Cloud IT - Private Cloud Network Design and Management

Cloud IT - Not just for Big Business

2008-08-29T06:39:00.000-07:00

The system I setup for Bedouin Networks was only about $200k for all new hardware, using usedhardware it would have been much less. While this sounds expensive it could support about 30 servers and many more just by adding more CPUs and Memory. This was with 3 years 24x7 Vendor support. so $200k / 36 = $5500 a month give or take. I think a reasonable IT budget for a small technology company

Cloud IT Basics - IT Nirvana

2008-08-29T06:28:00.000-07:00

Virtualization plus WAN Optimization.

Does not sound exciting, but what does this do? WAN Optimization
turns a 1mb/sec T1 into a 50mb /sec circuit allowing all servers to be
moved to a datacenter. Virtualization drops the cost of servers about
1000% Immediate server redundancy. What stays in the office?
1 small firewall, 1 small riverbed. I moved the office IT systems to
a new office in a backpack. No downtime during the move.

IT Nirvana.

First Question, What is the problem with virtualizing a router?

2008-08-19T21:44:00.000-07:00

First Question, What is the problem with virtualizing a router?

Hint, What is generally considered unique to a router configuration and what router feature do you need to get support for more then one of them?

What if we could virtualize everything?

2008-08-19T21:02:00.000-07:00

What if we can get the same benefits of virtualization for all IT systems not just servers? Routers, Firewalls, WAN optimizers, Backup systems? Everything.

We can, by selecting specific venfors and models that support it. What does the V in VPN stand for? How many devices support Virtual Private Networks? A lot. How do network VPNs relate to server virtualization? A lot. I have been working and thinking about this a lot, almost 2 years now.

For example backup hardware can be "virtualized" if it supports SAN storage and backup servers in multiple domains or backup software that can group media / tapes by domain or project and send backup status reports
by project / backup job.

Another example, the Juniper SA 4000 SSL / VPN has an IVS feature, what's the V stand for?
Virtualization.... I bet you dont think of Viruualization when you think of SSL VPN remote acces systems but you do now.

SSL Instant Virtual Systems (IVS)
IVS (available on select platforms) is a framework that enables administrators or service providers to completely segment SSL VPN traffic between multiple groups or customers within a single appliance/cluster. IVS features (available on select platforms) complete application-layer, network-layer and access management virtualization so that end groups can have the experience of their own SSL VPN deployment, while the administrator only has to manage one device or cluster.

Welcome

2008-08-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Cloud IT, the resource for the future business network

I think Cloud computing is the future of business computer networks. Most people think of applications when it comes to cloud computing but I think its most important impact will be on business computer networks.

Business computer networks have not changed much if any since they were first available, physical servers with single or only a few applications usually in a storage closet without any redundancy, a single internet circuit, little or no power backup, no air conditioning, no redundant storage, no monitoring, no capacity planning and it has been like this for the past 20 years.

Usually it takes a combination of new technologies to create a revolutionary improvement in the way something is done. A combination of new technologies is now available to revolutionize the way business networks are designed.

These new technologies are Wide Area Network optimizers, Virtualization, multi cpu/core servers, and Co-Location hosting providers. These technologies allow for the delivery of
inexpensive virtual servers located in a datacenter with network, power, and air conditioning
redundancy to serverless offices.

This is not theoretical. My name is Rick Parker and I started Bedouin Networks in late 2006 to prove this would work. Bedouin's beta client was Gimundo.com and Gimundo ran on the Bedouin platform for about 14 months before being sold. The results were simply stunning, no downtime
for any services, none, for the last 7 months. This is the way IT should be and can be. What I will be doing is explaining how this was done and what can be done to improve the concept and design by suggesting and requesting feedback from others.