- LPU MCA Semester 1
- CAP470
- Unit 6
CAP470 · Unit 6: Cloud security and standards
Open Cloud Consortium and Distributed Management Task Force
10 practice questions · in the ETE syllabus
Key points
- OCC: non-profit, interoperability and open testbeds
- DMTF: management standards for IT and cloud
- OVF packages VMs; CIMI manages IaaS; Redfish manages hardware
- Standards reduce vendor lock-in
Cloud standards bodies work on interoperability, so customers can use several providers and avoid vendor lock-in.
| Group | Type | Role |
|---|---|---|
| OCC (Open Cloud Consortium) | Non-profit consortium | Promotes open standards and interoperability, and runs open cloud testbeds for research |
| DMTF (Distributed Management Task Force) | Industry standards body | Develops management standards for IT and virtualisation |
Well-known DMTF standards:
| Standard | Purpose |
|---|---|
| OVF (Open Virtualization Format) | Vendor-neutral packaging of virtual machines |
| CIMI (Cloud Infrastructure Management Interface) | REST interface for managing infrastructure as a service |
| Redfish | REST standard for managing server hardware |
Packaging a VM as OVF lets it move from one hypervisor to another. Common formats and interfaces make it easier to move workloads between clouds, which supports customer choice.
Exam trap: do not mix them up. The DMTF writes management standards (OVF, CIMI), while the OCC is a consortium that supports interoperability and testbeds.
Try two questions
What is the main aim of the Open Cloud Consortium?
- To sell public cloud services to large companies for profit
- To manufacture servers for data centres
- To support open standards, interoperability and shared testbeds for cloud computing
- To provide a free email service for students
Show the answer
C. The OCC runs cloud testbeds and promotes interoperability between clouds.
Why not A: The OCC is a non-profit consortium, not a commercial seller.
Why not B: It does not manufacture hardware.
Why not D: It does not run an email service.
Why do cloud standards bodies such as the DMTF and the OCC matter to customers?
- They guarantee that every provider offers the same price
- They help avoid vendor lock-in by encouraging interoperability between providers
- They give each customer free access to every cloud
- They stop providers from ever updating their services
Show the answer
B. Common formats and interfaces make it easier to move workloads between clouds.
Why not A: Standards do not fix prices.
Why not C: Standards do not grant free access.
Why not D: Providers continue to evolve their services.