Results tagged “cloud computing”

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft's Bob Muglia mentions that even facing VMware's huge headstart Hyper-V is gaining marketshare. Of course, specifics are lacking, but he did let slip that it's making substantial gains in the SMB market, which is unsurprising considering that the market's traditionally been one of the company's strong suits. Looks like a significant number of SMBs haven't been taking the advice of Dell's Erik Dithmer's to skip virtualization tech, to Microsoft's delight.

He also let slip this very interesting nugget captured by Eric Savitz of Barron's:

Finding that many companies to do side-by-side adoption of MSFT's Hyper V and VMware. In side-by-side, we have a 90% win rate, he says. What we are seeing, he says, is doing side-by-side as customers add incremental servers to existing VMware installations.

Muglia also shares an interesting statistic, revealing that roughly 20 percent of all servers shipped are virtualized. And while enterprise adoption skews higher, it still means that the vast majority of servers are likely running underutilized. But Microsoft doesn't seem to be sweating it. Why? Azure, the software giant's cloud computing platform.

While betting on the cloud might pay off, it's not without its risks. In his report on Azure at GigaOM Pro (sub. req'd), Derrick Harris zeroes in on a potential speedbump to widespread adoption: trust. Can Microsoft win over customers in an arena where openness rules? That's just one of the issues it has to wrestle with.

APC to replace aircons with row-based cooling systems - Computerworld

According to APC, air conditioners are the "second-highest consumer of power in the data center, next only to the IT equipment." And citing a report by Gartner, the company said row-based cooling is touted as the dominant solution in data center cooling systems come 2011. The design specifically responds to the cooling capacity of specific rows, enabling a row of racks to run a high-density application while another row runs a different application.

Busted: Three myths of cloud computing - InfoWorld

For my first post to this blog, I want to address three myths about cloud computing that have a habit of getting in the way of rational discussion. As with any overhyped and overpublicized emerging technology space, dubious information gets repeated so many times it's considered fact. Let's burst some bubbles, shall we?

Greenpeace Calls Out HP for Backtracking on Toxics Storage - eWeek

Ecology activists claim that IT giant Hewlett-Packard is doing an about-face on its public statements about eliminating key toxic chemicals in its printers, computers, servers and storage products by the end of 2009.

VMware admins use Hyper9 to bolster vCenter Server - SearchServerVirtualization.com

VMware administrators say that the latest version of Hyper9's virtualization management software gives them quicker, easier access to information that would otherwise take hours to find using VMware's vCenter Server.

Improve your storage systems' environmental impact - SearchSMBStorage

Thin provisioning

It's no secret that storage is often overallocated. An application requires 1 GB, a database requires 2 GB, and the systems and database administrators often require a buffer. If you factor in growth, you can wind up allocating 10 GB -- a huge waste.

And don't forget more fresh-off-the-Web Green IT links at GigaOM Pro.

Is the Cloud a Bandwidth Hog? - ITBusinessEdge

For some time now, I've been saying that networking is the key element to cloud architectures. While that's still true, it's probably more accurate to say that adequate bandwidth will make or break most enterprises' ventures on the cloud.

IDT and Micron to Standardize PCI Express-Based Enterprise Solid-State Drives - X-bit Labs

Solid-state drives that rely on PCI Express bus instead of Serial ATA interface are rather common nowadays, however, those SSDs are mostly oriented on consumers. Integrated Device Technology (IDT) and Micron Technology on Tuesday said they would team up to standardize PCIe-based SSDs for the server, storage and embedded markets.

PDF is a Green Technology for your Office - Localcooling

Historic or file documents can be scanned into PDF files and saved electronically in full color. Electronic files don't deteriorate like paper documents. If necessary, a PDF document can be printed a later date. Filing cabinets can be emptied to create free space and paper documents can be recycled.

Citrix eliminates security holes in hypervisor - Network World

Historic or file documents can be scanned into PDF files and saved electronically in full color. Electronic files don't deteriorate like paper documents. If necessary, a PDF document can be printed a later date. Filing cabinets can be emptied to create free space and paper documents can be recycled.

Greenpeace Activists Vandalize HP Headquarters - Wired

Greenpeace activists climbed to the top of HP's building and inked the slogan using non-toxic children's finger-paint, said the organization. The message covers about 11,500 square feet, or the size of two and half basketball courts.

And don't forget more fresh-off-the-Web Green IT links at GigaOM Pro.

In measuring data center power use, more (info) is more - SearchDataCenter.com

Large data center operators like Microsoft and Google have already said that measuring power consumption is key to energy efficiency. Last year, Microsoft demonstrated how it measured power downstream from the utility using a homegrown tool called Scry. It includes sensors around the data center that tie into the company's configuration management database (CMDB) and asset management software to give data center staff details on energy use and carbon footprint.

Intel's First X25-M G2s Suffering from BIOS Bugs - MaximumPC

According to OEM system builder Puget Systems, a defect exists in the new drives which causes data corruption if a password is set on the drive in the system BIOS and then is changed or disabled later.

Enterprise pricing for Azure cloud still unclear - Computerworld

Microsoft Corp. released most of the pricing schemes for its upcoming Azure cloud computing platform earlier this month, but it's still unclear how the service will be integrated into the long-term contracts the software vendor signs with its corporate customers.

Rackspace Hosting Open Sources its Cloud Tools - TMCnet

Rackspace Hosting, a leading provider of hosting solutions, reportedly announced it has open sourced the specifications for its Cloud Servers and Cloud Files APIs under the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution license.

New Supercomputer To Reel In Answers To Some Of Earth's Problems - Science Daily

The newest supercomputer in town is almost 15 times faster than its predecessor and ready to take on problems in areas such as climate science, hydrogen storage and molecular chemistry.

And don't forget more fresh-off-the-Web Green IT links at GigaOM Pro.

John Gruber at Daring Fireball wrote a juicy post titled "Putting What Little We Actually Know About Chrome OS Into Context." It's a refreshingly sober take on the recent Google Chrome OS announcement, which spawned hyperbolic editorials. (Nuclear bomb, anyone?)

For starters, Gruber points out that there's still a lot we don't know besides that it's free; will run on the Linux kernel; will be out next year, maybe around this time; and a couple other facts in the lean Chrome OS FAQ.

He also makes this observation:

The Chrome OS model isn't about thin clients connecting to a server. It's about thin clients connecting to many and any servers. One of the few sure things about Chrome OS is that it's going to work well with Google's own web apps, but the web is open, and Google is a strong proponent of open web standards. Everyone will have the opportunity to write web apps that run just as well in Chrome OS as Google's own.

At an abstract level, there is much appeal to this concept. With all of your data and all of the software you use online, you have nothing to back up. Nothing to migrate when you buy a new computer -- just log in from a different Chrome OS machine and there's all your stuff...

He argues that for users, a primary Chrome OS machine is an unlikely prospect and the market for secondary systems is just that, secondary. Mix in capable enough smartphones--bet on a new and/or improved iPhone next summer, like clockwork--and netbooks that already tap into the cloud, the value proposition is unclear unless you're an aficionado of Google's online services. And don't forget other cloud-friendly devices (and their software) like the upcoming CrunchPad.

What's clear is that Google is tempering expectations. See for yourself at the carefully worded official announcement. You can't fault them, really. When you throw around a term like operating system, expectations are high. More to the point, people are expecting a Windows or OS X killer.

Clearly, that's not something Google is aiming for, unless they have some surprises in store. And that's cause for concern. If it offers little more than a quick-booting way to interface and sync your local data stores with web apps, there's little incentive to make the switch, particularly if, as Google points out:

The software architecture is simple -- Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel. For application developers, the web is the platform. All web-based applications will automatically work and new applications can be written using your favorite web technologies. And of course, these apps will run not only on Google Chrome OS, but on any standards-based browser on Windows, Mac and Linux thereby giving developers the largest user base of any platform.

What, if any, "meat" are they giving users as a reason to buy a Chrome OS netbook next summer?

One interesting, if pragmatic, aspect of Chrome OS is that it could make things like lost or stolen netbook a relatively painless matter - after the initial shock, of course. Also encouraging is all this talk about security being one of the tenets of the project.

Otherwise, there's precious little else we know about Chrome OS and how it will help or hinder the cloud computing movement. But admit it; the mystery surrounding it is what makes it so exciting. And both mystery and excitement have been lacking in the OS wars of late.

[via @dannysullivan]

The greenest datacenter is the one you don't have to build, according to thin computing provider Wyse Technology. The firm today unveiled Wyse Virtual Desktop Accelerator (VDA) software that brings performance gains generally associated with WAN acceleration offerings to virtual desktops and thin clients.

Wyse VDA works transparently in the background with Citrix ICA, Microsoft RDP, and VMware View to bring the remote desktop or cloud computing experience closer to LAN-like levels by minimizing the impact of network latency and reducing packet loss. And the perky performance should be noticeable, says the product page. "Wyse VDA accelerates Microsoft RDP and Citrix ICA protocols by up to 3 times on networks with up to 300ms latency and at least 768 kbps downstream bandwidth."

Wyse estimates that VDA can double or triple a datacenter's geographic reach in terms of acceptable performance for remote end-users, thus eliminating the need to dot the landscape with computing centers every couple hundred miles to service them. Naturally, the fewer (or smaller) the datacenters you use, the less it costs to power your IT operations.

Wyse Virtual Desktop Accelerator is available now for Microsoft Windows XP Pro and as an component of some Wyse thin clients and ThinOS 6.4 systems.

Source

IBM's survey of midsized businesses, "Inside the Midmarket: A 2009 Perspective" (PDF), reveals that a large majority of organizations in the 100 - 1000 employee bracket have Green IT squarely in their radar:

This year's survey also illustrates the growing role of emerging technologies, such as cloud computing, green IT, and social media -- areas that were not even included in a similar IBM study conducted in 2007. While lower on the scale of critical priorities, midmarket companies are actively pursuing several emerging technology areas to improve performance. The survey shows that 79 percent intend to implement, have established goals, or have started/completed implementation of Green IT solutions, followed closely by social media/Web 2.0 (71 percent) and Cloud Computing (69 percent).

It's also interesting to see cloud computing rank highly. However, the top priorities among the 1,879 surveyed include improving efficiency and reducing cost; increasing productivity; and better customer service, which is not surprising considering the current economic climate.

Cloud computing services may just be providing the nudge SMBs need to migrate to open source platforms and trim costs. At least that's the thinking of Alex Vuchnich at AccountingWEB.com.

He makes a good case. After all, web services hide the plumbing from the users and the only true compatibility worry boils down to a browser's capabilities. Mind you, there is still an operating system at work, but the link between the productivity the app provides and the platform it runs on begins to dissolve perceptually.

As users grow comfortable with this way of thinking, he argues, it can provide an opportunity for open source.

...If this proves to be the case, many small businesses can truly benefit from this shift. Linux typically has a lower occurrence and vulnerability to virus attacks and worms. It also is an extremely stable platform which translates into more uptime and productivity. Lastly, it spares the small business owner of the hassle of managing access licenses and the potential liability of having improperly licensed software.

What do you think? Is cloud computing a boon for open source software?

Computer Green-Off - Earth911.com

According to a recent study, 70 percent of businesses are greening their efforts, and the leaders in the IT industry are no different as the industry's top computer brands - HP, Apple and Dell - all claim to have the greenest computers and practices around.

But, how do their green efforts stack up when compared to one another? We decided to challenge these top brands to a computer green-off to see who really lived up to their own environmental hype.

Microsoft's Hohm: First in the Azure Cloud - BusinessWeek

In the past, Microsoft would have allocated a couple of data centers to house Hohm, said Mundie. In that model, even if it were the middle of the night, the Web service would grind away in case there was a visitor. That meant it would be using more energy than needed. But with Azure's setup, the servers are more like a car with different cylinders. "When they go uphill, we'll turn them on, and when we're coasting downhill, we'll turn them off," said Mundie.

Review: Intel's X25-E SSD runs circles around rival drives - Computerworld

Unlike Intel's consumer SSD, the X25-M, the X25-E is built with single-level cell (SLC) NAND flash chips, which store one bit per cell, unlike multilevel cell (MLC) flash, which stores two or more bits per cell. While MLC flash offers greater capacity natively, SLC delivers better performance, reliability and longevity. But it also costs: A 64GB X25-E goes for more than $800 on Pricegrabber.com. In comparison, Intel's 80GB X25-M will run you around $360.

Amazon's Golden Cloud - Forbes

But cloud computing is inherently more green than running your own data center. There are a lot of data centers that are not highly utilized. If they utilize their assets at 20%, they're doing well. What we can do is aggregate a lot of demand across a lot of different time zones and use cases.

Sun, RingCube Integrate Desktop Virtualization Technologies - eWeek

The partnership will bring to enterprises that are using Sun's Sun Ray VDI technology the ability to more effectively and cheaply roll out personalized virtual desktops, let users work offline and synchronize their VDI environment and portable storage devices, PCs or laptops.

Companies Report That Virtualization Investments Are Indeed Paying Dividends - eWeek

The most recent example: San Francisco-based IT services provider BEAR Data Systems, a Cisco Systems gold-certified partner, revealed June 24 that its hardware and virtualization tools are enabling clients to achieve energy savings of 30 percent or more.

Energy-efficient servers earn a star -- but so what? - Computer World

But the Energy Star label doesn't tell the full story on servers and their energy consumption. The current specifications measure energy use only under limited circumstances and for specific types of machines. Blade servers, so popular in enterprise data centers, don't qualify, for example.

How to green your storage - SearchStorage - TechTarget ANZ

Avoid overspending and overprovisioning.

It's obvious that spinning disk is the source of most storage power consumption, and unused spinning disk represents wasted energy. But there are several challenges in growing storage incrementally, including the organisation's ability to accurately forecast storage capacity needs. Beyond capacity planning, it requires a relationship with a vendor who can support the incremental storage growth. The technology must also allow the storage to expand easily and with minimal disruption.

Gartner Zooms in on Key Cloud Computing Attributes - eChannelLine

The first of the attributes is that it's service-based. According to Gartner, "Consumer concerns are abstracted from provider concerns through service interfaces that are well-defined. The interfaces hide the implementation details and enable a completely automated response by the provider of the service to the consumer of the service..."

Who uses cloud computing? Startups do, VCs don't - VentureBeat

Cloud computing is a trendy term right now, but how widely is it actually used? During the venture capital panel at today's Structure 09 conference in San Francisco, VCs offered two pieces of anecdotal data that create a nice contrast between who is and isn't on the cloud.