What is a function of unified management software in cloud computing?

A.
Defining cloud service attributes

B.
Consolidating infrastructure resources scattered across one or more data centers

C.
Metering based on usage of resources by the consumer

D.
Providing an interface to consumers to request cloud services

Explanation:

Cloud Management and Service Creation Tools
The cloud management and service creation tools layer includes three types of software:
• Physical and virtual infrastructure management software
• Unified management software
• User-access management software
This classification is based on the different functions performed by these software. These software
interact with each other to automate provisioning of cloud services.
The physical and virtual infrastructure management software is offered by the vendors of various
infrastructure resources and third-party organizations. For example, a storage array has its own
management software. Similarly, network and physical servers are managed independently using
network and compute management software respectively. These software provide interfaces to
construct a virtual infrastructure from the underlying physical infrastructure.
Unified management software interacts with all standalone physical and virtual infrastructure
management software. It collects information on the existing physical and virtual infrastructure
configurations, connectivity, and utilization. Unified management software compiles this
information and provides a consolidated view of infrastructure resources scattered across one or
more data centers. It allows an administrator to monitor performance, capacity, and availability of
physical and virtual resources centrally. Unified management software also provides a single
management interface to configure physical and virtual infrastructure and integrate the compute
(both CPU and memory), network, and storage pools. The integration allows a group of compute
pools to use the storage and network pools for storing and transferring data respectively.
The unified management software passes configuration commands to respective physical and

virtual infrastructure management software, which executes the instructions. This eliminates the
administration of compute, storage, and network resources separately using native management
software.
The key function of the unified management software is to automate the creation of cloud services.
It enables administrators to define service attributes such as CPU power, memory, network
bandwidth, storage capacity, name and description of applications and platform software, resource
location, and backup policy. When the unified management software receives consumer requests
for cloud services, it creates the service based on predefined service attributes.
The user-access management software provides a web-based user interface to consumers.
Consumers can use the interface to browse the service catalogue and request cloud services.
The user-access management software authenticates users before forwarding their request to the
unified management software. It also monitors allocation or usage of resources associated to the
cloud service instances. Based on the allocation or usage of resources, it generates a chargeback
report. The chargeback report is visible to consumers and provides transparency between
consumers and providers.