Browse Definitions :
Definition

Nebula

TechTarget Contributor
By

Nebula is an open source cloud computing program that provides on-demand computing power for NASA researchers and scientists. Instead of purchasing physical servers, renting data center space or installing new networking equipment, scientists and researchers can access the IT resources they need instantly over a virtual private network (VPN).  The software developed for Nebula is a key component of OpenStack Compute, an open source cloud computing initiative.

The Nebula application, along with Cisco Systems’ Unified Computing System and servers from Silicon Mechanics are housed in 40-foot modular datacenters from Verari Systems.  Each container can hold up to 15,000 CPU cores or 15 petabytes, making this architecture much more energy efficient than traditional data centers. It is also more flexible, as it can be modified, upgraded, expanded and relocated to accommodate NASA’s changing needs.

Nebula was developed at NASA’s Ames Research Center to facilitate the sharing of large, complex data sets. It is an agency-wide program and is one of three flagship initiatives highlighted in NASA's Open Government Plan. The others are to improve the quality, impact and reuse of NASA software through open source development and a crowdsourcing project to develop new technologies that will increase public participation in research.

Learn more about Nebula cloud computing:

NASA has more information about the Nebula cloud computing platform.

This was last updated in August 2010
SearchCompliance
  • OPSEC (operations security)

    OPSEC (operations security) is a security and risk management process and strategy that classifies information, then determines ...

  • smart contract

    A smart contract is a decentralized application that executes business logic in response to events.

  • compliance risk

    Compliance risk is an organization's potential exposure to legal penalties, financial forfeiture and material loss, resulting ...

SearchSecurity
  • biometric verification

    Biometric verification is any means by which a person can be uniquely identified by evaluating one or more distinguishing ...

  • password

    A password is a string of characters used to verify the identity of a user during the authentication process.

  • biometrics

    Biometrics is the measurement and statistical analysis of people's unique physical and behavioral characteristics.

SearchHealthIT
SearchDisasterRecovery
  • What is risk mitigation?

    Risk mitigation is a strategy to prepare for and lessen the effects of threats faced by a business.

  • change control

    Change control is a systematic approach to managing all changes made to a product or system.

  • disaster recovery (DR)

    Disaster recovery (DR) is an organization's ability to respond to and recover from an event that affects business operations.

SearchStorage
  • PCIe SSD (PCIe solid-state drive)

    A PCIe SSD (PCIe solid-state drive) is a high-speed expansion card that attaches a computer to its peripherals.

  • VRAM (video RAM)

    VRAM (video RAM) refers to any type of random access memory (RAM) specifically used to store image data for a computer display.

  • virtual memory

    Virtual memory is a memory management technique where secondary memory can be used as if it were a part of the main memory.

Close