CLOUD computing

[multiweb (Marc)]

Hi guys, I know there are a lot of internet minded people around. I've been running various *nix boxes over the years. Lately I have been enquiring about cloud servers. I'm a bit out of my comfort zone here so I need some feedback.

Main problem with a standalone box is redundancy in case of HD failure. Apparently a cloud storage is different so no need for backups? Is this true. Second potential issue: what about access speed? Email, HTTP, etc... Noticeable difference?

In short would a move would be justified in term of reliability and performance? Thanks for any feedback.

[bojan]

In case you are happy Big Brother takes care of your files.. then go for it

[Barrykgerdes]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Hi guys, I know there are a lot of internet minded people around. I've been running various *nix boxes over the years. Lately I have been enquiring about cloud servers. I'm a bit out of my comfort zone here so I need some feedback.

Main problem with a standalone box is redundancy in case of HD failure. Apparently a cloud storage is different so no need for backups? Is this true. Second potential issue: what about access speed? Email, HTTP, etc... Noticeable difference?

In short would a move would be justified in term of reliability and performance? Thanks for any feedback.

Hi Marc

Talk to Trevor he is involved in that sort of stuff
I sat through a two hour presentation on cloud computing. It left me in the clouds!

Barry

[badabing82]

Hi Mate,

I am actually a *nix system designer / engineer and we do cloud offerings both in house for our own server infrastructure and for customers.

In general your average cloud solution will have better redundancy then a stand alone server for two reasons 1 you have multiple hosts (cpu power) so that if one fails it should not bring the cloud down. 2. commercial san's are used which use higher fault tolerant disks in larger raid arrays with better raid controller and types which in general means less likely to fail in a standard raid 1 array or raid 5 array. (TOUCH WOOD)! But and i can't stress this enough you need backup's of some description if you keep this locally or your cloud provider has a seperate storage device for this the choice is yours but you do still need backup's. In most companies t+c's you will find they will not be held responsable or liable for lost data.

Performance wise for you basic stuff you won't notice a huge amount of drop off locally but there will be some latency issues as for example you are connecting via adsl back to the cloud provider (this will get worse if you use anything hosted in the US) as things have to do a round trip.
For web / email etc you will notice an improvement then hosting this at home for example and if your users are spread out wide they will all see a performance gain. As far as general performance of the Hardware you should find it about equal to running it naivtely for basic websites some e-mail accounts etc.

i could go on all day so if you have any other questions just ask.

Do i recommend it ?
Yes i moved my home *nix server doing web/ email stuff to a cheap VPS i just keep a backup and it's prob worked out just as cheap with the crazy price of power these days!

[terrynz (Terence)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Hi guys, I know there are a lot of internet minded people around. I've been running various *nix boxes over the years. Lately I have been enquiring about cloud servers. I'm a bit out of my comfort zone here so I need some feedback.

Main problem with a standalone box is redundancy in case of HD failure. Apparently a cloud storage is different so no need for backups? Is this true. Second potential issue: what about access speed? Email, HTTP, etc... Noticeable difference?

In short would a move would be justified in term of reliability and performance? Thanks for any feedback.

I do this for a living. typically VMware or Citrix XenServers as the hosts, SAN (HDS, IBM and Sun) Storage, EMC-EDL's for backups and dedupe of data. Virtual Machines and applications provisioned on a Gigabite/per month cost. Typically a licensing lease fee is paid by the client.

Access over the net requires a very good link, typically 1-10Mbit PIP. for smaller clients, 512-1Mbit ADSL works well. to accelerate access, Citrix NetScalers are typically used, sometimes in conjuction with WanScalers/branch-repeaters and software agents on the clients PC. Again it depends on the App.

The system (infrastructure) is full redundant.

Cool ha

[badabing82]

Originally Posted by terrynz

I do this for a living. typically VMware or Citrix XenServers as the hosts, SAN (HDS, IBM and Sun) Storage, EMC-EDL's for backups and dedupe of data. Virtual Machines and applications provisioned on a Gigabite/per month cost. Typically a licensing lease fee is paid by the client.

Access over the net requires a very good link, typically 1-10Mbit PIP. for smaller clients, 512-1Mbit ADSL works well. to accelerate access, Citrix NetScalers are typically used, sometimes in conjuction with WanScalers/branch-repeaters and software agents on the clients PC. Again it depends on the App.

The system (infrastructure) is full redundant.

Cool ha

Until the DC goes down LOLLLL....

but in all seriousness we do it the same way as above. It's become pritty formulated as to how the cloud service is provided. with services provisioned / priced as to resources used i.e. disk space / ram / cpu requirements and licensing being extra in this case there should be none since it's *nix.

and totally agree since in your case it's just webdev stuff and e-mail it's not like using a desktop or terminal services some clients need so all the wan acceleration stuff is way over kill . BUTTT get a decent link if you don't already have 1 faster the back channel the better as remember communications are 2way in this instance =o)

[starlooker (Duc)]

Personally, I'd never want to be part of the cloud.

I like customising my own hardware.

Imagine if the cloud was hacked, or the feds were snooping. Yikes.

But with regards to reliability and performance...just ask google.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Lots to think about...

[tlgerdes (Trevor)]

First things to ask yourself, what is "Cloud Computing", so far the explanations have just seemed to be virtualisaition.

To me, cloud computing is a computing concept, not a product. Virtualisation is a often a key component of cloud computing, but it is not the only component. You have IAAS (Infrastructure As A Service), PAAS (Platform As A Service), an SAAS (Software As A Service), these are all different cloud computing models that can be interelated or distinctly seperate.

I look at it as an approach to computing that leverages the efficient pooling of on-demand, self-managed, virtual infrastructure, consumed as a service.

Backup, stoarge, availability, networking, security, resource contention, cost and standards are all valid concerns for both physical and virtual worlds, it is just a matter of who, what, when, where and how.

If you want to get more specific about what you want to achieve, I am happy for a chat.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Will email you. I didn't even know all the different types of clouds.