name Global Cloud Platform and operated from Fujitsu data centers located in Australia, Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany.
Fujitsu has also launched a Windows Azure powered Global Cloud Platform
in a partnership with Microsoft. This is a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS
Paas
Paas is a brand of Easter egg dye. It is currently owned by Signature Brands, LLC.-History:The original PAAS Easter egg dye was invented by an American named William Townley. Townley was an owner of a drug store in Newark, New Jersey, where he concocted recipes for home products...
) offering, known as FGCP/A5 in Japan. It is operated from a Fujitsu data center in Japan. It offers a set of application development frameworks, such as Microsoft .NET, Java and PHP, and data storage capabilities consistent with the Windows Azure platform provided by Microsoft. The basic service consists of compute, storage, Microsoft SQL Azure, and Windows Azure AppFabric technologies such as Service Bus and Access Control Service, with options for interoperating services covering implementation and migration of applications, system building, systems operation, and support.
History
Fujitsu launched its global cloud strategy in April 2010.Provision of services from this platform was offered on a trial basis to 200 companies in Japan from the following month.
Fujitsu announced general availability of the IaaS service in Japan, under the name On-Demand Virtual System Service (OViSS), starting on 1 October 2010. As part of the service's global rollout, it was launched in Australia under the name Fujitsu Global Cloud Platform (FGCP) in February 2011.
This was followed by launches in March 2011 in Singapore and in May 2011 in the United Kingdom,
Germany
and the United States of America.
Virtual system
The basic component in the FGCP is called a Virtual System, or VSYS. It consists of a firewallFirewall (computing)
A firewall is a device or set of devices designed to permit or deny network transmissions based upon a set of rules and is frequently used to protect networks from unauthorized access while permitting legitimate communications to pass....
and one or multiple network segments in which customers can host their virtual machines. Once signed up, customers can deploy multiple VSYS within their environment, much like a virtual data center.
Templates
The FGCP employs templates to allow customers to quickly deploy virtual systems.A template consists of a firewall, network segment definitions and virtual servers
Virtual private server
Virtual private server is a term used by internet hosting services to refer to a virtual machine. The term is used for emphasizing that the virtual machine, although running in software on the same physical computer as other customers' virtual machines, is functionally equivalent to a separate...
with OS
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
/middleware
Middleware
Middleware is computer software that connects software components or people and their applications. The software consists of a set of services that allows multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact...
installed and set up. This allows quick selection of for example a system of three network zones, with pre-installed a web server
Web server
Web server can refer to either the hardware or the software that helps to deliver content that can be accessed through the Internet....
in the DMZ, an application server
Application server
An application server is a software framework that provides an environment in which applications can run, no matter what the applications are or what they do...
in the secure zone and a database
Database management system
A database management system is a software package with computer programs that control the creation, maintenance, and use of a database. It allows organizations to conveniently develop databases for various applications by database administrators and other specialists. A database is an integrated...
in another secure zone. A virtual system includes a firewall to control access between the network segments and from and to the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
and intranet
Intranet
An intranet is a computer network that uses Internet Protocol technology to securely share any part of an organization's information or network operating system within that organization. The term is used in contrast to internet, a network between organizations, and instead refers to a network...
. The intranet connection is for communication between the virtual servers and customers' existing servers hosted in the same Fujitsu data center.
Virtual servers
Virtual servers are chosen from a list of pre-defined servers, which have only an operating system installed or also additional software.Servers with different computational resources are offered.
| CPU | RAM | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 1.0 GHz x 1 | 1.7 GB |
| Standard | 2.0 GHz x 1 | 3.4 GB |
| Advanced | 4.0 GHz x 1 | 7.5 GB |
| High-Performance | 4.0 GHz x 2 | 15 GB |
Operating systems
Operating systems offered globally include Windows Server 2008 and CentOSCentOS
CentOS is a free operating system based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux . It exists to provide a free enterprise class computing platform and strives to maintain 100% binary compatibility with its upstream distribution...
. Particular regions may offer additional operating systems, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a Linux-based operating system developed by Red Hat and targeted toward the commercial market. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is released in server versions for x86, x86-64, Itanium, PowerPC and IBM System z, and desktop versions for x86 and x86-64...
.
Storage
A virtual server has a system disk of a pre-defined size. Additional disks, with sizes configurable from 10 GB to 1 TB, can be attached to a server when it is not running.Network
Customers can provision global IP addresses and assign them to virtual servers. This is similar to Amazon's Elastic IP Address feature.Service Portal
Users provision and manage their virtual systems through a self-service portal. It can also be used to initiate a VPNVirtual private network
A virtual private network is a network that uses primarily public telecommunication infrastructure, such as the Internet, to provide remote offices or traveling users access to a central organizational network....
connection to a virtual zone.
API
All operations offered through the service portal are also offered through a cloud API. The API is XML-RPCXML-RPC
XML-RPC is a remote procedure call protocol which uses XML to encode its calls and HTTP as a transport mechanism. "XML-RPC" also refers generically to the use of XML for remote procedure call, independently of the specific protocol...
based, using SSL
Transport Layer Security
Transport Layer Security and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer , are cryptographic protocols that provide communication security over the Internet...
to encrypt its messages and certificates for authentication.
Fujitsu has submitted their cloud API specification to the Distributed Management Task Force
Distributed Management Task Force
Distributed Management Task Force is an industry organization that develops, maintains and promotes standards for systems management in enterprise IT environments. These standards allow for building systems management infrastructure components in a platform-independent and technology-neutral way...
's Open Cloud Standards Incubator to promote open standards for cloud interoperability.
Server Locations
Servers are physically located in Fujitsu's Tier III data centers in Japan, Australia, Singapore, UK, US and Germany.External links
- FGCP introduction guide and service catalogue
- FGCP/S5 Service Portal for Japan
- FGCP Service Portal for Australia and New Zealand
- FGCP Service Portal for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam
- FGCP Service Portal for the UK and Ireland
- FGCP Service Portal for the Americas
- FGCP Service Portal for Central Europe (CEMEA (Central Europe, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa) & India)
- API Design for IaaS Cloud Computing Service - FGCP's Cloud API Specification