Agent-Based Approaches for Intelligent Intercloud Resource Allocation

Whereas an Intercloud is an interconnected global “cloud of clouds” that enables each cloud to tap into resources of other clouds, interactions among Intercloud stakeholders are complex because Intercloud resources are distributed and controlled by different clouds. “Agent-based cloud computing” involves the construction of agents for bolstering discovery, matching, selection, composition, negotiation, scheduling, workflow, and monitoring of Intercloud resources. An agent is a computer system that is capable of making decisions independently and interacting with other agents through cooperation, coordination, and negotiation. Using an agent-based approach, characteristics associated with intelligent behaviors of agents such as interacting socially through cooperation, coordination, and negotiation can be built into clouds. This survey 1) discusses the significance and advantages of using an agent paradigm for Intercloud resource allocation, 2) reviews representative models of agent-based Intercloud resource allocation and provides a comparison among these models, 3) compares agent-based and non-agent-based approaches for task executions in multiple clouds, and 4) provides pointers to future directions.