Workloads in the clouds
Despite the fast evolution of cloud computing, up to now the characterization of cloud workloads has received little attention. Nevertheless, a deep understanding of their properties and behavior is essential for an effective deployment of cloud technologies and for achieving the desired service levels. While the general principles applied to parallel and distributed systems are still valid, several peculiarities require the attention of both researchers and practitioners. The aim of this chapter is to highlight the most relevant characteristics of cloud workloads as well as identify and discuss the main issues related to their deployment and the gaps that need to be filled.