MozyPro serves as off site backup for desktops, laptops, and windows servers. This backup software offered by EMC is ideal for either enterprise or remote-office environments. It can be configured, deployed, and centrally managed through a web-based application which is accessible anywhere in the world.
Some of the features and benefits include multitenan administrative console which allows the user to centrally manage end-user backups from any location through a web-based adminnistrative console. nIt allows for "Hot" backup of Exchange, SQL and VMware where the user can get native backup support while in production. The software provides you with a private encryption key.
The software is offered as a monthly subscription service and requires no hardware purchase.
Source:
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
SearchStorage: Cloud Storage - 5 best practices for moving to cloud.
I recently read an article from SearchStorage.com about the 5 best practices for moving to cloud. I will briefly explain what each practice is.
The first best practice that the article states is to scrutinize service-level agreements. Meaning to closely examine your service-level agreements before committing. Lauren Whitehouse, a senior analyst feels that data access is an area that needs close examination in an SLA.
The second best practice that the article discuss is to Follow your business needs. Businesses can save millions of dollars by creating a private cloud. Business now have an easier way to say consolidation, virtualization, standardization.
The third best practice is to Repurpose your own resources. Alex Godelman, Vice President of technology at Gorilla Nation said that cloud replaced more expensive NAS setup. In order to grow the internal cloud all you have to do is add more nodes.
The fourth practice is to Prepare for the future. The author of the article believes that even if you are not ready for the cloud you should still begin to think about how it can help your business down the road.
The final practice discussed in the article is to Beware of hidden costs. The basic cost per gigabyte of cloud storage will be given to you but the basic costs are only part of the bill. Providers may charge extra for data transfers, metadata functions, or copying and deleting files.
Source:
The first best practice that the article states is to scrutinize service-level agreements. Meaning to closely examine your service-level agreements before committing. Lauren Whitehouse, a senior analyst feels that data access is an area that needs close examination in an SLA.
The second best practice that the article discuss is to Follow your business needs. Businesses can save millions of dollars by creating a private cloud. Business now have an easier way to say consolidation, virtualization, standardization.
The third best practice is to Repurpose your own resources. Alex Godelman, Vice President of technology at Gorilla Nation said that cloud replaced more expensive NAS setup. In order to grow the internal cloud all you have to do is add more nodes.
The fourth practice is to Prepare for the future. The author of the article believes that even if you are not ready for the cloud you should still begin to think about how it can help your business down the road.
The final practice discussed in the article is to Beware of hidden costs. The basic cost per gigabyte of cloud storage will be given to you but the basic costs are only part of the bill. Providers may charge extra for data transfers, metadata functions, or copying and deleting files.
Source:
- http://bit.ly/kkyyrZ
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Network/Storage Virtualization.
Virtualization is the engine that runs cloud computing. There are many types of virtualization though. The main types are server, network, and storage.
When dealing with network virtualization many tend to confuse it with VLAN. Network virtualization is far more complex than VLAN alone. With network virtualization you are taking many of the traditional client based services and allowing access to them over a network. Cisco believes that there are 3 parts of network virtualization which are: access-control, path isolation, service edge.
When dealing with storage virtualization many people also get it confused with SAN but as before it is more complex than SAN. Storage virtualization can be seen as an abstraction at a layer in the storage software and hardware stack. Many data centers utilize Storage virtualization to run the cloud technology.
When dealing with network virtualization many tend to confuse it with VLAN. Network virtualization is far more complex than VLAN alone. With network virtualization you are taking many of the traditional client based services and allowing access to them over a network. Cisco believes that there are 3 parts of network virtualization which are: access-control, path isolation, service edge.
When dealing with storage virtualization many people also get it confused with SAN but as before it is more complex than SAN. Storage virtualization can be seen as an abstraction at a layer in the storage software and hardware stack. Many data centers utilize Storage virtualization to run the cloud technology.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Backup and Recovery
Backup and Recovery is very important in Information Technology. A backup is the process of making copies of data which one may find important and would allow for one to recovery any data that may have loss. A backup strategy begins withe a concept of a data repository. Different repository models have different advantages. The different models include Unstructured, Full only/System Imaging, Incremental, Reverse delta and Continuous Data Protection.
Different companies specialize in created backup and recovery products. EMC being one of them. Their company is said to have reliable, efficient, cost-effective data protection for data centers, remote offices, laptops, and more. Some of their products include Data domain, disk libraries for the mainframe, as well as software such as Avamar and NetWorker.
As long as new data is being created and changes are being made to the data backups will need to be updated. It is important to know the different objectives of the backup process. They include RPO, RTO, and data security. RPO is the recovery point objective which is the point in time that the restarted infratstructure will reflect. RTO is recovery time objective which is the amount of time elapsed between disaster and restoration of business functions.
Source:
Different companies specialize in created backup and recovery products. EMC being one of them. Their company is said to have reliable, efficient, cost-effective data protection for data centers, remote offices, laptops, and more. Some of their products include Data domain, disk libraries for the mainframe, as well as software such as Avamar and NetWorker.
As long as new data is being created and changes are being made to the data backups will need to be updated. It is important to know the different objectives of the backup process. They include RPO, RTO, and data security. RPO is the recovery point objective which is the point in time that the restarted infratstructure will reflect. RTO is recovery time objective which is the amount of time elapsed between disaster and restoration of business functions.
Source:
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Western Digital and their important products.
Western Digital is a well known storage technology company. Western Digital was founded in 1970 and over the years has grown into a leading position in the development and manufacturing of hard drives and solid state drives for internal, external, and portable devices. Western Digitals hard drives can be utilized by both desktop and laptop computers. Their products can also be found in mobile and handheld devices, corporate networks and home entertainment equipment.
Western Digital has a variety of different types of products that can be purchased by consumers. The first type of product are the external hard drives. The external hard drives for desktops include WD Elements Desktop hard drive and My Book Essential hard drive.
The second type of product WD has to offer are the portable hard drives. The different portable hard drives include WD Elements Portable, WD Elements Portable SE, My Passport Essential, and My Passport Essential SE.
Another type of storage device WD offers is network storage. Theses devices include My Book Live, My Book World Edition II, and WD ShareSpace. These devices are great for sharing storage for computers, tablets and smartphones. Also double safe for backup and storage for all computers on ones network.
Theses network storage devices capacity can reach up to 8TB of space. The interface used for connectivity is gigabit ethernet. Includes backup software and an automatic back up feature.
Sources:
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Field Trip to EMC
On October 28th my Foundation of Storage Technology class took a field trip to the EMC buildings in Durham, NC. We also traveled to there Center of Excellence located in Apex, NC.
When we first got there we were given a tour of the warehouse where they received orders, put the parts with the machines, and ship off their products. A couple of things I found interesting about the facilities were one they had motion-sensor florescent lights installed to preserve energy. Another interesting thing about the facilities was that they have vendors from almost every company that creates storage; companies such as Seagate, Hitachi and Western Digital.. During the tour our guide was explaining to us how all of the boards they create go through many tests. The first test that all boards go through were chambers.
After the tour of the warehouse they Vice President of the company Bob Hawkins came to speak to us about the company more. Come to find out that the vice president of this storage solutions company had a degree in political science. He was very informing though and something he piointed out to the group was that the amount of digital data is doubling every two years. He also felt that North Carolina brings in a lot of data centers because the cost of power is reasonable.
Here are two of the few pictures they allowed me to take at the Center of Excellence.
After the tour of the warehouse they Vice President of the company Bob Hawkins came to speak to us about the company more. Come to find out that the vice president of this storage solutions company had a degree in political science. He was very informing though and something he piointed out to the group was that the amount of digital data is doubling every two years. He also felt that North Carolina brings in a lot of data centers because the cost of power is reasonable.
Here are two of the few pictures they allowed me to take at the Center of Excellence.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Open Source Licensing
Open Source licensing involves obtaining a copyright license for computer software that makes the source code available for everyone to use. Without open source licensing developers of computer software and applications can not legally develop there product.
An open source license is a combination of redistribution policies agreed on by a group of developers before they contribute the source code to a common project.
What exactly are you copyrighting?
The Source code. The source code is created by one or more authors and is automatically registered to copy right once gone through process. The author or authors of the code can then decide if they want to distribute the code or not. In return the recipients of the code can not do anything beside utilize it.
Another type of source code is the GPL which is the General Public License. GPL creates a copyright for the purpose of collaborating on developing software. When an author releases a product under a GPL they are granting its users the right to use the code anywhere and in any situation, the right to redistribute the code to anyone as long as the source code is included and the GPL is still present. Also the users have the right to create a additional work of the code and redistribute it as long as the requirements of the second right are met.
OpenLogic asked mobile app developers: "Is complying with Open Source Licenses a challenge?"
67% said yes
21% said no
Source:
An open source license is a combination of redistribution policies agreed on by a group of developers before they contribute the source code to a common project.
What exactly are you copyrighting?
The Source code. The source code is created by one or more authors and is automatically registered to copy right once gone through process. The author or authors of the code can then decide if they want to distribute the code or not. In return the recipients of the code can not do anything beside utilize it.
Another type of source code is the GPL which is the General Public License. GPL creates a copyright for the purpose of collaborating on developing software. When an author releases a product under a GPL they are granting its users the right to use the code anywhere and in any situation, the right to redistribute the code to anyone as long as the source code is included and the GPL is still present. Also the users have the right to create a additional work of the code and redistribute it as long as the requirements of the second right are met.
OpenLogic asked mobile app developers: "Is complying with Open Source Licenses a challenge?"
67% said yes
21% said no
Source:
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Cloud Storage and Security.
Cloud Storage
What?
Also
known as utility computing. Its the
delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, where shared
resources, software and information are provided to computers and other devices
as a utility over a network.
It is a convergence of three major trends. 1. Virtualization 2. Utility Computing 3. Software as a service.
Who?
Everyone uses it. Anyone from a small business to a major companies.
Why?
People use cloud computing for better communication. Using computing features such as email and video conferencing. Also for file sharing and back up which can be expensive to invest in one's own.
How?
Information and software applications stored and ran in data centers all across the world over a fast connection.
Pros
and Cons
Don’t
have to worry about machines running the applications. Some
companies had complex requirements.
Didn’t approve of data outside of firewall.
Virtualization
Applications
and infrastructure to became independent. Allows servers to be easily shared by many applications
a and
applications can run anywhere as long as the application is virtualized. Virtualizing
applications include
n packaging the application with everything it needs to run
(operating system, middleware, and databases). The
engine that powers cloud computing is virtualization.
Cloud
turns into a “pay as you go” computing service
Sunday, October 2, 2011
A day without internet access
Today TECHmo Super Bowl is publishing its thoughts on how it survived a day with no internet service. Starting on Saturday at 11:00 pm until 11:00 pm Sunday night we went without use of internet access including cell phones. The experience was a interesting one if I must say so myself. At first I debated on whether or not it would be a good idea. Then I came to the conclusion that if i did it on Sunday it should not be a large set back. The hardest part about not being able to use the internet was keeping myself busy doing something else. I opened up a book for a part of the day, reading Russel Simmons book Do You. Not to long after that I decided to get on Call of Duty (no multiplayer). Other than those two things I relaxed in the apartment watching Sunday night football. Participating in this exercise has caused me to realize that life is a lot more difficult without internet access than it was a decade ago. I nearly caught myself multiple times attempting to use the internet. It would have been a quick 30 second search on google. In today's world we want information instantly. It shows how fast paced we live. Not being able to use the internet allowed me to understand that we should slow down and live our life in its entirety rather than trying to rush through it.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
RAID
RAID stands for Redundant Array of Individual Disks. It is a type of storage technology that allows an increased level of reliability through redundancy.
There are two different types of implementing RAID, either hardware or software.
Software RAID
Software RAID uses host-based software in order to access the RAID functions. When compared to hardware, software RAID offers benefits such as cost and simplicity.
Hardware RAID
Implementation of hardware RAID involves a specialized hardware controller either on the host or on the storage array. A controller card can be used as host based hardware RAID. The controller then interacts with the hard disks using a PCI bus.
A RAID set is a group of disks. WIthin each disks there are disk blocks called strips. The strips aligned across all the disks within the RAID set is called a stripe.
There were originally 5 RAID levels. Over time there have been more due to the evolution of technology. By utilizing variations of the mirroring and parity methods development of the RAID levels. The most common levels are RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 3, RAID 4, RAID 5, and RAID 6.
Source:
There are two different types of implementing RAID, either hardware or software.
Software RAID
Software RAID uses host-based software in order to access the RAID functions. When compared to hardware, software RAID offers benefits such as cost and simplicity.
Hardware RAID
Implementation of hardware RAID involves a specialized hardware controller either on the host or on the storage array. A controller card can be used as host based hardware RAID. The controller then interacts with the hard disks using a PCI bus.
A RAID set is a group of disks. WIthin each disks there are disk blocks called strips. The strips aligned across all the disks within the RAID set is called a stripe.
There were originally 5 RAID levels. Over time there have been more due to the evolution of technology. By utilizing variations of the mirroring and parity methods development of the RAID levels. The most common levels are RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 3, RAID 4, RAID 5, and RAID 6.
Source:
- Infomation Storage and Management. EMC Education Services.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Favorite Open Source Product: Mozilla Firefox
Looking over my favorite open source product, it has reiterated my interest in the open source story. It has led to many successful products and projects in the past. My favorite open source product would have to be Mozilla Firefox. Mozilla Firefox stands today as one of the most widely used open source products. As well as one of the most widely used internet browser. Mozilla works with other major companies such as google to create the most comfortable and accessible internet browser.
Firefox 1.0 was released in 2004. Today, Mozilla Firefox is the second most used web browser and accounts for approximately 30% of worldwide usage share of web browsers. Some of Firefox's main feature include tabbed browsers, a download manager, spell checking, private browsing just to name a few. Its also uses google services for the search engine and its geolocation aware browsing service. It is also highly utilized more often by more tech-savvy users. Firefox allows addition of functions through a application called extensions to be created by third-party developers.
The reason I chose this as my favorite open source product because I am a user of the web browser. It is compatible with all of the major operating systems and is also compatible with a plethora of web-based applications that families, students, or employers can use to explore the internet and all of its features.
Firefox 1.0 was released in 2004. Today, Mozilla Firefox is the second most used web browser and accounts for approximately 30% of worldwide usage share of web browsers. Some of Firefox's main feature include tabbed browsers, a download manager, spell checking, private browsing just to name a few. Its also uses google services for the search engine and its geolocation aware browsing service. It is also highly utilized more often by more tech-savvy users. Firefox allows addition of functions through a application called extensions to be created by third-party developers.
The reason I chose this as my favorite open source product because I am a user of the web browser. It is compatible with all of the major operating systems and is also compatible with a plethora of web-based applications that families, students, or employers can use to explore the internet and all of its features.
Source:
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Ensuring reliabilty in voice/data network
Recently I sat down to read an article from techtarget.com. The article was written by Paul Kirvan, a board member of the Business Continuity Institutes's US Chapter. He discussed some of what he believes are the best practices in ensuring reliability in an organizations voice/data network. When asked how do you ensure reliability in a voice/data network during a power outage he replied by saying that "a private voice/data network has a very good chance of being run over what might be called 'traditional' phone lines. He also adds that access from a local telephone company exchange to a company is most likely going to be over copper or fiber-optic facilities provided by the local telephone company. He believes that the likelihood of a telco-centered power outage small to none. He describes a few techniques one could incorportate to insure resillience. First he suggests installing a diversely-run local access network to a different local telco with no overlapping cables routes and manholes. Second, use free-space communications, such as point-to-point microwave to bypass the local loop. These two techniques along with others explained in the article will allow an organization to have better prepared for the storm.
When asked what kind of IT infrastructure is needed for a robust voice/data network he answer by suggesting that a fully-meshed network is an ideal configuration if money is not an object. He says that backing up power systems for all critical infrastructure hardware is essential and locating network equipment in secure equipment areas is also important.
It seems to me that ensuring reliability in voice and data networks are very important. It's also equally important to understand why.
Sources
When asked what kind of IT infrastructure is needed for a robust voice/data network he answer by suggesting that a fully-meshed network is an ideal configuration if money is not an object. He says that backing up power systems for all critical infrastructure hardware is essential and locating network equipment in secure equipment areas is also important.
It seems to me that ensuring reliability in voice and data networks are very important. It's also equally important to understand why.
Sources
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Amazon Kindle v. Ipad 2
In the world we live in today it is now very easy to communicate and socialize. We can send messages, emails or share photo's all from a smartphone. We can edit and share photos and videos from our smart phones on our laptops. Now a new era of tablets are among us. Where we can view videos and photos as if they were the size of a sheet of paper. Leaving us with unlimited opportunities to make life more easier to enjoy. The Ipad 2 was released by Apple on March 12, 2011. The Ipad 2 is the second generation of the ipad suite from Apple. The sleek and mobile design, packed with a lot of power leaves the Ipad 2 easily amongst the best tablets of today. Another option for future tablet users would be the Amazon's new Kindle reader. This tablet has yet to be released but is said to be the best competition for the Ipad 2. The product-service integration along with the affordable price has made Amazons Kindle a top choice for tablet users.
The Matchup
The Ipad 2 has a 1 GHz dual core chip processor called the A5. It has 512MB of RAM. The specifications are not exact at the moment for the Kindle tablet. Although there has been talk that the 7 inch will run a single core chip. While the 10 inch will run a dual core chip. The Ipads screen is the same as the proceeding model. The 1024 x 768, 9.7 in In-Plane Switching display. The Kindle Tablet will come out in two versions, 7 and 10 inch. The screen for Kindle will be multi-touch capable. Allowing 2 finger multi touch, while the Ipad 2 allows 10-finger. Both the Ipad 2 and the Amazon Kindle Tablet will be WiFi friendly. For the Ipad2 one can grab a Verizon 3G or AT&T/GSM version. Both tablets also have bluetooth capabilities. Other highlight features for the Ipad are built in ambient light sensor, an accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope. The kindle does not come with any cameras. The Ipad 2 on the other hand has 2, one on the front and one on the back. The Ipad 2 comes in either 16gb or 32gb. The Kindle tablet comes only in 6gb. The price tag on the Kindle is looking to be around $250 which I believe is a reasonable price. The Ipad 2 starts at $499. Although that is a little pricy and cost is a very important factor, the Ipad 2 software along with all of its other features its safe to say you get what you pay for.
Conclusion
In conclusion the Kindle should be a nice new low priced tablet to have for what ever personal use you may need it for. There just isn't much competition for the Ipad 2. Many see the Ipad 2 to be in a league of its own. The Ipad 2 is not a perfect product but little to anything having to do with technology is. It is safe to say that the Ipad 2 wins the battle win it comes to being compared to other tablets in discussion of top performing tablets.
The Matchup
The Ipad 2 has a 1 GHz dual core chip processor called the A5. It has 512MB of RAM. The specifications are not exact at the moment for the Kindle tablet. Although there has been talk that the 7 inch will run a single core chip. While the 10 inch will run a dual core chip. The Ipads screen is the same as the proceeding model. The 1024 x 768, 9.7 in In-Plane Switching display. The Kindle Tablet will come out in two versions, 7 and 10 inch. The screen for Kindle will be multi-touch capable. Allowing 2 finger multi touch, while the Ipad 2 allows 10-finger. Both the Ipad 2 and the Amazon Kindle Tablet will be WiFi friendly. For the Ipad2 one can grab a Verizon 3G or AT&T/GSM version. Both tablets also have bluetooth capabilities. Other highlight features for the Ipad are built in ambient light sensor, an accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope. The kindle does not come with any cameras. The Ipad 2 on the other hand has 2, one on the front and one on the back. The Ipad 2 comes in either 16gb or 32gb. The Kindle tablet comes only in 6gb. The price tag on the Kindle is looking to be around $250 which I believe is a reasonable price. The Ipad 2 starts at $499. Although that is a little pricy and cost is a very important factor, the Ipad 2 software along with all of its other features its safe to say you get what you pay for.
Conclusion
In conclusion the Kindle should be a nice new low priced tablet to have for what ever personal use you may need it for. There just isn't much competition for the Ipad 2. Many see the Ipad 2 to be in a league of its own. The Ipad 2 is not a perfect product but little to anything having to do with technology is. It is safe to say that the Ipad 2 wins the battle win it comes to being compared to other tablets in discussion of top performing tablets.
Sources
• InfoSync
• Engadget
• Gizmodo
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