Term of the Moment
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Definition: cloud
A datacenter full of servers connected to users via a private network or the public Internet. The cloud hosts any combination of websites, email, video calling, media streaming, AI processing and other data processing services. The terms cloud and "cloud computing" are generally synonymous (see cloud computing).
A Cloud = Any Network
For decades, a cloud has been a symbol representing the network in a diagram of computer resources within an organization. The important elements in such a diagram are the departments and workstation locations. The cloud symbol shows nothing more than all the computers are connected to each other.
The Network Looks Like a Cloud
The Biggest Cloud: The Internet
A Cloud = Any Network
For decades, a cloud has been a symbol representing the network in a diagram of computer resources within an organization. The important elements in such a diagram are the departments and workstation locations. The cloud symbol shows nothing more than all the computers are connected to each other.
A cloud symbol reduces a network into entry and exit points when the network details are not needed. Every cloud contains servers, routers and switches cabled together whether the network is local, public, private or the Internet. See router, switch, private cloud, personal cloud, WAN and LAN.
The Internet comprises tens of millions of rack-mounted servers in huge datacenters run by Amazon, Google, Microsoft and other cloud computing providers. The cloud also includes servers in the datacenters of public and private companies, some of which may not be connected to the Internet. See cloud computing, cloud storage and rack mounted.