[LINK] 'Cloud Computing METAPHOR doesn't fly'

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

On 20/11/2011 12:59 PM, Roger Clarke wrote:
> This is a follow-up on an old story.
>
>> At 8:40 +0200 28/9/10, Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:
>>>    .... but what's all this got to do with "cloud computing"?
>>> Virgin outsourced its systems to Navitaire and their web site
>>> <http://www.navitaire.com/>  doesn't mention cloud computing.
>>> Looks like another journalist's vivid imagination.
> Roger admitted on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:15:08 +1100
>> Sheesh, it took a while.
>> My sole justification was a lame visual pun on airlines.
>> Although I still think cloud computing is for the birds ...
> In finalising my paper on cloud outages, I tripped over this:
>
> "According to a Netapp blog, Navitaire uses a Texas Memory Systems
> RamSan solid-state storage array front-ended by a NetApp V-Series
> controller.  ...  NetApp positions Navitaire's use of the V-Series as
> a PaaS (Platform-as-a-service) private cloud service".
>
> So I may have been closer than I realised ...  (:-)}
>
>
> Source of quotation:
> Mellor C. (2010)  'NetApp and TMS involved in Virgin Blue outage'
> The Register, 28 September 2010, at
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/09/28/virgin_blue/
>
>

Roger,

Geez, you've got a long memory.....

IMHO, Cloud is a term that is being used by every vendor who possible 
can, to show that they are up with the current trend. There is much 
confusion in the ICT industry because Cloud is being used as a 
shorthand, and leaves a lot unsaid. It's referred to as cloud-washing.

Using Cloud as an adjective helps considerably.

Cloud technology is mainly virtualisation, server and data 
virtualisation being the main ones. Anyone can use virtualisation and 
many ICT do. There are lots of vendors selling cloud technology, some to 
IT departments, some to purveyors of Cloud services

Cloud services are being sold by those who own lots of technology and 
who are making access available on a services basis. A bit lit a car 
owner offering taxi services. The car is still  car, it's just 
accessible in small lots.

NIST, whose definition seems to be quoted the most, define Cloud as a 
procurement mechanism, not as a technology.

So, in summary, Cloud services is a way of using a someone else's 
technology on an as needed basis and paying for it as such. All Cloud 
services issues are related to the fact that it's not your technology 
you are using, it's someone else's.

If you implement your own Cloud technology, many of these issues go 
away. And if you implement your own Cloud technology and call it a 
private cloud (as in the case of Navitaire), then it's not Cloud 
services. It's more like cloud-washing. The test is in how you pay for it.

The government is well aware of these differences, it remains to be seen 
if Australian industry is as well informed.

-- 

Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Canberra Australia
email:   brd at iimetro.com.au
website: www.drbrd.com



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