How to build a Cloud, Intel’s Reference Architecture Library

February 11, 2011 Dave Ohara

Ran across Intel’s Cloud Builders – Reference Library. If you were confused on what it means to build a cloud this list may help you or confuse you as the the list is long.

Intel® Cloud Builders Reference Architecture Library

Key challenges and focus areas for IT include enhancing efficiency, security, resource utilization, flexibility, and simplifying data center management, among others. Intel works closely with leading systems and solution providers to deliver proven reference architectures to address IT challenges. This work is based on IT requirements—from a wide range of end users—that address challenges in evolving to cloud and next- generation data centers, including the evolving usage requirements of the Open Data Center Alliance. This lab-based experience is embodied in Intel® Cloud Builders reference architectures. Each reference architecture provides detailed instructions on how to install and configure a particular cloud software solution using Intel® Xeon® processor-based servers.

Can Verizon build Clouds, first step Bridging the Chasm between groups

February 11, 2011 Dave Ohara

I have been presenting the idea that Telcos are the up and rising players in the data center industry for 4 months, and Verizon’s acquisition of Terremark worked out well to support my research of where the movement was going to occur. But, some doubt a company like Verizon can build clouds.

Here is an article that discusses changes Verizon is making that supports its cloud efforts.

Verizon Crashes Silos to Build Clouds

FEBRUARY 10, 2011 | Carol Wilson | Post a comment |

The organization behind Verizon Business 's rapid rollout of cloud-based services isn't typical of the large telecom operator. Instead, it's an autonomous development and organization team that cuts across the traditional silos of a telecom operator by including experts from multiple functions within Verizon, including network operations, IT, data center operations and more.

Dell DCS little know fact, environmental leadership

February 11, 2011 Dave Ohara

Barton George has an interview with the new Dell DCS GM, Roy Guillen you can see here.

At the 3:25 mark Barton asks Roy “the one thing that isn’t well known about DCS.”

The answer, environmental leadership.

AWS is 8.5x faster than original, according experiments by LBNL

February 10, 2011 Dave Ohara

Science Magazine has a perspective on cloud computing and the scientist. The article is meant for the newbie to cloud computing and how it relates to the scientist.

One nice stat in the perspective is the change in AWS from original to current versions.

Initially, cloud-computing hardware was configured primarily for its earliest adopters—Web-based applications—and early attempts to run scientific applications on the cloud gave discouraging results (3, 4). New hardware is now configured for better performance on scientific applications. For example, Amazon's recently added “cluster computing instances,” priced at $1.60 per computer-hour, run scientific benchmarks 8.5 times as fast as the original cloud hardware, according to experiments at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Laboratory at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (5).

Greening of Data Centers thru Mergers & Acquisitions, stock exchanges join

February 10, 2011 Dave Ohara

Terremark and Navisite’s acquisition is part of the M&A momentum in data centers. Mergers typically reduce costs and reduce overlap between organizations to provide services which is a good way to green a data center. Reducing the amount of data center assets you need.

Latest to join are stock exchanges. Here are some articles discussing the changes.

LSE and TMX.

LSE and TMX deal inevitable

By Philip Stafford and Jeremy Grant

The limelight may have rapidly moved to the US and Germany but those behind the merger of the London Stock Exchange and TMX, operator of Canada’s largest bourse, insist it was the right deal to do.