Getting Info about Existing Computing Power

For each of the 4 servers in our example let's get the values:

1. How much disk space is available?
   
   Open "My Computer" on each server and get each disk space value.

          a. Srv01 -  C: Total 20.0    Free 3.3       D: Total 20.0   Free 8.6
          b. Srv02 -  C: Total   8.0    Free 1.0
          c. Srv03 -  C: Total 14.0    Free 2.3
          d. Srv04 -  C: Total 20.0    Free 5.0       D: Total 30.0   Free 7.0 

    2. How much disk space is used?

          a. Srv01 -  C: Used 16.7                        D: Used 11.4
          b. Srv02 -  C: Used   7.0  
          c. Srv03 -  C: Used 11.7
          d. Srv04 -  C: Used 15.0                        D: Used 23.0   

     3.  How much RAM is installed?

          Right Click on "My Computer", click Properties, General tab, Computer:

          a. Srv01 -  RAM: 2.00 GB  (2.99 GHz)
          b. Srv02 -  RAM: 2.00 GB  (2.99 GHz)  
          c. Srv03 -  RAM: 1.00 GB  (3.00 GHz)
          d. Srv04 -  RAM: 3.51 GB  (3.00 GHz)   

     4.  How many and what kind of CPU are installed?

          Right Click on "My Computer", click Properties, General tab, Computer:

          a. Srv01 -  5160 XEON - 3.00 GHz
          b. Srv02 -  5160 XEON - 3.00 GHz  
          c. Srv03 -  5160 XEON - 3.00 GHz
          d. Srv04 -  5160 XEON - 3.00 GHz
   

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Next Post: How to Measure Bandwidth 

Additional resources:

Identify Your CPU                   Measuring Bandwidth Usage 

Converting Existing Power into Cloud Terms

In the Comparing Costs Problem post I propose that it isn't easy to compare an organization's existing computing power costs with the cost of cloud.  Using an example I came up with $500 as the monthly cost of the existing computing power that cloud would replace.  So maybe if the cloud costs less than $500, it would be wise to move.

Hosting vs. Cloud

This sounds like the old Hosting scenario. Just move all the computers to a hosting facility and pay per month. You often pay a flat fee for hosting.

Cloud differs from hosting because you only pay for what you use. Your monthly cost should vary.

Converting the Existing Environment into Cloud Terms

To communicate clearly with the Cloud provider, the following information must be collected:

For each of the 4 servers in our example:

1. How much disk space is available?
2. How much disk space is used?
3. How much RAM is installed?
4. How many and what kind of CPU are installed?

For your environment:

1.  How much Internet bandwidth is used per month?
2. Do you have special requirements that may prevent you from moving to the cloud?

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Next Post: How to Get Info about your existing Computing Power 

Additional resources:

Identify Your CPU                   Measuring Bandwidth Usage 

Comparing Costs Problem

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Overheard at 375,000 water coolers...

"Hey guys, this cloud thing is cool. All we have to do is get an account on the cloud and pay only for what we use."

Overheard in many initial partner planning meetings...

"Ok, cloud is cool. How much will it cost and how much will we save in the first year?"

Recorded on numerous sales calls...

"Yes, we have the safest, fastest and coolest cloud available. How many servers and CPU's do you need? How much memory, diskspace and bandwidth? With this information I can give you an exact price."

Overheard in many followup partner meetings...

"We don't know about CPU's and all that stuff. We've got 4 computers in the closet and a contract to keep them running. Let's table this cloud thing until we can figure this out."

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I know this senario is a little simplistic, but it points out the critical cost decision factor. As I defined in my last post, the first step in Cloud Porting is to decide to move to the cloud. Costs will be one of the first considerations in this decision process.

In the above example the cloud provider views the problem in terms of the computer resource components, which can be measured and sold. The customer views the problem in terms of computers and contracts.

Unless and until there is a easy way to relate these views to each other, there will be a barrier which will prevent a rush to the cloud.

Determining Existing "Computing Power" Costs

In my last post Computing Power was defined as the whole pile of stuff that you use to process information. It includes computers, internet fees, software and everything else. In the above senario what would we have to do to come up with a cost for the 4 computers in the closet? Here's a stab at it:

• 4 servers bought 2 years ago for $12,000 including set up 
• 1 Firewall device for $1,500
• 1 equipment maintenance contract for $2,000 per year
• 1 switch for $500
• Internet Service for $100 per month
• CRM software for $500.
• PBX software for $2,500
• Email software for $1,500
• Miscellaneous $1,000

Total Fixed Costs (Equipment and Software) = $19,500  Amortized over 5 yr = $4k
Total Annual Costs = $3,400   $3k/mo

Which Existing "Computing Power" Costs does Cloud replace

Hardware $4k/yr + Equipment Contract - $2k/yr  = $6k/yr or $500/mo


My next topic: More Calculating Existing Costs

Additional resources:

Pricing - Rackspace Cloud                   Pricing - Amazon Cloud 

Clouds seem simple so why the slow buy in?

I have been in the government information technology space for many years. When I first became aware of cloud computing, it seemed to be another hosting solution with the wrinkle of resource management. I could host my computing power in a safe place and only pay for what I use. It reminded me of the old time sharing scenarios of the 50s and 60s. Pay only for what was used. Simple.

Boy, has this idea gotten hot, "cloud computing" on Google today ... 198 million hits. The federal government is going cloud in a big way, CIO Council and FedRamp.

In 2010 I decided to jump on the bandwagon and started a cloud company. This blog is the result of what I learned about cloud from this experience. It isn't about the entrepreneurial challenges of building the company which was acquired. Much is already written about that topic. My focus is to figure out how all of us can take advantage of the cloud and to explore why we aren't moving quickly toward this exciting technology.

I'm no expert on this subject. I do have a little experience and hope that other folks will join in to kick this topic around. 

Computing Power - a definition. One of the first things that I struggled with was how to explain to everyday folks what the cloud concept was about. After wrestling with my partners and others in the field we came up with the concept of "computing power". Computing power is the pile of computers, networks, software, policies, procedures, wiring, power supplies, air conditioning and anything else that is used to process information. Your computing power may be as simple as a single PC or as complex as several acres of a hardened government facility. Both represent computing power only the size and complexity are different.

Cloud Computing - a definition. An alternative method of providing your same "computing power" from a safe, accessible and remote location.

Cloud Porting - a definition. The process of deciding to move and then moving your computing power to the cloud.

From my viewpoint cloud porting is the barrier that is slowing the adoption of the cloud today.

My next topic: The Cost Dilemma

Some other folks are addressing this subject:

Porting Apps to Amazon - Read Write Web                   Porting - Benchmark Consulting