Hadoop is a software platform that makes it possible for users to manage large amounts of data. Hadoop processes extensive amounts of structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data. Some examples of data sets that Hadoop deals with are Internet clickstream records, web server logs, social media posts, customer emails, and IoT sensor data. Hadoop is essentially a massive, high-tech file cabinet, but does have other uses. Hadoop can also be used to perform predictive analysis, data mining, and machine learning.
Hadoop can be broken down into four main components:
- Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS)
- Stores the data
- Yet Another Resource Negotiator (YARN)
- Allocates system resources to apps and schedules jobs
- MapReduce
- Splits processing jobs into multiple tasks
- Hadoop Common
- A set of utilities that provides underlying capabilities required by other Hadoop components
What value does Hadoop offer my SMB?
It’s quite likely that SMB owners and their employees benefit from Hadoop via the analysis of large data sets by other 3rd parties rather than directly by leveraging its power. Exceptions exist in SMBs that handle extremely large data sets, but that’s the exception.
Hadoop has become quite commonly used because it is accessible, affordable, and exceedingly useful when looking at large data sets and trying to tease out correlations, extrapolations, and predictions.
Hadoop can scale with multiple machines to accommodate nearly any size of data set. Hadoop uses “commodity hardware,” meaning low-cost systems straight off the shelf. No special systems or expensive custom hardware is needed to run Hadoop, making it inexpensive to operate. IT professionals are often the ones who most benefit from this Hadoop, as it enables them to purchase the numbers and types of hardware that best suit the custom needs of the business or IT department.
As data grows it’ll become increasingly vital to store it efficiently and effectively. When you’re required to collect massive data sets, storage may get more expensive; that’s why adopting a data tool like Hadoop is a smart strategy for your company long-term.