Ubuntu thinking out of the box and into the clouds

Apple computer is usually known for taking things to the new level and beyond in radical ways. But, it looks like ubuntu linux is also taking a lesson or two in this venue. The new release of ubuntu ("Karmic Koala,") will be targeting cloud computing.

"Ubuntu 9.10 will give users an option to build its own Elastic Compute Cloud-style service, using open-source Eucalyptus (or another cloud provider), but the intent certainly seems to seamlessly plug users into Amazon's closed cloud:

Ubuntu aims to keep free software at the forefront of cloud computing by embracing the APIs of Amazon EC2, and making it easy for anybody to set up their own cloud using entirely open tools...During the Karmic cycle, we want to make it easy to deploy applications into the cloud, with ready-to-run appliances or by quickly assembling a custom image..."

This interesting new platform option addition could have some very amazing new options when it comes to computing in the future. Imagine doing all the grunt work that your computer is used for remotely in a cloud and then just using a simple machine like a netbook for accessing and doing the work. Gone, will be the need for making a bigger, better, box. Because the box will be in the clouds and all you need is a simple device to access it. The cloud has all the storage and processors you need for the task at hand.

"Amazon's EC2 also supports Windows Server 2003, OpenSolaris and a number of other Linux distributions, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Oracle Enterprise Linux."


Ubuntu's next wave: Open server, closed cloud (cnet)
Ubuntu's 'Koala' to Soar into the Cloud (Wired.com)
Ubuntu Will Target Cloud Computing With October Release (PCWorld)

Cloud Computing an alternative for Government Computing

(image for cloud computing center found on brajeshwar.com)

President Obama's tech team is looking into incorporating cloud computing for Government use and efficiency. Cloud computing gives users a great advantage of security and ease of use from anywhere when requested. Check out the YouTube video by the Obama Tech Team.

Cloud computing has been around for a while now, more and more people are starting to look into the valuable use it offers. One of the great things is basically having as much computing power as you need and only paying for what you use. Allowing a company to put on their own custom version of the operating system they require and even create custom versions of various OS's and then leasing it out to perspective customers too.

I was at a lecture last year at my Chicago Java Users Group and we had Mike Culver a representative from Amazons Cloud computing giving us a great talk on the in's and out's of using this technology.

One of the great examples he gave was a well known newspaper's desire to digitize a great amount of old papers into pdf format. By incorporating cloud computing into the mix they were able to use an array of super computing processing for a small cost to get what they need done. The interesting thing was the whole process which would have taken weeks on regular PCs took just 24 hours using cloud computing technology from Amazon. They realized that there was a mistake in how they did something in their process and ended up re-doing it in another 24 hours and still saved a bundle on the whole process.

I am glad to see government finally start to look out at the great technology that is available for use at a fraction of the cost of purchasing aging hardware and replacing it as its breaks down.

More about cloud computing at Obama Tech Teams Touts Cloud Computing