A cloud load forecasting model with nonlinear changes using whale optimization algorithm hybrid strategy.

Cloud services with the property of elasticity are always bearing different loads over time. The efficiency of cloud management can be improved through the accurate prediction for cloud loads, which can be served as the foundation and recommendation for the future developing of the network scheme. As the basis and premise for management and decision making, a good prediction depends on suitable models and research methods. However, the interaction of users and the cloud network is high variability in the time and spatial dimensions, so traditional linear forecasting models cannot always process cloud computing loads well because of nonlinear changes. In this paper, a novel cloud load prediction model is proposed by improving whale optimization algorithm based on the hybrid strategy (HWOA) and combined with extreme learning machine (ELM) for strong nonlinear mapping ability. The proposed cloud load forecasting model is to employ HWOA optimizer to optimize the ELM model random parameters. Main research work includes that (1) the HWOA optimizer is to solve the whale optimizer local extremum problem; (2) the proposed HWOA optimizer reduces the ELM random parameters on cloud load forecasting; (3) the convergence performance is verified by benchmark testing functions; and (4) three groups of simulation experiments are conducted to evaluate the cloud load forecasting results. The results prove that the HWOA optimizer has a good convergence and outperforms the several conventional popular swarm intelligence optimizers. Also, the prediction results verify that our proposed model is more competitive for providing a solid foundation for efficient resource management and maximized economic benefits in cloud environment. For cloud load research groups and practitioners, this paper provides a new idea of cloud load forecasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]