Cloud Glossary: Letter F

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F

FaaS (Function as a Service)

A cloud computing model that allows developers to run code without managing servers, executing functions in response to events.

Fabric

The underlying infrastructure that connects and manages distributed computing resources across a network or data center.

Failback

The process of returning operations to the primary system after it has been restored following a failure.

Failover

The automatic switching to a backup system when the primary system fails, ensuring continued service availability.

Failover Cluster

A group of servers that work together to maintain high availability of applications or services through automatic failover.

Failure Domain

A section of a system that can fail independently without affecting other sections, used to design resilient architectures.

Fan-in

A pattern where multiple input sources converge into a single processing point or destination.

Fan-out

A pattern where a single input is distributed to multiple output destinations for parallel processing.

Fargate (AWS)

Amazon's serverless compute engine for containers that allows running containers without managing servers or clusters.

Fast Provisioning

The ability to quickly create and deploy computing resources to meet immediate demands or scaling requirements.

Fault Tolerance

The ability of a system to continue operating properly in the event of component failures or unexpected conditions.

Federation

The process of linking separate identity management systems to allow users to access multiple systems with a single identity.

Fiber

High-speed optical cables used for data transmission, providing excellent bandwidth and low latency for network connections.

FIFO (First In, First Out)

A queuing method where the first item added is the first item processed, ensuring ordered message delivery.

File Share

A network resource that allows multiple users to access and share files stored on a central server or storage system.

File Storage

A hierarchical storage method that organizes data in files and folders, accessible through standard file system protocols.

File System

A method for organizing and storing files on storage devices, providing a hierarchical structure for data management.

Filestore (Google Cloud)

Google Cloud's fully managed file storage service for applications that require a filesystem interface and shared filesystem.

Filter

A mechanism for selecting or excluding specific data, traffic, or events based on defined criteria or rules.

Fingerprint

A unique identifier or hash generated from data or certificates to verify authenticity and detect changes.

Firewall

A network security device that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security rules.

Firewall Rules

Specific configurations that define what network traffic is allowed or denied through a firewall system.

Firestore (Google Cloud)

Google Cloud's flexible, scalable NoSQL document database for mobile, web, and server development.

Firmware

Low-level software stored in non-volatile memory that provides basic operational instructions for hardware components.

Fixed IP

A static IP address that doesn't change, providing consistent network addressing for servers and services.

Flag

A boolean indicator or configuration parameter that enables or disables specific features or behaviors in a system.

Fleet

A collection of computing resources managed as a group, typically for scaling, monitoring, and maintenance purposes.

Flexibility

The ability of a system to adapt to changing requirements, workloads, or configurations without major restructuring.

Flow

The movement of data, traffic, or processes through a system, often referring to network traffic or workflow execution.

Flow Control

Mechanisms for managing the rate of data transmission to prevent overwhelming receiving systems or network congestion.

Footprint

The amount of physical space, resources, or impact that a system or application requires or produces.

Fork

Creating a copy of a repository or process that can be developed independently while maintaining a connection to the original.

Format

The structure or specification that defines how data is organized, encoded, or presented.

Forward Proxy

A server that acts as an intermediary for client requests to other servers, often used for security and caching.

Forwarding

The process of sending data, requests, or traffic from one location to another, often through intermediary systems.

FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name)

A complete domain name that specifies the exact location of a resource in the DNS hierarchy.

Fragment

A piece of a larger data packet that has been divided for transmission across networks with smaller maximum transmission units.

Frequency

The rate at which events occur or operations are performed, often measured in hertz or operations per time unit.

Frontend

The user-facing part of an application that handles user interactions and displays information to users.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

A standard network protocol used for transferring files between a client and server on a computer network.

Full Backup

A complete backup of all data in a system, providing a comprehensive snapshot for disaster recovery purposes.

Function

A discrete piece of code designed to perform a specific task, often used in serverless computing architectures.

Functional Testing

Testing that verifies software functionality works according to specified requirements and business logic.

Functionality

The range of operations or features that a system, application, or component is designed to perform.

Fusion

The combination or integration of different technologies, data sources, or systems into a unified solution.

Future State

The desired end configuration or architecture that an organization aims to achieve through transformation initiatives.

Fuzzing

A software testing technique that involves providing invalid, unexpected, or random data as input to find vulnerabilities.

Fabric Controller

A component that manages and coordinates resources across a distributed computing fabric or cluster.

Fast Recovery

The ability to quickly restore operations and data after a failure or disaster with minimal downtime.

Feature Flag

A software development technique that allows features to be turned on or off without deploying new code.

Federated Identity

A system that allows users to access multiple applications and services using a single set of credentials.

Field

A specific data element or attribute within a record, document, or data structure.

File Compression

The process of reducing file size by encoding data more efficiently to save storage space and transfer time.

Finite State Machine

A computational model that can be in exactly one of a finite number of states at any given time.

Firmware Update

The process of upgrading the low-level software that controls hardware components to fix bugs or add features.

Flat Network

A network architecture where all devices are on the same broadcast domain without segmentation.

Floating IP

An IP address that can be dynamically assigned to different resources, providing flexibility in network management.

Flow Logs

Records of network traffic that flows through network interfaces, used for monitoring and security analysis.

Forensics

The application of scientific methods to investigate and analyze digital evidence for legal or security purposes.

Fork Bomb

A denial-of-service attack that creates an overwhelming number of processes to exhaust system resources.

Foundation

The underlying infrastructure, architecture, or base components upon which systems and applications are built.

FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array)

Integrated circuits that can be configured after manufacturing to accelerate specific computing workloads.

Fragmentation

The breaking up of data into smaller pieces, which can impact performance and require defragmentation.

Fraud Detection

Systems and algorithms designed to identify suspicious activities or transactions that may indicate fraudulent behavior.

Frequency Scaling

Adjusting the operating frequency of processors to balance performance and power consumption.

Full Stack

Development approach that involves working with both frontend and backend components of applications.

Function Timeout

The maximum amount of time a function is allowed to execute before being terminated automatically.