---
title: "Cloud and grid computing concepts"
subject: "Internet and Intranet"
chapter: 7
key: "semester_8/internet_and_intranet:cloud-grid-computing"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/internet_and_intranet/cloud-grid-computing
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Cloud and grid computing concepts

Internet and Intranet · Chapter 7: Internet and Intranet Applications

- Asked in: 2074 Magh, 6 marks; 2073 Magh, 5 marks (asked 2 times)
- Video: [What is Cloud Computing? How is it different from Grid Computing | In 7 minutes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGRDWYvyXIg) — Bharata First
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/internet_and_intranet/cloud-grid-computing
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/internet_and_intranet/chapter-7

## Question

Explain the concept of cloud and grid computing in brief.

## Short answer

Cloud computing delivers on-demand computing resources over the internet with pay-per-use, using IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS models. Grid computing links distributed heterogeneous computers via middleware to form a virtual supercomputer for large-scale scientific tasks, sharing idle resources.

## Answer

#### Cloud computing

**Cloud computing** delivers computing resources (servers, storage, databases, software, networking) as on-demand services over the internet, with pay-per-use billing. Users do not own or manage the physical hardware.

- **Service models:** IaaS (virtual machines, storage; e.g. AWS EC2), PaaS (platform to build apps; e.g. Google App Engine), SaaS (ready software; e.g. Gmail).
- **Deployment models:** public, private, hybrid, community.
- **Characteristics:** on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling (virtualisation), rapid elasticity, measured service.
- **Benefits:** low upfront cost, scalability, accessibility, reliability. **Limits:** security and privacy, dependence on internet and vendor lock-in.

#### Grid computing

**Grid computing** links geographically distributed, heterogeneous computers from different organisations into one virtual supercomputer to solve very large problems. Idle CPU power and storage are shared; a middleware (such as Globus Toolkit) schedules jobs, manages resources, security and data transfer.

- Used for scientific problems: weather prediction, particle physics (CERN LHC grid), SETI@home, drug discovery.
- Computers are loosely coupled, and a large job is split into small independent tasks.

#### Difference

| Point | Cloud | Grid |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | General services for many users | Large scientific/compute-heavy jobs |
| Control | Single provider owns resources | Many owners, shared |
| Model | Pay-per-use | Resource sharing, collaboration |
| Access | Web interface, APIs | Middleware, job submission |
| Technology | Virtualisation | Middleware scheduling |

```text
 Users --> [Internet] --> Cloud data centre (VMs, storage)
 Job --> [Grid middleware] --> PC1, PC2, cluster, PCn
                                (results merged)
```

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which best describes cloud computing?
   A. Users buy and own physical servers hosted at their office
   B. On-demand computing resources delivered over the internet with pay-per-use billing
   C. Joining idle PCs of many organisations into one supercomputer
   D. A fixed-price lease of a private network line
   Answer: B. Cloud delivers servers, storage, software etc. as on-demand internet services with pay-per-use; users do not manage the hardware. (Key point: Cloud definition)

2. Gmail is an example of which cloud service model?
   A. IaaS
   B. PaaS
   C. SaaS
   D. DaaS
   Answer: C. SaaS gives ready-made software such as Gmail; IaaS gives VMs/storage and PaaS gives a platform to build apps. (Key point: Service models)

3. How does grid computing solve a very large problem?
   A. One provider's data centre runs it on virtual machines
   B. A middleware splits the job into small independent tasks run on loosely coupled, distributed computers, and the results are merged
   C. The job runs on a single tightly coupled supercomputer
   D. Users submit it through a web browser to a SaaS app
   Answer: B. Grid links heterogeneous computers from different organisations; middleware such as Globus schedules the small independent tasks. (Key point: Grid computing)

4. Which pair correctly contrasts cloud and grid?
   A. Cloud: many owners sharing resources; Grid: single provider
   B. Cloud: single provider, pay-per-use, virtualisation; Grid: many owners, resource sharing, middleware scheduling
   C. Cloud: middleware scheduling; Grid: virtualisation
   D. Cloud: only scientific jobs; Grid: general services for many users
   Answer: B. Cloud is owned by one provider with pay-per-use and virtualisation, while grid is shared among many owners using middleware. (Key point: Cloud vs grid difference)

## Related in other subjects

- [Cloud computing and its types](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Acloud-technologies-types) — Information System, chapter 8, asked 2×
- [Grid, cluster and cloud systems](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fdistributed_system%3Agrid-cluster-cloud) — Distributed System, chapter 1
- [Cloud types and data management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Atypes-cloud-data-management) — Information System, chapter 8
- [Cloud technology for small business](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Acloud-for-small-business) — Information System, chapter 8