This blog post covers a brief overview of the topics covered and some common questions asked on our Day1 of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Architect Training, This will help you to understand what you should learn or look for when preparing for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Architect.

In this session, We covered Module 1: Cloud Concepts & Getting Started with OCI which includes the following lessons

Cloud computing provides on-demand access to computing resources (like servers, storage, and applications) over the internet. This model enables users to utilize and scale these resources as needed without managing physical infrastructure.

Cloud Providers in the Market and Gartner’s Magic Quadrant Report

Next, we dived into the competitive landscape of cloud providers. The market is dominated by major players such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Oracle Cloud. We discussed Gartner’s Magic Quadrant Report, which evaluates these providers based on their ability to execute and completeness of vision. Key takeaways include:

• AWS: Leader in cloud infrastructure, known for its extensive range of services and global reach.
• Azure: Strong in hybrid cloud solutions and integration with Microsoft products.
• GCP: Notable for data analytics and machine learning capabilities.
• Oracle Cloud: Recognized for its robust database services and enterprise applications.

1. What is Gartner’s Magic Quadrant Report?

Answer: Gartner’s Magic Quadrant Report is a research methodology that evaluates technology vendors based on their completeness of vision and ability to execute. It provides a graphical representation of a market’s direction and vendor positioning.

2. How does Gartner’s Magic Quadrant categorize cloud providers?

Answer: Cloud providers are categorized into four quadrants:

• Leaders: High ability to execute and comprehensive vision (e.g., AWS, Microsoft Azure).
• Challengers: High ability to execute but may have less comprehensive vision (e.g., IBM Cloud).
• Visionaries: Strong vision but may have less proven execution (e.g., Google Cloud Platform).
• Niche Players: Specialized offerings with a focus on specific areas or industries.

3. What should businesses consider when using the Magic Quadrant Report to select a cloud provider?

Answer: Businesses should consider their specific needs and priorities, such as service requirements, budget, compliance needs, and the strategic direction of their IT investments. The Magic Quadrant helps identify vendors that align with these factors.

4. How often is the Gartner Magic Quadrant Report updated?

Answer: Gartner’s Magic Quadrant Reports are typically updated annually, though the frequency can vary depending on the market and technology being evaluated.

5. Can Gartner’s Magic Quadrant Report be used as the sole basis for choosing a cloud provider?

Answer: While the Magic Quadrant provides valuable insights, it should not be the sole basis for decision-making. It is important to also consider other factors like specific technical requirements, vendor support, and real-world user experiences.

Q/A Related to the Service Model

Below are a few queries asked by our Trainees for this respective Topic

Q7. How maintenance (like backup etc) is getting handled in all cloud models.

Ans. Cloud Service Model: SaaS, PaaS, IaaS

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) contains the basic building blocks for cloud IT and it provides access to networking features, compute (virtual or on dedicated hardware), and data storage space.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS): Platform as a Service (PaaS) removes the need for your organization to manage the underlying infrastructure (hardware and operating systems) and allows you to focus on the deployment and management of your applications.
• Software as a Service (SaaS):  is a software distribution model in which a third-party provider hosts applications and makes them available to customers over the Internet. In most cases, people referring to Software as a Service are referring to end-user applications.

For the PaaS & IaaS Service model, Backup is done by the customer (i.e You), its the customer responsibility to maintain Backups & for SaaS Model Backup is taken care of by Oracle itself.

Note: Read our blog to know more about Cloud Service Model. 

Q8. In the PaaS model, if the database is lost will Oracle take the responsibility to retrieve?

Ans. PaaS Model has two types of offerings, one is User managed & other is Autonomous Database

• For Autonomous Database, if data is lost because of cloud vendors (hardware failure highly unlikely) then Oracle will recover that, however, if the Data is deleted by mistake or due to any human error, then its customer’s responsibility to restore.
• For User-Managed Database it is all the customer (yours) responsibility, only you need to maintain these.

More importantly, you can go with OCI Bare Metal, you could go with just 52 OCPU’s in comparison to the fact that you had to take 250 OCPU’s in dedicated BareMetal in the classic cloud.
For the Other Storage Services concerned, it is more or less the same, you have Object Storage & Archive Storage in Both, these concepts remain the same even in OCI.

There are few things in OCI in terms of Service Offerings:

• Availability Domain: Availability Domain (AD) is one or more data centers located within a region. Your Data is protected within a region by means of using AD’s
• IAM(Identity & Access Management): In this, you will get the feature of Compartments.
• Audit Service

Cloud Deployment Models

We then covered the different cloud deployment models:

• Public Cloud: Services are delivered over the public internet and shared across multiple organizations. Providers like AWS, Azure, and Oracle Cloud operate on this model.
• Private Cloud: Cloud infrastructure is exclusively used by a single organization. It can be hosted on-premises or by a third party but offers greater control and security.
• Hybrid Cloud: Combines public and private clouds, allowing data and applications to be shared between them. It offers flexibility and optimized resource usage.
• Multi-Cloud: Involves using services from multiple cloud providers to avoid vendor lock-in and to leverage the strengths of different platforms.

Q/A Related to the Cloud Deployment Models

1. What are the advantages of a Public Cloud?

Answer: Advantages include cost-efficiency (pay-as-you-go model), scalability, and ease of access. Public clouds are managed by third-party providers, which reduces the need for internal IT resources.

2. What benefits does a Private Cloud offer?

Answer: A Private Cloud provides enhanced control, security, and customization. It is ideal for organizations with strict data privacy requirements or specific regulatory compliance needs.

3. What is a Hybrid Cloud, and why might an organization use it?

Answer: A Hybrid Cloud combines both public and private clouds, allowing organizations to leverage the benefits of both. It enables greater flexibility, optimization of existing infrastructure, and improved disaster recovery options.

4. What is a Community Cloud, and who typically uses it?

Answer: A Community Cloud is shared by multiple organizations with similar interests, such as compliance or security requirements. It is often used by government agencies, healthcare organizations, or educational institutions that need to collaborate while adhering to specific regulations.

High Availability (HA) in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)

High Availability (HA) in OCI ensures that your applications and services remain operational and resilient, even in the face of failures or disruptions.

1. Fault Tolerant Architecture

• Availability Domains (ADs): OCI provides multiple ADs within a region. Distribute your resources across multiple ADs to protect against localized failures.
• Fault Domains: Within each AD, resources can be organized into fault domains to further isolate potential issues and maintain availability.

Q/A Related to the HA & FT

1. What role do load balancers play in high availability?

Answer: Load balancers distribute incoming traffic across multiple servers to ensure that no single server is overwhelmed. This helps maintain performance and reliability even if one or more servers fail.

2. How does high availability differ from disaster recovery?

Answer: High availability focuses on maintaining continuous service and minimizing downtime during failures. Disaster recovery, on the other hand, involves procedures and plans to restore systems and data after a significant disruption or catastrophe.

3. What are some common tools or technologies used to implement high availability?

Answer: Common tools and technologies include:

• Clustering: Grouping multiple servers to act as a single system for redundancy and failover.
• Virtualization: Using virtual machines to quickly move workloads between physical hosts.
• Replication Technologies: Such as database replication and storage replication to ensure data availability.
• Cloud Services: Cloud providers often offer built-in high availability features, like auto-scaling and managed failover services.

OCI Services

Q/A Related to the Cloud Services Models

1.What are the main benefits of using IaaS?

Answer: IaaS benefits include flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency. Users can quickly scale resources up or down based on demand and pay only for what they use, avoiding the need for significant upfront investment in hardware.

2.How does PaaS benefit developers?

Answer: PaaS simplifies the development process by providing a managed platform with built-in development tools, frameworks, and databases. Developers can focus on coding and deploying applications without managing the underlying infrastructure or runtime environment.

3.What are the advantages of SaaS for end-users?

Answer: SaaS offers convenience, accessibility, and cost savings. Users can access applications from any device with an internet connection, and they do not need to worry about installation, maintenance, or updates, as these are handled by the provider.

4.How do cloud service models differ in terms of management responsibility?

Answer: In IaaS, users manage the operating systems, applications, and data while the provider handles the hardware and virtualization. In PaaS, the provider manages the underlying infrastructure and platform, while users focus on application development. In SaaS, the provider manages everything, including the infrastructure, platform, and application, with users only interacting with the software.

OCI Fundamentals & Services

We delved into Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), discussing its core services and features. OCI is known for its high-performance computing capabilities and enterprise-grade solutions. Key services include:

• Compute: Offers virtual machines and bare metal instances.
• Storage: Includes block storage, object storage, and file storage.
• Networking: Provides virtual cloud networks (VCN), load balancers, and VPN services.
• Databases: Includes Oracle Autonomous Database, Oracle Database Cloud Service, and more.

OCI Console Walkthrough

To wrap up, we took a detailed tour of the OCI Console, the web interface used to manage and monitor OCI resources. The walkthrough included:

• Navigating the Dashboard: Understanding the layout and available options.
• Creating and Managing Resources: How to launch compute instances, configure storage, and set up networking.
• Monitoring and Analytics: Tools for tracking performance, usage, and costs.

Conclusion

Day 1 provided a solid foundation in cloud computing concepts and an in-depth look at Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. From understanding cloud models to navigating the OCI Console, you now have a better grasp of how cloud services can be leveraged for your organization’s needs. Stay tuned for more insights and advanced topics as we continue our OCI journey!

Related/References

• • For Q/A’s & Review for Day2, related to IAM check IAM (Users, Groups, Principal, Authentication, Authorization, Policies, and Compartments)
  • Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Architect Live Training.
  • Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Architect: Step-By-Step Activity Guides

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