What is the theory of transparent computing?

When it comes to cloud computing, most people are not unfamiliar. But compared to the "import", the "Chinese goods"-the transparent calculation is little known.

In fact, the concept of "transparent computing" has long been known internationally: Janrini, the current president of Intel Corporation, evaluated it at the Intel Global Information Technology Summit (IDF) in 2012 as "representing the next computing age". You know, in the previous 10 years of IDF history, Intel has never been so high-profile in evaluating a "non-Intel" original technology. In addition, more than 200 international technical media coverage, more than 40 domestic and foreign universities and research institutions for tracking research, even the first international cloud Computing magazine, "Cloud Computing International Magazine" for the first time for "Transparent Computing" published album.

Today, this "Chinese products" again aroused concern-China's natural science in the field of the highest award to the Zhang of Tsinghua University, led by the research team, they rely on "Network computing models and basic theoretical research" won the 2014 National Natural Science Award First prize.

With no cloud in the IT world today, many people think that "transparent computing" is a way of computing like "cloud computing". In fact, the concept of "transparent computing", known as "prior to cloud computing, contains cloud computing", is much earlier than "cloud computing".

The research team, led by 1998, began to study transparent computing systems and theories, until 2004, when Zhang formally presented the concept. In his description, the core of "Transparent computing" is the separation of storage and operation, the separation of software from the terminal, and the "flow" operation of caching, which restores the computing to "imperceptible, user-controllable" personalized service.

In simple terms, in this computing mode, users do not have to consider the operating system, middleware and applications while using the computer system, but can choose and use the related services on their own terminals, anytime and anywhere through the network according to their own needs. Zhang that "Transparent computing" attracts people across operating systems and hardware devices, and that data is more secure without geographical constraints.

He used an image metaphor to explain. If the computer as a passenger, "operation" as a clothing, travel, travelers will be all the necessary clothing into the equivalent of computer memory "suitcase". It is often difficult to do: with the number of clothes needed to increase, the suitcase will become heavier.

At this point, if a "travel assistant" appears, he will send the right clothes whenever necessary, so that passengers can "dump" the heavy suitcase. A "Transparent computer" is the equivalent of a passenger without weight. In other words, in the future, your mobile phone, computer and other terminals will become a real "bare metal", the equivalent of an interface, and the operating system and services will be loaded on the server.

This also means that, in this mode, the operating system is seen as a network resource "stripped" from the terminal, and the computer's "brain" is pushed to the "cloud". Not only that, the "super Operating system" developed under "Transparent computing" also implements Cross-platform operations on the same terminal: This allows any computer to use both Windows and other systems; Any mobile phone can use either an Android or an apple system.

Zhang the Super operating system to "manage operating system operating systems." He smiled and said: "Kowloon Water, I am not the tenth dragon, but to be the Mouron ' Dragon King '." ”

Some worry that such a "domineering" super operating system can occupy the international market, "split a cake"?

Zhang that the "Super operating system" not only does not cut the cake, but is to increase the cake, it is essentially to achieve the harmonious coexistence of everyone, together to solve the future development direction of the problem. He explained: "The idea of completely restructuring the industrial chain is not necessarily tenable, which is tantamount to replacing others, to fight." But if it is in the industrial chain to occupy the right to speak, even if one or two points, it can stimulate the development of our industry. ”

Such a "does not destroy, does not oppose, does not eliminate the original system" pattern, is considered to have changed our country operating system to adopt "the substitution strategy", has fundamentally changed our country network security and the operating system technology long-term controlled situation, "it will derive many new terminals, Thus changing the business model and software usage patterns. "Zhang Theory.