Microsoft Expands into European Grid

November 29, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Diagram showing overview of cloud computing in...
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A move by Microsoft to expand cloud computing resources into the European grid may be one of the largest programs anticipated to strengthen the European research community. The announcement of the expansion came during Dan Reed’s keynote address at the Open Grid Forum. According to the announcement, researchers will be able to access resources in the cloud and get technical support when needed.

Cloud computing is a process in which companies convert the software from a computer to a server. This allows anyone with access to the cloud to be able to use the applications, tools, and software programs rather than having to install each one on multiple computers. Using cloud computing will allow researchers across the globe the opportunity to pool resources, including research notes, files, and other data, should they choose to do so.

This online collaboration will allow researchers to share information faster and reduce the expense of doing so. With cloud computing, it will be possible for researchers in France to collaborate with researchers in Scotland in order to complete a project.

To expand its cloud computing services into the European Grid, Microsoft will be working with three partners: the National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control in France, the University of Nottingham Horizon Institute in the U.K., and the Virutal Multidisciplinary EnviroNments Using Cloud Infrastructures in Europe (VENUS-C).

Microsoft helped co-fund VENUS-C consortium under the 7th Framework Programme with the European Commission as a way to expand cloud computing into the European grid. Researchers can begin applying for funding to export research once the consortium makes an open call for applications.

If the cloud computing system works well for researchers using the European grid, the consortium will look for other ways to deploy the system. Microsoft will currently contribute Windows Azure data and help oversee the deployment of the cloud.

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Blurry Clouds

March 5, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Cloud computing infrastructure

Image via Wikipedia

Cloud computing is essentially using the browser as your personal computer and storing all your data and softwares on a remote server. The situation where cloud computing is not required, people often use FTP programs like FileZilla to transfer files between the host and the server. In case of Cloud computing, you share all the facilities like processor capacity, space and software with the central powerful server.  This concept was developed way back in the 80′s but never took root because of low speed internet connections. But lately it has seemed to have gotten a new lease of life with huge corporations, mid-sized companies avoiding costly equipment in favor of cloud computing.

Many websites now offer you options to store your data online and provide everyday use software which you might need. P2P networks may also be regarded as one of the form of cloud computing, allowing people to share and download resources stored in the central server by using P2P programs like Ares Galaxy . Even governments have launched initiatives where super computers work in tandem to get large quantities of data analyzed. One such example is the European Grid computing where some of the fastest supercomputers are networked so that the high processing speeds can solve questions associated with physics, genetics and chemistry. Microsoft has released Windows Azure which is its venture into cloud computing. It serves as a service hosting, developing and management platform. How can we leave Google behind here, it has release its version of online office which is essentially a cloud based office, where you have access to your files but more than one individual can work on it from anywhere in the world. Google’s new operating system called Chrome OS has just a browser, which leaves the rest to cloud computing.

Even mobile operating systems like the palm Web OS have taken the cloud computing route with most of their data being stored on remote servers. Although it was Microsoft’s sidekick mobile phones which used the power of the cloud first, Palm took it to the next level. Cloud computing will not be more blurry to you any longer as the days go by and every major or minor software vendor wants you to start using the Cloud.

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