Get Your Head in the Cloud!

Sixty Second Tech Episode 13
Cloud Computing

First there was the desktop, and Boca Raton smiled and said “this is good”. As time went on we needed more power though, so servers were invented. Now we need even more power, super-computer power without the price tag; enter the Cloud computing revolution.

Instead of building one huge computer that is smart enough to model the atmosphere or nuclear explosions, just link together many smaller computers. Specially designed software and networks allow scientists to link them to compute extraordinary results.

Cloud computing is, however, more than just a research tool. Thanks to companies like Amazon and their Elastic Compute Cloud, you can move your website to the cloud.

If your web site’s traffic fluctuates seasonally, expand into the cloud! With EC2 and other systems like it, you can setup a second, third or ninth server for a short time. They will get you over the hump and then spin it down until you needed again.

New management tools are coming online that allow you to automate the entire process so if your site gets popular on digg.com, you can handle the load, serve the pages, spread your message and make the sale. Then when the load dies, the virtual servers pack themselves away for another day.

So the next time that overpriced consultant you keep around because he’s your brother-in-law shouts “capacity planning” at you, tell him to go stick his head in the Cloud!

My name is Cal Evans and I am your sixty second tech.