XP Mode has been hailed within the Microsoft channel as a potentially effective carrot for enticing small businesses to upgrade to Windows 7, but reports of glitches in XP Mode suggest that it might not be easy to use.
The CRN Test Center recently ran into problems after installing XP Mode and Virtual PC on a machine with a verified AMD-V virtualization processor. Although the Test Center found that the issue can be solved by upgrading the BIOS to the latest version, small businesses might not have the time or resources to find their way out of the mess, according to some solution providers.
Frank Ballatore, President and CEO, New England Computer Group, a Connecticut-based company, has been using XP Mode as a selling point in conversations with customers that were scared off by the application compatibility that dogged Windows Vista. While Ballatore doesn't expect XP Mode glitches to impact many customers, he acknowledges that they could have an impact on some.
Chris Rue, CEO, Black Warrior Technology, Alabama-based solution provider, has run into a hardware compatibility issue with XP Mode running on an Intel Pentium D processor, but chalks this up to the fact that XP Mode is still in release candidate stage.
Rue sees XP Mode as a positive sign that shows Microsoft is well aware of the difficulties users faced with Vista and is doing everything in its power to address them.
"For vendors, backward compatibility can be a bad thing because it gives people wiggle room to stick with what they have," Rue said. "One of the biggest barriers to upgrades is when a previous product is good enough, so anything that XP Mode can do to sooth people's Windows 7 upgrade fears is a positive."
Microsoft says XP Mode, a virtual Windows XP SP3 environment running under Windows Virtual PC, will deliver the best experience on new hardware. XP Mode requires PCs with at least 2GB RAM and 15GB free hard drive space, and it only runs on virtualization-enabled processors from Intel and AMD.
Upgrading hardware may be a tough sell for recession-weary companies, and Microsoft will need to iron out the technical glitches in the XP Mode. But overall, XP Mode is a promising sign that Microsoft is committed to the notion of backward compatibility, says Andrew Kretzer, Director, Sales and marketing, Bold Data Technology, California-based system builder.
"Whether XP Mode will be enough to get people to upgrade remains to be seen, but this is definitely the right way to deal with the issue of backward compatibility," said Kretzer. "There will be glitches, as there always are with any new software solution, but this sort of backward compatibility will only get robust as time goes on."
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Networking addicts,beware of KOOBFACE
If you have been getting tempting messages with video links in your account in social networking sites such as facebook,twitter,myspace bebo,freindster and hi5,beware.Any attempt to download the promised video will make you another victim of koobface,a worm could steal critical and personal information from your computer.
The government's India Computer Emergency Responce Team has warned that koobface,a play on the name of social networking site Facebook,comes with an enticing tagline and spreads by spamming the contacts of victim on networking sites. With more than 3 million members of facebook alone in India,koobface's potential for wreaking havoc on the countries's computer systems is immense.
Typically,koobface victims get a message from one of their contacts inviting them to click on a video link. The link leads you to a site mimicking the video sharing site,youtube.Once there,you are asked whether you want to download a software needed to watch the video.If you click 'yes',the worm get activated,leaving your computer vulnerable. The worm not only distrupts your internet experience by sending your searches on engines like google elsewhere and return
garbled replies,it also steals data that may have been left in your computer's memory.
If you do or have already been koobfaced the only way to protect your machine is to delete all files that have been added by the worm.Internet users have also been advised to install and maintain updated antivirus software,as also a desktop firewall. while you may not be able to notice the worm rummaging through your electronic files searching for personal data,including
passwords,the visible signs of the worm would show up on your internet browsing where you would get abnormal results to your searches and be misdirected to other sites.
The government's India Computer Emergency Responce Team has warned that koobface,a play on the name of social networking site Facebook,comes with an enticing tagline and spreads by spamming the contacts of victim on networking sites. With more than 3 million members of facebook alone in India,koobface's potential for wreaking havoc on the countries's computer systems is immense.
Typically,koobface victims get a message from one of their contacts inviting them to click on a video link. The link leads you to a site mimicking the video sharing site,youtube.Once there,you are asked whether you want to download a software needed to watch the video.If you click 'yes',the worm get activated,leaving your computer vulnerable. The worm not only distrupts your internet experience by sending your searches on engines like google elsewhere and return
garbled replies,it also steals data that may have been left in your computer's memory.
If you do or have already been koobfaced the only way to protect your machine is to delete all files that have been added by the worm.Internet users have also been advised to install and maintain updated antivirus software,as also a desktop firewall. while you may not be able to notice the worm rummaging through your electronic files searching for personal data,including
passwords,the visible signs of the worm would show up on your internet browsing where you would get abnormal results to your searches and be misdirected to other sites.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
IE7Pro 2 Lets You Pause and Resume Downloads
The very popular Internet Explorer add-on, IE7Pro, has just released a big update. The new IE7Pro 2 offers many new features, most notably, a download manager! The download manager displays your downloads in a separate window, similar to Firefox, but the IE7Pro 2 download manager also offers a "Pause" option to start and stop your downloads. The download manager stays in the system tray, and by default, is always running (although you can change this setting). Even if your browser is closed, the download manager will continue to download the files you requested. You can even pause your downloads, shut down your computer, then resume them next time you boot up and go online!Other new features in the update are increased stability, 64-bit support, and the addition of a hotkey (CTRL+M) to minimize IE windows to tray icon. Of course, all of IE7 Pro's great features remain, which include Tabbed Browsing Management, Spell Check, Inline Search, Auto Fill Form, Super Drag Drop, Crash Recovery, Proxy Switcher, Mouse Gesture, Tab History Browser, Web Accelerator, User Agent Switcher, Webpage Capturer, AD Blocker, Flash Block, Greasemonkey like User Scripts platform, User Plug-ins, MiniDM, Google sponsored search and more.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 launched
It protects PCs from Viruses and worms, Spyware and Trojans, Hijacking and botnets
Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of secure content management solutions has announced the launch of Kaspersky Internet Security 2009.
Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 is a new generation product designed to protect home users from all types of security threat. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 – the all-in-one security solution that offers a worry-free computing environment for you and your family and has everything you need for a safe and secure Internet experience.
Version 2009 products combine the benefits of Kaspersky Lab's new anti virus engine, with its dramatically improved scanning speeds, and cutting-edge HIPS technology to block new malicious programs even before signatures have been added to the anti virus databases.
Tens of millions of people worldwide currently use the version 7.0 personal products launched last year. Kaspersky products have consistently scored highly in independent tests and offer market-leading protection and reliability. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 is based on the very latest developments in security technologies. The new interface provides clear and comprehensive information on protection status and any action to be taken.
Alexander Gnatusin, Director of Channel, SA Kaspersky Labs Asia said, "Kaspersky's products are well know in the Indian Market; besides they are very light, easy to install, has small size of update and not less when 10 updates of anti virus database per day, which can be installed even on old computer with small size of memory or non speedy CPU. Kaspersky's products become very popular all around the World and India isn't an exception in this trend. It's a right time to launch Kaspersky Internet Security single user box, market is ready for this step. Kaspersky became like trend setter in Security solution market and these reflects on prices Pan India, market strategies of competitors, channel programs and etc. It's right time to do next step in market development".
Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 also includes a virtual keyboard that enables users to enter logins and passwords safely. Moreover, Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 prevents the theft of data transferred via secure connections (HTTPS, SSL) and can remove all traces of a user's Internet activity (temporary files, cookies, etc.).
The components included in earlier product versions, such as the firewall, heuristic analyzer, parental control module and anti-spam module have all been enhanced and upgraded. The product interfaces have also been redesigned, making them more transparent to beginners and more experienced users alike. The new products include an automated application mode: these results in the best options being chosen without the user being bothered by requests for action. Information about protection status and any actions which need to be taken is also presented in a clearer form.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 is developed in line with the system requirements for Windows Vista and are fully compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the operating system.
Price & Availability: 1-User Kaspersky Internet Security is being targeted for end-customer purchase. The MRP is Rs. 990.00. All channels pan-India will carry this product.
Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of secure content management solutions has announced the launch of Kaspersky Internet Security 2009.
Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 is a new generation product designed to protect home users from all types of security threat. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 – the all-in-one security solution that offers a worry-free computing environment for you and your family and has everything you need for a safe and secure Internet experience.
Version 2009 products combine the benefits of Kaspersky Lab's new anti virus engine, with its dramatically improved scanning speeds, and cutting-edge HIPS technology to block new malicious programs even before signatures have been added to the anti virus databases.
Tens of millions of people worldwide currently use the version 7.0 personal products launched last year. Kaspersky products have consistently scored highly in independent tests and offer market-leading protection and reliability. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 is based on the very latest developments in security technologies. The new interface provides clear and comprehensive information on protection status and any action to be taken.
Alexander Gnatusin, Director of Channel, SA Kaspersky Labs Asia said, "Kaspersky's products are well know in the Indian Market; besides they are very light, easy to install, has small size of update and not less when 10 updates of anti virus database per day, which can be installed even on old computer with small size of memory or non speedy CPU. Kaspersky's products become very popular all around the World and India isn't an exception in this trend. It's a right time to launch Kaspersky Internet Security single user box, market is ready for this step. Kaspersky became like trend setter in Security solution market and these reflects on prices Pan India, market strategies of competitors, channel programs and etc. It's right time to do next step in market development".
Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 also includes a virtual keyboard that enables users to enter logins and passwords safely. Moreover, Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 prevents the theft of data transferred via secure connections (HTTPS, SSL) and can remove all traces of a user's Internet activity (temporary files, cookies, etc.).
The components included in earlier product versions, such as the firewall, heuristic analyzer, parental control module and anti-spam module have all been enhanced and upgraded. The product interfaces have also been redesigned, making them more transparent to beginners and more experienced users alike. The new products include an automated application mode: these results in the best options being chosen without the user being bothered by requests for action. Information about protection status and any actions which need to be taken is also presented in a clearer form.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 is developed in line with the system requirements for Windows Vista and are fully compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the operating system.
Price & Availability: 1-User Kaspersky Internet Security is being targeted for end-customer purchase. The MRP is Rs. 990.00. All channels pan-India will carry this product.
Global IT security market to grow 15pc
The global IT security market (includes security software & security appliances) is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 15.5 percent through 2012 from 2008.
Shooting rate of Internet adoption across the world and rising threats on Internet (such as malware, spam and hack attacks) are bolstering the demand for IT security solutions. Moreover, IT security attacks are becoming becoming increasingly sophisticated, requiring continuous monitoring and updating the existing IT security solutions, says "Global IT Security Market Forecast to 2012, a report by RNCOS.
The report provides an overview on the current and future scenario of the world IT security market. It studies the global IT security market into two segments: Security Appliances and Security Software. The research also details on various ongoing and emerging trends in the global IT security market, thus helping the IT security vendors to identify opportunities.
Key FindingsThe global IT security market (includes security software & security appliances) is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 15.5 percent through 2012 from 2008.
The increasing number of IT security attacks, ongoing vulnerability discoveries, and the need for companies to comply with new legislations are fostering the growth of global IT security market.
Among the security appliances market, UTM (Unified threat management) will grow rapidly at a forecasted CAGR of nearly 34 percent, followed by IDS/IPS.
The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to account for the majority of IT security solutions market by 2012.Rapidly growing Internet adoption and surging demand for IT-enabled business solutions in emerging markets like India, China and GCC have made these destinations lucrative for IT security development.
Shooting rate of Internet adoption across the world and rising threats on Internet (such as malware, spam and hack attacks) are bolstering the demand for IT security solutions. Moreover, IT security attacks are becoming becoming increasingly sophisticated, requiring continuous monitoring and updating the existing IT security solutions, says "Global IT Security Market Forecast to 2012, a report by RNCOS.
The report provides an overview on the current and future scenario of the world IT security market. It studies the global IT security market into two segments: Security Appliances and Security Software. The research also details on various ongoing and emerging trends in the global IT security market, thus helping the IT security vendors to identify opportunities.
Key FindingsThe global IT security market (includes security software & security appliances) is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 15.5 percent through 2012 from 2008.
The increasing number of IT security attacks, ongoing vulnerability discoveries, and the need for companies to comply with new legislations are fostering the growth of global IT security market.
Among the security appliances market, UTM (Unified threat management) will grow rapidly at a forecasted CAGR of nearly 34 percent, followed by IDS/IPS.
The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to account for the majority of IT security solutions market by 2012.Rapidly growing Internet adoption and surging demand for IT-enabled business solutions in emerging markets like India, China and GCC have made these destinations lucrative for IT security development.
'India lost $16 bn due to 3G auction delay'
The GSM Association, a global trade group for mobile industry consisting of about 750 mobile operators, has urged the Department of Telecom (DoT) to go ahead with the 3G auctions without any further delay and also make the HSPA (High-speed Packet Access) a reality.
The delay in 3G auction in India had resulted in a $16 billion loss to the economy; the government should now carry out the auctions without any further delay, said Jaikishan Rajaraman, senior director, GSM Association, quoting a McKinsey report. He demanded that the government must allocate the 2.1 GHz spectrum to drive the deployment of mobile broadband across India. The planning phase for the allocation of 2.6 GHz spectrum must also start now if HSPA is to evolve for the benefit of the Indian population.
According to Rajaraman India will need to make further spectrum available through the digital dividend to support the delivery of more widespread coverage in rural areas.
Quoting the recent McKinsey report he said that once the licenses are issued and 20 billion invested over a period of five years, it will deliver $70 billion economic benefit in the same period. Further, a 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration can result in up to 1.5 per cent increase in GDP. Any further delay in allocation of 3G licenses will prove determinant to the economy, Rajaram claimed.
The GSMA senior director said the development of the GSM technology track (GSM/W-CADMA/HSPA) has been dramatic. In a mere ten years there has been a 1000-fold increase in the data bit rates of mobile networks, while maintaining full backwards compatibility with the very first mobile phones released in the market.
3GPP technologies will continue to evolve, with a clear road map of reaching 42 Mbps peak down link speeds with HSPA+ and exceeding 100 Mbps in the near future with LTE. This technology road map has given GSM mobile operators the confidence to deploy HSPA with more than 217 networks across the world, he dwelt.
The delay in 3G auction in India had resulted in a $16 billion loss to the economy; the government should now carry out the auctions without any further delay, said Jaikishan Rajaraman, senior director, GSM Association, quoting a McKinsey report. He demanded that the government must allocate the 2.1 GHz spectrum to drive the deployment of mobile broadband across India. The planning phase for the allocation of 2.6 GHz spectrum must also start now if HSPA is to evolve for the benefit of the Indian population.
According to Rajaraman India will need to make further spectrum available through the digital dividend to support the delivery of more widespread coverage in rural areas.
Quoting the recent McKinsey report he said that once the licenses are issued and 20 billion invested over a period of five years, it will deliver $70 billion economic benefit in the same period. Further, a 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration can result in up to 1.5 per cent increase in GDP. Any further delay in allocation of 3G licenses will prove determinant to the economy, Rajaram claimed.
The GSMA senior director said the development of the GSM technology track (GSM/W-CADMA/HSPA) has been dramatic. In a mere ten years there has been a 1000-fold increase in the data bit rates of mobile networks, while maintaining full backwards compatibility with the very first mobile phones released in the market.
3GPP technologies will continue to evolve, with a clear road map of reaching 42 Mbps peak down link speeds with HSPA+ and exceeding 100 Mbps in the near future with LTE. This technology road map has given GSM mobile operators the confidence to deploy HSPA with more than 217 networks across the world, he dwelt.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Cloud Computing - Been There, Done That !
Harvesting its benefits will still require the guidance and direction of smart integration
The Information Technology (IT) Industry and publications have lately been abuzz with …Cloud Computing. While some claim it is the next disruptive technology, others suggest it to be the harbinger of the diminishing role of the Systems Integrator. A closer examination reveals that it is neither. But whatever descriptor is finalized for Cloud Computing, harvesting its benefits will still require the guidance and direction of smart integration.
Cloud Computing de-mystified
While there are many definitions for Cloud Computing from credible sources…
Gartner defines cloud computing as a style of computing in which massively scalable ITrelatedcapabilities are provided "as a service" using Internet technologies to multipleexternal customers.
Forrester defines cloud computing as a pool of abstracted, highly scalable, and managedcompute infrastructure capable of hosting end-customer applications and billed byconsumption.
…another way to look at Cloud Computing is that it is a highly automated, readily scalable, on-demand computing platform of virtually unlimited processing, storage and ubiquitous connectivity, always available to carry out a task of any size and charged based on usage! Audacious – though possible today in a limited manner – it is certainly poised to be as pervasive a platform like the internet, in the very near future.
The origin of Cloud Computing
As a matter of historical fact, Cloud Computing has been around since the beginning of the IT Outsourcing industry. At its core, Cloud Computing is about utilizing idle/excess Cloud Computing – Been There, Done That! compute power (processing, storage, and connectivity) of one entity, to carry out the work of another. This is the value proposition based on which Mr. Ross Perot started the IT Outsourcing industry in 1962, when he rented idle computing power from one company (Southwestern Life) to carry out the processing needs of another (Collins Radio). Mr. Perot recalls that the staff consisted of just two individuals who worked diligently in leveraging the compute capacity that was idle, mostly during the night, toprocess Collins Radio's data, and turning it into a win-win situation for all. The organization that owned the computers monetized its down time; the organization that needed the compute power did not have to out lay capital; and Mr. Perot's team, in the role of a Systems Integrator, ensured seamless delivery for a fee. This was the first instance of Cloud Computing.
Evolution of Cloud Computing
Advancements in technology, coupled with declining costs, have disrupted traditional business models and a new category of companies has emerged: one that operates mostly over the internet based on clicks" (e.g., Amazon, eBay, Google, etc.). The established businesses suddenly found that the development of this channel was critical for their survival against the new breed of companies, and started to offer a combination of "bricks and clicks" for the convenience of their customers.
The disruption of business models created a higher demand and dependence on IT. Also contributing to this dependence are "peaks-and-valleys" of IT capacity needs, tied directly to the nature of an organization's business activity (seasonal, one time, quarter/year-end, day/night, etc.). To ensure consistent, stable operations and to virtually eliminate risks, businesses built their computing platforms at or above the highest peak points of their IT requirements, no matter how infrequent that need might be. As a result, many businesses today are stuck with bloated computing platforms that are enormously underutilized for the majority of the time, taking up real estate, depreciating fast in value, and consuming significant amounts of energy and resources.
In response to this operational predicament, companies such as Amazon have started to commoditize their own idle capacity and monetize it under their EC2 and S3 labels. EC2, Elastic Compute Cloud, is a web-based service that allows any entity to buy and use compute capacity on an as-needed basis. The S3, Simple Storage Services, on the other hand, provides for web-based storage and access to data. The fact that both these services operate out of a standard browser and do not require any proprietary/licensedsoftware, make them extremely usable. While early adopters of EC2 and S3 were individuals and small businesses, innovative CIOs are giving them the attention they are due and have started to test out the feasibility of this emerging Cloud Computing platform. Starting with architecting a cloud-based processing environment for one time transactions that were non mission critical, they have experienced performance results.
Cloud Computing – Been There, Done That! and Capex/Opex savings significant enough to warrant the inclusion of Cloud Computing into their extended IT infrastructure.
Recognizing this phenomenon to be a viable business opportunity, hardware, software and internet-based companies with deep pockets are rushing to establish Cloud Computing environments to make available to businesses out of a utility-type, ondemand model. For hardware companies like IBM & HP, this is an opportunity to sell tons of hardware; for software companies like VMware & Microsoft, it is an opportunityto sell sophisticated software that allows efficient load balancing of computing resources between tasks; and for businesses like Google & Amazon saddled with the need to have extensive IT infrastructure, this has become an economic engine that can be used to convert their unused compute capacity into revenue.The expanding Role of Systems Integrator in the Cloud Computing World In order to understand the role of Systems Integrators, like Perot's team, in today's Cloud Computing world, we need to first review how their roles and responsibilities have evolved over time.
The primary focus of Systems Integrators continues to be planning, optimizing, integrating, and managing clients' heterogeneous compute environments. However, at times, they take on the responsibility of filling the gaps between the clients' IT needs and the available compute infrastructure. At one point, Systems Integrators used to manufacture hardware as needed to run their clients' systems efficiently, and evenwrote system utilities and applications down to the operating system level to fill in the gaps left by the software vendors. Gradually, as the hardware, software and networking companies matured, stabilized and more importantly innovated, the Systems Integrators were able to get back to their core business of integrating disparate systems.
The emerging Cloud Computing companies are proving to be yet another partner joining the hardware, software and network vendors in a typical Systems Integrator business model. The availability of a public domain computing platform (aka Cloud Computing) allows the Systems Integrators to extend their compute platform as needed, through lease type agreements as opposed to capital outlay or long term fixed costs.Even Clouds Must be Grounded While organizations may be lured to the affordability and scalability that Cloud Computing offers, it is imperative that their environment is architected such that it provides these advantages without compromising on security and interoperability.
The role of a Systems Integrator clearly is integral to configuring the optimum (extended) computing environment such that it is dependable/reliable and operating at expected quality of performance for a particular client.
The Future of Cloud Computing
The adoption of Cloud Computing is not without resistance or confusion. Torn between the appeal for cost savings and fear of loss of control, customers are struggling with how to take advantage of the cloud. How confidential will their data be? How will they handle issues around data privacy, intellectual property, regulatory requirements, and protection of "secret sauce" formulas? It is critical to understand that for mostbusinesses the cloud is not a panacea. Unlike the "electricity grid" where individual power generation units ceased to exist, not everything in IT will or should end up in the cloud – at least not just yet. The strategy defining usage of the cloud should be on the CIO's agenda. A trusted Systems Integrator should be involved in the strategic design of the architecture for how a particular company may optimally exploit the cloud.
The cloud trend today closely resembles the offshoring phenomenon. Just as the initial concerns and resistance to offshoring gave way to intelligently architected and governed models to protect the integrity of customer data while taking advantage of the lower cost options, a similar trend will emerge on the cloud front. It will start with resistance to the cloud, followed by the offering of a choice of cloud environments,finally leading to Cloud Computing becoming mainstream and an integral part of the compute environment for most businesses.
The Emerging Conceptual Architecture
At the onset, the low cost and ready access to on-demand computing offered through a cloud environment will cause businesses to rethink what is truly core (mission critical, highly sensitive/secretive) to their business, and shift an increasing amount of non-core processing to a shared or cloud environment. Organizations will be well served to revisit the classification of each piece of processing and storage that was earlier assumed to be sensitive and mission critical -- in light of the high cost associated with running it inhouse through a dedicated infrastructure.
The Information Technology (IT) Industry and publications have lately been abuzz with …Cloud Computing. While some claim it is the next disruptive technology, others suggest it to be the harbinger of the diminishing role of the Systems Integrator. A closer examination reveals that it is neither. But whatever descriptor is finalized for Cloud Computing, harvesting its benefits will still require the guidance and direction of smart integration.
Cloud Computing de-mystified
While there are many definitions for Cloud Computing from credible sources…
Gartner defines cloud computing as a style of computing in which massively scalable ITrelatedcapabilities are provided "as a service" using Internet technologies to multipleexternal customers.
Forrester defines cloud computing as a pool of abstracted, highly scalable, and managedcompute infrastructure capable of hosting end-customer applications and billed byconsumption.
…another way to look at Cloud Computing is that it is a highly automated, readily scalable, on-demand computing platform of virtually unlimited processing, storage and ubiquitous connectivity, always available to carry out a task of any size and charged based on usage! Audacious – though possible today in a limited manner – it is certainly poised to be as pervasive a platform like the internet, in the very near future.
The origin of Cloud Computing
As a matter of historical fact, Cloud Computing has been around since the beginning of the IT Outsourcing industry. At its core, Cloud Computing is about utilizing idle/excess Cloud Computing – Been There, Done That! compute power (processing, storage, and connectivity) of one entity, to carry out the work of another. This is the value proposition based on which Mr. Ross Perot started the IT Outsourcing industry in 1962, when he rented idle computing power from one company (Southwestern Life) to carry out the processing needs of another (Collins Radio). Mr. Perot recalls that the staff consisted of just two individuals who worked diligently in leveraging the compute capacity that was idle, mostly during the night, toprocess Collins Radio's data, and turning it into a win-win situation for all. The organization that owned the computers monetized its down time; the organization that needed the compute power did not have to out lay capital; and Mr. Perot's team, in the role of a Systems Integrator, ensured seamless delivery for a fee. This was the first instance of Cloud Computing.
Evolution of Cloud Computing
Advancements in technology, coupled with declining costs, have disrupted traditional business models and a new category of companies has emerged: one that operates mostly over the internet based on clicks" (e.g., Amazon, eBay, Google, etc.). The established businesses suddenly found that the development of this channel was critical for their survival against the new breed of companies, and started to offer a combination of "bricks and clicks" for the convenience of their customers.
The disruption of business models created a higher demand and dependence on IT. Also contributing to this dependence are "peaks-and-valleys" of IT capacity needs, tied directly to the nature of an organization's business activity (seasonal, one time, quarter/year-end, day/night, etc.). To ensure consistent, stable operations and to virtually eliminate risks, businesses built their computing platforms at or above the highest peak points of their IT requirements, no matter how infrequent that need might be. As a result, many businesses today are stuck with bloated computing platforms that are enormously underutilized for the majority of the time, taking up real estate, depreciating fast in value, and consuming significant amounts of energy and resources.
In response to this operational predicament, companies such as Amazon have started to commoditize their own idle capacity and monetize it under their EC2 and S3 labels. EC2, Elastic Compute Cloud, is a web-based service that allows any entity to buy and use compute capacity on an as-needed basis. The S3, Simple Storage Services, on the other hand, provides for web-based storage and access to data. The fact that both these services operate out of a standard browser and do not require any proprietary/licensedsoftware, make them extremely usable. While early adopters of EC2 and S3 were individuals and small businesses, innovative CIOs are giving them the attention they are due and have started to test out the feasibility of this emerging Cloud Computing platform. Starting with architecting a cloud-based processing environment for one time transactions that were non mission critical, they have experienced performance results.
Cloud Computing – Been There, Done That! and Capex/Opex savings significant enough to warrant the inclusion of Cloud Computing into their extended IT infrastructure.
Recognizing this phenomenon to be a viable business opportunity, hardware, software and internet-based companies with deep pockets are rushing to establish Cloud Computing environments to make available to businesses out of a utility-type, ondemand model. For hardware companies like IBM & HP, this is an opportunity to sell tons of hardware; for software companies like VMware & Microsoft, it is an opportunityto sell sophisticated software that allows efficient load balancing of computing resources between tasks; and for businesses like Google & Amazon saddled with the need to have extensive IT infrastructure, this has become an economic engine that can be used to convert their unused compute capacity into revenue.The expanding Role of Systems Integrator in the Cloud Computing World In order to understand the role of Systems Integrators, like Perot's team, in today's Cloud Computing world, we need to first review how their roles and responsibilities have evolved over time.
The primary focus of Systems Integrators continues to be planning, optimizing, integrating, and managing clients' heterogeneous compute environments. However, at times, they take on the responsibility of filling the gaps between the clients' IT needs and the available compute infrastructure. At one point, Systems Integrators used to manufacture hardware as needed to run their clients' systems efficiently, and evenwrote system utilities and applications down to the operating system level to fill in the gaps left by the software vendors. Gradually, as the hardware, software and networking companies matured, stabilized and more importantly innovated, the Systems Integrators were able to get back to their core business of integrating disparate systems.
The emerging Cloud Computing companies are proving to be yet another partner joining the hardware, software and network vendors in a typical Systems Integrator business model. The availability of a public domain computing platform (aka Cloud Computing) allows the Systems Integrators to extend their compute platform as needed, through lease type agreements as opposed to capital outlay or long term fixed costs.Even Clouds Must be Grounded While organizations may be lured to the affordability and scalability that Cloud Computing offers, it is imperative that their environment is architected such that it provides these advantages without compromising on security and interoperability.
The role of a Systems Integrator clearly is integral to configuring the optimum (extended) computing environment such that it is dependable/reliable and operating at expected quality of performance for a particular client.
The Future of Cloud Computing
The adoption of Cloud Computing is not without resistance or confusion. Torn between the appeal for cost savings and fear of loss of control, customers are struggling with how to take advantage of the cloud. How confidential will their data be? How will they handle issues around data privacy, intellectual property, regulatory requirements, and protection of "secret sauce" formulas? It is critical to understand that for mostbusinesses the cloud is not a panacea. Unlike the "electricity grid" where individual power generation units ceased to exist, not everything in IT will or should end up in the cloud – at least not just yet. The strategy defining usage of the cloud should be on the CIO's agenda. A trusted Systems Integrator should be involved in the strategic design of the architecture for how a particular company may optimally exploit the cloud.
The cloud trend today closely resembles the offshoring phenomenon. Just as the initial concerns and resistance to offshoring gave way to intelligently architected and governed models to protect the integrity of customer data while taking advantage of the lower cost options, a similar trend will emerge on the cloud front. It will start with resistance to the cloud, followed by the offering of a choice of cloud environments,finally leading to Cloud Computing becoming mainstream and an integral part of the compute environment for most businesses.
The Emerging Conceptual Architecture
At the onset, the low cost and ready access to on-demand computing offered through a cloud environment will cause businesses to rethink what is truly core (mission critical, highly sensitive/secretive) to their business, and shift an increasing amount of non-core processing to a shared or cloud environment. Organizations will be well served to revisit the classification of each piece of processing and storage that was earlier assumed to be sensitive and mission critical -- in light of the high cost associated with running it inhouse through a dedicated infrastructure.
Linux desktop's are easier to deploy than expected
Study finds Linux PC adoption driven by cost reduction; best results achieved with non-technical users
IBM has announced the results of a study conducted by the I.T. analyst firm Freeform Dynamics, commissioned by IBM, which showed that Linux desktops were easier to implement than IT staff expected if they targeted the right groups of users, such as those who have moderate and predictable use of e-mail and office tools.
The research behind the report, "Linux on the Desktop: Lessons from Mainstream Business Adoption" was designed, executed and interpreted independently by Freeform Dynamics.
Feedback was gathered via an online survey of 1,275 I.T. professionals from the U.K., U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and a spread of other countries across Western Europe and the Nordics.
Ninety percent of the study's respondents had direct experience with desktop Linux deployment in their business.
Those with experience of such migrations said that Linux on the desktop was best achieved when it was first targeted to groups of non-technical users. Transaction workers and general professional workers were seen as more than twice as likely to be primary targets for desktop Linux adoption than mobile and creative staff. A majority of the respondents indicated that Linux desktop deployments to these targeted groups was easier than anticipated.
"Some users care a great deal about their desktop computing environment and may be emotionally or practically wedded to Windows" said Dale Vile, research director, Freeform Dynamics.
"The trick is to avoid getting distracted by these, and focus on the users for whom the PC on their desk is simply a tool to get their job done. Migrating a general professional user who only needs to access a couple of central systems, an email inbox and light word processing is pretty straightforward," added Vile.
Key statistics of the study include:
* 71 percent of respondents indicated cost reduction as their primary driver for adoption.* 35 percent stated the ease of securing the desktop was another primary driver* 32 percent cited the lowering of overheads associated with maintenance and support in general were factors contributing to the benefit of desktop Linux adoption* Those with experience of Linux desktop rollouts are 50 percent more likely to regard non-technical users such as general professional users and transaction workers as primary targets for Linux* 58 percent of those with prior experience of a Linux desktop rollout see general professional users as primary targets* 52 percent of those with prior experience of a Linux desktop rollout see transaction workers as primary targets.* 32 percent of those with prior experience of a Linux desktop rollout see power users as primary targets.* 47 percent of respondents said usability was the main consideration when evaluating or selecting a desktop Linux distribution for use in a business environment
The study confirmed Linux on the desktop adoption is primarily driven by cost reduction. About twice as many of the respondents cited cost savings over security as the primary driver of why they'd adopt Linux on the desktop. Participants in the study indicated that both environments can be secured adequately -- it's just cheaper to secure a Linux desktop and maintain it that way.
"If a company is a 'Windows shop,' at some point it will need to evaluate the significant costs of migrating its base to Microsoft's next desktop and continuing the defense against virus and other attacks" said Bob Sutor, vice president of Linux and open source, IBM Software Group. "Savvy IT departments see the Linux desktop as a PC investment that actually saves money during this downturn. We see the recession fueling open source on the desktop."
IBM has announced the results of a study conducted by the I.T. analyst firm Freeform Dynamics, commissioned by IBM, which showed that Linux desktops were easier to implement than IT staff expected if they targeted the right groups of users, such as those who have moderate and predictable use of e-mail and office tools.
The research behind the report, "Linux on the Desktop: Lessons from Mainstream Business Adoption" was designed, executed and interpreted independently by Freeform Dynamics.
Feedback was gathered via an online survey of 1,275 I.T. professionals from the U.K., U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and a spread of other countries across Western Europe and the Nordics.
Ninety percent of the study's respondents had direct experience with desktop Linux deployment in their business.
Those with experience of such migrations said that Linux on the desktop was best achieved when it was first targeted to groups of non-technical users. Transaction workers and general professional workers were seen as more than twice as likely to be primary targets for desktop Linux adoption than mobile and creative staff. A majority of the respondents indicated that Linux desktop deployments to these targeted groups was easier than anticipated.
"Some users care a great deal about their desktop computing environment and may be emotionally or practically wedded to Windows" said Dale Vile, research director, Freeform Dynamics.
"The trick is to avoid getting distracted by these, and focus on the users for whom the PC on their desk is simply a tool to get their job done. Migrating a general professional user who only needs to access a couple of central systems, an email inbox and light word processing is pretty straightforward," added Vile.
Key statistics of the study include:
* 71 percent of respondents indicated cost reduction as their primary driver for adoption.* 35 percent stated the ease of securing the desktop was another primary driver* 32 percent cited the lowering of overheads associated with maintenance and support in general were factors contributing to the benefit of desktop Linux adoption* Those with experience of Linux desktop rollouts are 50 percent more likely to regard non-technical users such as general professional users and transaction workers as primary targets for Linux* 58 percent of those with prior experience of a Linux desktop rollout see general professional users as primary targets* 52 percent of those with prior experience of a Linux desktop rollout see transaction workers as primary targets.* 32 percent of those with prior experience of a Linux desktop rollout see power users as primary targets.* 47 percent of respondents said usability was the main consideration when evaluating or selecting a desktop Linux distribution for use in a business environment
The study confirmed Linux on the desktop adoption is primarily driven by cost reduction. About twice as many of the respondents cited cost savings over security as the primary driver of why they'd adopt Linux on the desktop. Participants in the study indicated that both environments can be secured adequately -- it's just cheaper to secure a Linux desktop and maintain it that way.
"If a company is a 'Windows shop,' at some point it will need to evaluate the significant costs of migrating its base to Microsoft's next desktop and continuing the defense against virus and other attacks" said Bob Sutor, vice president of Linux and open source, IBM Software Group. "Savvy IT departments see the Linux desktop as a PC investment that actually saves money during this downturn. We see the recession fueling open source on the desktop."
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
TIPS TO DEVELOP OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
Developing software on an open source stack
This tip is written for all software developers interested in adopting Linux as a development platform and who want to explore the expansive variety of software development tools available for free as open source.
Web developers are enjoying a renaissance. After spending much of the previous decade toiling on server-centric code, programmers are now putting code front-and-center, turning the Web browser into its own computing platform.
Much of the renaissance must be attributed to ingenuity. The newest generation of tools and application frameworks automate and simplify the drudgery of building, deploying, and maintaining a Web site. There are also more tools than ever, and all the most innovative tools are open source. This tutorial provides an expansive survey of the free software available to developers to create and deploy Web applications.
This tutorial describes the wide variety of programming tools available on Linux. Further, it demonstrates how quick and easy it is to start developing on the platform and showcases some of the latest innovations in open source tools.
Objectives:
* Learn how to install a Web server, a database, and several programming languages on Linux.
* Learn how to combine the above pieces to build an application, first in PHP, then in Ruby on Rails.
Prerequisites:
This tutorial is written for all software developers interested in adopting Linux as a development platform and for developers who want to explore the expansive variety of software development tools available for free as open source. To follow this tutorial, you should have a general familiarity with using a Linux command-line shell and some programming experience. Some experience installing and configuring software on Linux is helpful, but not required.
System requirements:
To run the examples in this tutorial, you need a Linux box with at least 300 MB of free disk space. Root access to the machine is required to install a number of the software packages. The examples shown in this tutorial were created on Ubuntu Desktop Linux 8.04.1 running as a virtual machine in Parallels on Mac OS X Leopard. Ubuntu is not required; however, the examples use Aptitude, which can be found in any Debian-based distribution.
This tip is written for all software developers interested in adopting Linux as a development platform and who want to explore the expansive variety of software development tools available for free as open source.
Web developers are enjoying a renaissance. After spending much of the previous decade toiling on server-centric code, programmers are now putting code front-and-center, turning the Web browser into its own computing platform.
Much of the renaissance must be attributed to ingenuity. The newest generation of tools and application frameworks automate and simplify the drudgery of building, deploying, and maintaining a Web site. There are also more tools than ever, and all the most innovative tools are open source. This tutorial provides an expansive survey of the free software available to developers to create and deploy Web applications.
This tutorial describes the wide variety of programming tools available on Linux. Further, it demonstrates how quick and easy it is to start developing on the platform and showcases some of the latest innovations in open source tools.
Objectives:
* Learn how to install a Web server, a database, and several programming languages on Linux.
* Learn how to combine the above pieces to build an application, first in PHP, then in Ruby on Rails.
Prerequisites:
This tutorial is written for all software developers interested in adopting Linux as a development platform and for developers who want to explore the expansive variety of software development tools available for free as open source. To follow this tutorial, you should have a general familiarity with using a Linux command-line shell and some programming experience. Some experience installing and configuring software on Linux is helpful, but not required.
System requirements:
To run the examples in this tutorial, you need a Linux box with at least 300 MB of free disk space. Root access to the machine is required to install a number of the software packages. The examples shown in this tutorial were created on Ubuntu Desktop Linux 8.04.1 running as a virtual machine in Parallels on Mac OS X Leopard. Ubuntu is not required; however, the examples use Aptitude, which can be found in any Debian-based distribution.
Microsoft Windows 7 on track for holidays
SEATTLE, US: Microsoft Corp is on track to release its new Windows 7 operating system in time for the holiday shopping season, an executive said on Monday, confirming talk it is ahead of its own conservative schedule for replacing the unpopular Vista system.
The world's largest software company has so far been vague on specifying the timing of its new operating system, wary of disappointing customers. But it has broadly targeted the end of this year or the beginning of next year.
"Windows 7 is tracking well for holiday availability," Bill Veghte, senior vice president of Microsoft's Windows business said at an event on Monday, citing good test results on the early version of the system released to developers and the public over the past few weeks.
Last month, Microsoft said Windows 7 was on track for launch in fiscal 2010, which could mean as early as July this year.
That inspired some hopes Microsoft would be able to take advantage of both the back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons, which usually bring a spike in computer purchases and accompanying software.
But Microsoft is taking care not to rush.
"Many are pushing us to release the product sooner rather than later, but our focus remains on a high quality release," said the head of Microsoft's Windows business, Steven Sinofsky, in a blog on Monday.
Over the last few weeks, Microsoft has been releasing an early version of Windows 7, known as a 'release candidate,' to developers and the public.
Once it makes some more adjustments to the software, the next stage is for Microsoft to hand the system to PC makers -- known as release to manufacturing, or RTM -- to install on machines sold in shops.
"Ultimately, our partners will determine when their PCs are available in market," said Sinofsky in his blog. "If the feedback and telemetry on Windows 7 match our expectations then we will enter the final phases of the RTM process in about three months."
That would put the company on track to have PCs with Windows 7 available this holiday season.
Microsoft's operating systems, installed on the vast majority of the world's PCs, are still the backbone of the company, providing more than half of its $4.4 billion profit last quarter.
The disappointing Vista, launched to the public in 2007, was incompatible with some low-power machines and perceived by many to be too complicated.
The world's largest software company has so far been vague on specifying the timing of its new operating system, wary of disappointing customers. But it has broadly targeted the end of this year or the beginning of next year.
"Windows 7 is tracking well for holiday availability," Bill Veghte, senior vice president of Microsoft's Windows business said at an event on Monday, citing good test results on the early version of the system released to developers and the public over the past few weeks.
Last month, Microsoft said Windows 7 was on track for launch in fiscal 2010, which could mean as early as July this year.
That inspired some hopes Microsoft would be able to take advantage of both the back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons, which usually bring a spike in computer purchases and accompanying software.
But Microsoft is taking care not to rush.
"Many are pushing us to release the product sooner rather than later, but our focus remains on a high quality release," said the head of Microsoft's Windows business, Steven Sinofsky, in a blog on Monday.
Over the last few weeks, Microsoft has been releasing an early version of Windows 7, known as a 'release candidate,' to developers and the public.
Once it makes some more adjustments to the software, the next stage is for Microsoft to hand the system to PC makers -- known as release to manufacturing, or RTM -- to install on machines sold in shops.
"Ultimately, our partners will determine when their PCs are available in market," said Sinofsky in his blog. "If the feedback and telemetry on Windows 7 match our expectations then we will enter the final phases of the RTM process in about three months."
That would put the company on track to have PCs with Windows 7 available this holiday season.
Microsoft's operating systems, installed on the vast majority of the world's PCs, are still the backbone of the company, providing more than half of its $4.4 billion profit last quarter.
The disappointing Vista, launched to the public in 2007, was incompatible with some low-power machines and perceived by many to be too complicated.
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