Hey there,

I was trying to understand the term "Cloud Computing" since Microsoft and other companies don't really say, what this Cloud Computing is all about. (Or I didn't hear anything about it...)

I was on the CeBit 2010 and there were so many booths about Cloud Computing with so many application areas but I couldn't find a simple and plain answer to "what exactly Cloud Computing is?".

So I searched the web and found many things, for example, Google's services are based on Cloud Computing (or they are CC). As far as I understood, you can access Cloud Computing programs through your browser, if it has an interface.
Well, then there were arguments for CC (sorry, I don't like to type this name all the time...) that you don't have to spend money on buying licenses.
Since I'm a full-time Linux user and I prefer OSS and software, that is free of charge, I didn't had to spend a penny for software licenses.

I also heard of Ubuntu CC but is there really a need for it? Okay, if I don't have to waste lots of money for some stupid applications, to share it to my employees it's understandable but why would I use many computers that already *run* an OS, for example Ubuntu, that could easily run any office (or any other) application that is needed, to use programs in the web browser?
Especially if I think of all the private data I have. I don't like the idea to store all my data somewhere, perhaps on the another continent. When there are problems, and other people can access my files, what then? The Cloud provider probably does not give me any compensation in this situation. And as you all know, mistakes are made. For example, Kaspersky killed servers -> http://www.h-online.com/security/new...s-1124659.html


So, what do you think? If all the Windows guys moved to CC (if I remember, Ballmer wanted Microsoft to concentrate more on CC.) will Linux users join them and pay for using programs that already run on their local machine? (Or for any other reason?)

_________

edit:
An example of what I mean: http://www.eyeos.info/
Here and video of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYiP7Q5lYUc

Cloud doesn't necessarily mean Internet.
I have several machines at home, and had a look at it for the house a while back. Not worth the effort - same as grid before it.

More marketing "weasel words".

Both very valid concerns that I too share.

1) There is indeed no need for or benefit from CC. None that I can see.

2) Yes, your data is stored on their servers, and I think this is why they are pushing it. They want to have your data where it will be in safe hands ... and where they can keep an eye on it ... or two ... heheheh

No, I will not be using this CC BS. I also wish to boycott it as much as possible. I think it is Google's (mostly) evil plan to:

1) Turn all computers into access terminals, where you are merely granted access to your data and programs. Should the higher ups decide to deny you this privilege, they will do so, and you can't do anything about it. This means more control.

2) Have your data on their servers, where they can look at it and make sure you aren't doing anything possibly illegal, after all you have nothing to fear and nothing to hide ... right ? Well, I ask them, these evil corporations, what do you have to hide you $(%$* ? You all got paper and disk shredders waiting for when they bust down the door, what do you have to hide ?

No, I'm not buying into it.

EDIT:

This in an interesting definition from wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing

That part is right ... you no longer need to know how the system works, and you no longer need control over the system ... they will do it for you

The other part about this being 'a natural evolution', man that is funny. Yeah, about as natural as cancer.

There's a tiny bit of a detail you are missing here...

the same way you operate "adition" over the logarithms of two numbers to get logarithm of their product, and you retrieve the product calculating the exponential of the previous calculated "addition"... one can submit an encrypted instance of the data to the cloud, ask it to perfom "some algorithm" over it to finally retrieve the encrypted solution to "some problem"...

You know A and B ( Data ) but you do not have the computing power to Multiply or Add, and you know Logarithm, as well as its inverse, so you ask <Cloud> to add Log(A) and Log(B) and tell you the result...

with this result you just got A*B, Which is Exp(Log(A)+Log(B))...

All <cloud> ever saw was Log(A), Log(B) and Log(A)+Log(B)... <Cloud> does not know what is <Log>... so <cloud> will never ever immagine what is A and B, and what you really wanted was <multiplication>....

Get the scenario of computation over encrypted instances...?

Of course the details for a real world scenario are more complex... the mapping would have to be a strong symmetric cipher, and the requested algorithm to be used in <cloud> would have to be mapped accordingly... but it is mathematically feasible...


The admins of the cloud servers will never get to understand what you really submitted or what did you really solved for... all they ever saw were encrypted data, some solution, and an algorithm which is a valid mapping of what you really want to calculate into the cipherspace... too bad that you are the only living creature who knows what this mapping really is...

同型... this is the Japanese for Isomorphism...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isomorphism

...now, can they...?!

...nooooo... this is not fun... Use it, and TRICK IT,... trick the tricksters... and have a goood laugh at all them... ROTFLMAO

Feed them with gibberish "data" they will take an eternity to figure out what it is... if and when they will anyway...

On the topic of encryption and the cloud, you should know that it's best to take it in a methodical approach, similar to the way a lawyer might, so in order:

1) They must not find / acquire the encrypted file.
2) They must not know that it is an encrypted file.
3) They must not know the password.
4) They must not know what is inside the encrypted file.

You have given up at #1 or #2. Who is to say they can't use the "crowbar" method to get #3 and #4 ?

Also, I don't think you can feed them just anything. For example, many upload services, even Google docs, checks to make sure you aren't uploading junk. You can't just upload any file, it must be of a specific type, and maybe even size.

I always saw Cloud Computing as a tool for certain businesses perhaps. Maybe their own private Cloud Computing network.

Other then that my reply is simply that it is a fad. A marketing gimmick to make quick money. In the US I think the ISP's like Comcast and Time Warner will end up killing Cloud Computing with bandwidth caps and when they finally do away with net neutrality. So I don't really concern myself with Cloud Computing.

There is nothing I can say about this cloud computing crap, that hasn't already been said.

Other than that, as long as I at least have the option not to use it, then I really don't give a crap who else wishes to actually use this 'service'. I'll stick with my external HDs and optical media thank you very much.

I think cloud computing is an attempt at combining the storage and usefulness of all the computer's a person owns.. as well as providing applications to users that they ultimately can not crack without having the proper subscription... After all, if it's an internet application, they have to log into the service and validate them selves and they can never see your code to reverse engineer it.

Additionally, As media centers, personal computers, and file servers become more popular as an every household item, the need to unify the resources become greater. Do you DVR with only a DVR computer then have media files across your whole network? or do you have one media machine that stores all entertainment media and does all the recording?

Sorry but you're making this sound as if it is a new concept, it isn't. This is just a throw back to the 1970s and 1980s when people used a 'dumb' terminal to access programs off a mainframe. I refuse to turn my home computer into any kind of 'dumb' terminal. I like my data local, along with my applications thanks .

This is made quite evident by the pushing of "netbooks", which are typically (from what I've seen) underpowered. Move computing power more and more towards the server end...yep, sounding a lot like mainframe computing! I have sitting on my lap about the same amount of computing power that a server would have had about 10 years ago (or so, I think )...I'd like to keep it that way. (Computing) power to the people!

Honestly, I like my Netbook even if it is less powerful – okay, I chose one with an AMD CPU so as not to be like everyone else with and Atom.

This reminds me of the new super computer (sorry, I don't remember the name right now) with up to ~14000 CPUs and ~7000 GPUs. I'd like to have one of them, just to run some compiling processes.

My definition of "cloud computing" is a bit different. When people ask me what I do I use to say "ever heard of the cloud?, well I do that" but after seeing MS ads as well as other ads for "cloud computing" I need to find another way to describe what I do to people who are not very computer savy. I don't want to simplify what I do to that level.


I work in an environment where I have access to about 14 blade centers(not saying manufacturer), as well as racks and racks of storage filers and enterprise license of VMWare. I've got VMs of all types living on datastores here and there with just the workload(CPU/RAM/Network) on the blades. To me that is "cloud computing". A few years ago I thought the "cloud" just meant the picture you used in network diagrams to show the network between you and someone else

But is this really a new thing? As already said, people used to login on a server with a terminal. I have seen Citrix, running programs from a server, hmm, I think over 4 or 5 years ago.

I thought about it and what if CC is just another method of paying?

You're right. And now that I think of it, I'm sure they will use "green" BS as a reason as well. Use less power, save the planet, adopt the cloud, be assimilated, give us your money, we know what to do with it better than you.

P.S. Don't put it on your lap if you are male ... it will fry your ... see other article.

Also, I must admit, I like computing power. However, I don't ever get the most expensive stuff, it just isn't worth it. I get mid range, but a good amount of power, something that will not have issues running anything any time soon. I don't really run new games tho ... because they don't run. I also have a PS3 and prefer that.

Wear boxer shorts with a built-in fan?