Workflow as a Service in the Cloud: Architecture and Scheduling Algorithms

Abstract

With more and more workflow systems adopting cloud as their execution environment, it becomes increasingly challenging on how to efficiently manage various workflows, virtual machines (VMs) and workflow execution on VM instances. To make the system scalable and easy-to-extend, we design a Workflow as a Service (WFaaS) architecture with independent services. A core part of the architecture is how to efficiently respond continuous workflow requests from users and schedule their executions in the cloud. Based on different targets, we propose four heuristic workflow scheduling algorithms for the WFaaS architecture, and analyze the differences and best usages of the algorithms in terms of performance, cost and the price/performance ratio via experimental studies.

Combining Cloud-based Workflow Management System with SOA and CEP to Create Agility in Collaborative Environment

“…There are several workflow environments described in literature, like: Cloudbus Toolkit, CloudAnalyst, Swin De W-C (Swinburne Decentralized Workflow for Cloud) [6]. The use of cloud by more and more workflow systems as execution environment increases the challenges related to the efficiency of varied workflow management, virtual machines and execution of instances on virtual machines [7]. A key element in workflow management is workflow scheduling.…”

A Service Framework for Scientific Workflow Management in the Cloud

“…The series of works [3], [15] presented a broker-based framework to support the execution of workflow applications on a multi-Cloud environment. Wang et al [16] designed a Workflow as a Service (WFaaS) architecture focused on responding continuous workflow requests and scheduling their executions in the Cloud. After proposing four heuristic workflow scheduling algorithms for the WFaaS architecture, they analyzed the differences and best usages of the algorithms in terms of performance, cost and the price/performance ratio via experimental studies.…”

Workflow Scheduling in Cloud Environment Using Firefly Optimization Algorithm

“…Workflow technology is business processes able to manage new requirements of the firms and improve their productivity. Transferring workflows to the cloud environment enable organizations to use various cloud services to facilitate their workflows [3].…”

“…These rules might include QoS parameters like cost and deadline in addition to dependencies among tasks of the workflow. Since workflow scheduling problem is an NP-complete problem, using evolutionary algorithms is the most appropriate approach for solving that [3,4].…”