AWS says Greenpeace you got the wrong rock, get a different one, this one, no, this one, no...

One of the funny words of observation I remember is Sheila Brady during the development of System 7 telling the story of how you can play with your dog and it brings you a rock.  You can tell the dog no not that rock.  Go get another one.   It gets another one.  No not that rock.  this one. no.  this one.  no.  The dog can keep this up trying to please you.  Sometimes people expect you to be like a dog.  How about if the software works this way.  No.  How about this way.  No.  This way.  No.  Can you tell me what you want?  No. I’ll tell you when I see it.

This reminds me of Amazon’s interaction with Greenpeace.  Greenpeace gives Amazon numbers on its data center carbon footprint.  No that’s not accurate.  What is wrong with the numbers.  Go get another rock and I’ll tell you if it is the right rock.  Greenpeace isn’t dumb enough to play this game and this game is getting documented.  Forbes posts on the topic.

In a statement emailed to me at my request, an AWS spokesperson agrees with Greenpeace that clean sources of energy should be a priority but says the Greenpeace analysis “misses the mark by using false assumptions on AWS operations and inaccurate data on AWS energy consumption. We provided this feedback to Greenpeace prior to publishing their report.”

The company also makes the point that the AWS Cloud reduces dependence on smaller, over-provisioned data centers that are less energy-efficient. It notes:

We work hard on our own, and together with our power providers all over the world, to offer AWS Cloud services in an environmentally friendly way in all of our regions. AWS operates efficient and highly utilized data centers across 10 different regions globally, two of which (Oregon and GovCloud Regions) use 100% carbon-free power. We like offering customers the choice of being able to run carbon-free, and we love doing it without charging a premium over other North American regions.

You could argue whether or not AWS has been as proactive as it should be about clean energy sourcing. The point is that we really can’t tell, and that is probably Greenpeace’s biggest issue.

Could Amazon tell Greenpeace how they are wrong?  Yes.  But, Amazon likes Greenpeace not knowing what the answers are.  How would you like to get a test with a C on it and nothing marked with what is wrong and only Amazon has the answers to the test.  Would you take the test again?  I don’t Greenpeace will until next year when they come up with another guess at what the carbon footprint is of Amazon’s data centers.

DC Executive Mike Manos achieves CTO role at First Data Corporation

If you have been in the data center industry for a while you know who Mike Manos is where he drove Microsoft’s first data center construction projects.  Here is a picture of Mike from his Microsoft days.

Mike has gone through careers at Digital Realty Trust, Nokia, and AOL, growing his IT management skills.

And now Michael has a new role as CTO at First Data reporting to the CEO.  It was pleasure to see that Mike has made it to CTO role.  Mike and I had many conversations in his Microsoft office or at the local Wendy’s.  I wouldn’t go to Wendy's as often as Mike did, but whenever I see the Wendy’s memories of discussing data centers, PUE, and the industry come back.  The burgers are good there and Mike said many times he saw Bill Gates there.  

I remember when Mike said he had job offers to leave Microsoft and what I think.  I was supportive of Mike leaving as he had so much more potential than being the data center guy.  Mike is one of those people who employees enjoy working for.  Mike has clear vision, fights for the right thing to do, and go to battle for his team. These are the same skills that our departed Olivier Sanche had as well and had the same passion for data centers.

Data Center Operations teaches people many things that can be applied to other parts of IT, and more and more data center executives are growing beyond just running the data centers.  First Data has hired one of people who have their foundation in data centers which makes things more real than the Public Cloud.

“Mike is a key addition to our world-class leadership team and his knowledge and expertise enhances our ability to provide our clients with cutting-edge technology,” said Chiarello. “He is a seasoned technology management executive with a proven track record of successful revenue generation.  Mike’s leadership will be invaluable as we continue to improve our financial position and seek to grow First Data’s business as the global leader and most trusted, reliable and secure network.”

“I am excited to join the new First Data,” said Manos.  “First Data is the biggest player in the payments industry yet it also has an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. In my role as chief technology officer, I will help First Data maintain and grow its market-leading position as a technology company, a payments company, a security company and a solutions provider.”  

Mike put his own post up.

Well after a bit of time in stealth I am finally able to announce that I have taken the position of Chief Technology Officer at First Data. 

...

The move to First Data is an incredibly exciting move for me for many different reasons but one of the key drivers for me is that I feel that this industry is ripe for change.  It’s a move for me from running and building large scale Internet products and infrastructure to the Financial Services Industry.  

Mike’s move has a fair amount of coverage by  the media. 

Mike Manos Moves From AOL to First Data Data Center Knowledge - ‎4 hours ago‎ After bringing micro-modules and lights out data centers to AOL, Mike Manos has moved on. The veteran data center industry executive is now the chief technology officer at payment technology specialist First Data, where he will be responsible for the ...   Former AOL Exec Named Technology Chief at First Data Wall Street Journal (blog) - ‎7 hours ago‎ Former AOL executive Mike Manos has joined First Data Corp. as chief technology officer, the company announced today. He will report to Guy Chiarello, First Data's president and the former CIO of JPMorgan Chase & Co., as the firm seeks to invest in new ...   First Data Names Chief Technology Officer Fort Mills Times - ‎7 hours ago‎ ATLANTA — First Data, the global leader in payment technology and services solutions, today announced the appointment of Michael Manos as chief technology officer. In this position, Manos will be responsible for First Data's global technology infrastructure.   AOL's chief technology officer jumps ship for Atlanta company Atlanta Business Chronicle - ‎2 hours ago‎ Manos joins First Data from AOL Inc. (NYSE:AOL), where he served as its chief technology officer and was responsible for global technology and development platforms for all AOL subscription businesses, the industry, technology and media sites, AOL mail ...   First Data hires AOL CTO Michael Manos Infotech Lead - ‎1 hour ago‎ At AOL, Manos was responsible for technology and development platforms for all AOL subscription businesses, the industry, technology and media sites, AOL mail and messaging, and mobile engineering efforts. First Data hires AOL CTO Michael Manos.

Internap uses Schneider Electric in Modular fashion that is flexible and energy efficient

Schneider Electric has a press release on its efforts to help Internap build higher performing data centers.

Schneider Electric Helps Long-Time Customer, Internap, Build High-Performance, Hybrid Data Center in Secaucus, New Jersey

WEST KINGSTON, R.I. – April 1, 2014 – Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, today announced a new project with Internet infrastructure provider and long-time customer, Internap, to equip its new hybrid data center in New Jersey with a diverse array of solutions to optimize operational efficiency and reduce costs.

I was able to chat with Randy Ortiz who is the VP of data center design and engineering at Internap leading the integration of Schneider Electric gear.  What became clear in the discussion is Randy’s efforts to be flexible with a modular electrical system also achieve a higher energy efficiency.  The current design can support up to 18kW per rack in the facility for high density server deployments.

“Modular, scalable design is at the core of our data center build outs,” says Randy Ortiz, Vice President, Data Center Design and Engineering, Internap. “With our New York facilities nearing full capacity, we needed to accelerate our growth plans while working with a services provider that meets our demands for operational efficiency and cost savings across several product solutions.

Here is a video describing the infrastructure in Internap with Randy Ortiz and you can see the 

Internap provides Enterprise Cloud Hosting which means the environments can be more dynamic and higher utilization which means more stress on the electrical and cooling systems.

The state-of-the-art Secaucus facility will serve customers’ growing demand for diverse IT infrastructure services that can address a wide range of application and use case requirements, with high-performance, low-latency network delivery. The data center meets these complex needs with Internap’s full hybrid portfolio that includes scale-out, highly-automated services

What side of Blimp are you on? Green - Facebook, Apple, Google -- Brown - Amazon, Netflix, Twitter, Pinterest

Greenpeace has a blimp that is telling the story of Green Data Centers vs. Brown Data Centers.

It is interesting that it is not just Amazon as the target of dirty data centers, but those who host in AWS - like Netfilx and Pinterest.  Wonder if this will get companies to add the energy content of the cloud provider in part of their decision processes.

John Sculley keynotes 7x24 Exchange 2014 Spring Conference, Open for Registration

7x24 Exchange Spring 2014 Conference is open for registration.  

What is a bit of a surprise is John Sculley is keynoting the conference with the following talk.

Conference Keynote:
The High Tech Tsunami that is Changing the World

Three explosive high technologies, Cloud, Internet-of-Things, and Unstructured Data Science are converging at an amazing pace. Their derivative effects will be that every major industry will be disrupted, reshaped or even reinvented. Sculley will explain how companies like Amazon are combining exceptional customer experience, disruptive price, and same day delivery by taking advantage of advanced high technology supply chain systems. New business models like Amazon don't require a large number of higher skilled middle mangers that more traditional companies depend on. Sculley will discuss the possibility of middle managers becoming an endangered group as heavy lifting robots are joined by smart robots and the Internet-of-Things. How can corporations adapt to this fast changing world? John Sculley has an unique position as a leader in disruptive high technologies, a global investor and successful entrepreneur who is mentoring CEOs in his own companies in the fields of: the consumer era of healthcare; next generation mobile technologies; IT supply chain; and big data analytics. John will draw on examples from his current experience in the US and South Asia.

John Sculley
Former CEO of Apple and Former President of Pepsi Cola

 

I checked out the schedule and there are some good talks on the list.

I am curious though what John Sculley will present especially since John is presenting on topics that I spend time on - Cloud, IOT, and Big Data. I haven’t talked to John since I think 1995 when I was at Microsoft and had a trip to NYC and was working on publishing technologies.  It’s so long ago I can’t remember what John and I talked about or how the meeting got set up.  All I know I remember is I was in NYC and had 1/2 hr meeting with John.  John Sculley was at Apple 1983 - 1993.  I was at Apple from 1985 - 1992.

According to wikipedia John now lives in West Palm Beach.  At least he has a short commute to the conference in Boca Raton.