Essay on Cloud Computing

Essay on Cloud Computing Abstract This paper explores cloud computing and its merits and de-merits which may help an organization in taking a wise decision either in favor of it or against it. Cloud computing is the buzz word now in the field of information technology. It is the concept of where an organization has its data and application hosted on a third party infrastructure. Sometimes the applications are designed and developed by the service provider and the company using it uses that application against its own data. There are several factors for deciding in favor of it as well as several factors that raise strong questions for its acceptance. It is totally based on the need of the organization, whether it leverages cloud computing or not. What is Cloud Computing? Cloud computing is Internet-based utility computing, basically shared resources, software and information that are used by end-users hosted on virtual servers. Some people term anything beyond a companies or users personal firewall to be in cloud (Knorr, Gruman, n.d., para. 2).Personal computing has evolved in three phases. The first phase was where the data and application was stored on a local desktop. The second phase is where the applications reside on a local server and utility software on the desktop along with the internet to provide valuable information. The third phase is where most of the data and software will reside somewhere on the internet. This phase is identified as cloud computing. Although more than 80% of world-wide computational data is being predicted to move into clouds in the next five to ten years, there are a number of unanswered questions which will decide the speed of development in this arena (Nelson, 2009, para. 1). It is a new concept in the field of inf ormation technology still trying to get acceptance, where-in the technological services/ applications are provided by a third-party. Cloud Computing Nomenclature From the days when use of internet started becoming popular, the network architecture diagrams show internet as cloud to hide the complexities from the end-user hence the name cloud computing. The applications/ software are provided as services which reside in data centers with server farms and redundant storage. End-users can access them via web browsers in laptops or hand-held devices. Google Apps, Facebook and salesforce.com are examples of cloud computing which are becoming very popular especially with the younger generations. A very basic example of cloud computing is a web-based email service like Gmail where the complexity of storage and presentation of user data is provided by a third party, and users are leveraging them by means of web browsers(Nelson, 2009, para. 12). Benefits of Cloud Computing Cloud Computing is a totally different paradigm of personal as well as corporate computing which drifts away from the traditional software business model. There are several positive factors for deciding in favor of moving to cloud computing. Some of the important favorable factors are discussed below. Entry cost for a business to set itself up in cloud is much less compared to traditional setup. Cost for running Information Technology (IT) business in cloud world can be visualized as operational cost. Organizations no longer need to shell out big amounts for hardware and software upgrades (Cunningham Wilkins, 2009, p. 3). They no longer need to worry about end of life for hardware/ software. Companies no longer need to spend huge amounts on buying new hardware for scalability. In short, infrastructure costs to get in to cloud are much lower than that for the traditional model. Pricing is generally based on usage options. Organizations do not need to maintain a workforce of IT people and can focus on strengthening their business domain knowledge. Organizations can use only applications which are suited for their need and not pay huge amounts on licenses for using a software suite. Most of the time buying a software suite is of lesser worth from the business perspective as only few features of the suite are really used and the cost associated with upgrades and licenses are expensive. With canned applications in cloud, business can decide and pay for only the applications that they need. Using virtualization as the main technology, additional computing resources can be added dynamically without having any downtime. By monitoring peak load and server usage, an application can be dynamically switched over to a virtual machine with greater computing speed or the current virtual machine can be augmented with more computing resources (Zhong, Wo, Li Li, 2010, p. 2). The organization using the application does not need to pay extra for the scalability feature. In virtualization, high performance servers are split into multiple machin es catering to different customers. Some of the popular products are VMware and XEN. With the infrastructure being located in multiple data centers and huge server farms, users can be productive anytime from anywhere in the world using web-browsers in laptops, desktops or hand-held devices. Business executives travelling to client locations need not carry hard copies and everything with them, as with a simple click of the mouse they can reach the information gateway. With infrastructure being maintained at multiple redundant sites, it gives more confidence to business organizations in regard to business continuity and disaster recovery. Nowadays in the industry, one of the buzz words is collaboration. Tools like sharepoint are becoming very popular where multiple people can work on the same document and access them without having to store the document locally and work on it and send it via email for edits by other users. With web 2.0 where everything is going to be on the internet, collaboration will be very easy and simple (Cunningham Wilkins, 2009, p. 4). Since the infrastructure for cloud computing is centralized and the client is a thin client like a web-browser or a WAP browser, the upgrade and maintenance of the system is much easier compared to the system where we require a desktop client connecting to a server where each client desktop needs to be upgraded when the server version is getting upgraded (Cunningham Wilkins, 2009, p. 3). Concerns with Cloud Computing As there is darkness after light similarly with the benefits discussed in the earlier sections there are a few concerns floating around with the acceptance and utilization of cloud computing. With the applications provided as service and being used by different customers, personalization seems to be one limitation. The characteristics are similar to a COTS product but if proper negotiations are made, product-based companies most of the time do allow customization. There is a serious concern with data being centralized and out of business control. Sensitive data will now be under the control of a third-party and according to some experts this is a compliance issue and some feel that this is probably going to be the end of confidential records management (Cunningham Wilkins, 2009, p. 7). When it comes to the disclosure policies, some people do not know where to draw the line and knowingly or unknowingly share vital information and with data out on the third-party space that concern be comes even more critical. With everything accessible through internet, business will be totally dependent on the network and the service providers infrastructure. Business will come to a halt if the network/ internet are down. As illustrated by Patrick Cunningham in his article (2009), currently in the IT world when we need to troubleshoot an issue, one advantage in our favor is that the application logs and the database are within the premises of the enterprise. With the shift to cloud, this aspect will be lost and thus special support or contract binding needs will be there between the service provider and the business for e-discovery. With business sensitive internal data being maintained by the vendor the dependency on the vendors unique API and proprietary interfaces could create a possible lock-in with the vendor. If under some circumstance the business is dissatisfied with the vendor, moving to a new vendor means data needs to be reformatted and converted which can be time co nsuming and expensive (Brandel, 2009, p.1). Return on Investment By moving to cloud computing companies can save huge amount of money. As illustrated by Raichura (2009), in couple of online articles please find below charts showing examples of savings that an organization can achieve by moving to the cloud. The first table illustrates the difference in cost of having infrastructure on premises versus having it in the cloud. The second table illustrates the cost saving considering storage, service, infrastructure and platform in the cloud. Conclusion After having discussed the merits and de-merits it clearly stands out that there is no one clear answer in favor or against of cloud computing. So far it seems that is going to be a hybrid solution from the corporate standpoint. Some critical, business sensitive applications will continue with the traditional business model till the concerns about privacy and legal matters are cleared from cloud computing whereas simple canned applications will become more and more popular in the cloud space. The concept and technology is here to stay but it still in its infancy and there is a long road ahead to get to maturity. References: Brandel,M.(2009).The Trouble with Cloud Vendor Lock in. Retrieved from http://www.cio.com/article/488478/The_Trouble_with_Cloud_Vendor_Lock_in Cunningham, P. Wilkins, J. (2009). A Walk in the Cloud. Information Management (15352897), 43(1), 22-30. Retrieved from Computers Applied Sciences Complete database. Erdogmus, H, (2009). Cloud Computing:Does Nirvana Hide behind the Nebula? Knorr, E. Gruman, G. (n.d). What cloud computing really means. Retrieved from http://www.infoworld.com/d/cloud-computing/what-cloud-computing-really-means-031 Nelson, M. (2009). The Cloud, the Crowd, and Public Policy. Issues in Science Technology, 25(4), 71-76. Retrieved from Computers Applied Sciences Complete database. Raichura, B.J. (2009). The cloud ROI Framework. Retrieved from http://www.infosysblogs.com/cloudcomputing/2009/06/the_cloud_roi_framework.html Raichura, B.J. (2009). The Economics of cloud computing. Retrieved from http://www.infosysblogs.com/cloudcomputing/2009/06/the_economics_of_cloud_computi.html Zhong, L., Wo,T, Li, J. Li,B. (2010). A Virtualization-based SaaS Enabling Architecture for Cloud Computing.2010 Sixth International Conference on Autonomic and Autonomous Systems. pp.144-149.

Augustus of Primaporta Analysis

The statute Augustus of Primaporta depicts the Roman emperor Octavian, son and heir of Julius Caesar and defeater of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Created circa 20 C.E., and found in the home of Octavian’s wife Livia at Primaporta, this marble statue today stands in the Musei Vaticani in Rome (Janson 2007b 191).Measuring 6 feet 8 inches in height, and perhaps a copy of a bronze from around 20 BCE, the Augustus of Primaporta depicts Octavian as an â€Å"ageless youth,† as did all statues of Octavian until his death in his late seventies (Janson 2007b 191). Based on the bronze Doryphoros (â€Å"spear bearer†) by Polykleitos, which depicts a perfectly harmonious and balanced male athletic body in contrapposto (hips tilted such that one leg seems to be moving while the other stands still) supported by a tree stump, the Augustus of Primaporta presents Octavian Augustus in a heroic, idealized contrapposto form (Janson 2007a 121).Smooth-faced Octavian is shown in this stat ue wearing battle armor, with his arm raised â€Å"in a gesture of address† in order to signify his claim to authority (Janson 2007b 192).This orator’s gesture had been adapted from another historical statue, the first century BCE Aulus Metellus, a bronze statue depicting an orator that today can be seen in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Florence (Stokstad 197). Next to his right ankle, a small Cupid (also known as Eros, the son of Venus) can be seen playing with a dolphin. This cupid is not merely decorative, but rather serves as a â€Å"strut† to strengthen the statue (Janson 2007b 192).The statute contains many symbolic references to Octavian Augustus’s claims to power. His divine claims to power are represented through several visual references. To begin with, like the Egyptians and Greeks before him, and many Roman emperors after, Augustus’ statue represents him as being â€Å"enveloped in an air of divinity† (Janson 2007a 121).The statue’s generally godlike appearance is augmented by Octavian’s bare feet, which are the mark of a god, and the Cupid, which represents the descent of the Julian family (of which Augustus was part) from Venus through Aeneas, his Trojan ancestor (Janson 2007b 192). His earthly claims to power are displayed through references to his military and diplomatic victories.The dolphin represents his earthly claim to power by evoking the sea at Actium where Octavian Augustus defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra and ended 100 years of civil war in the Roman Republic (Janson 2007b 192, Lodge 1).Augustus’ breastplate, which depicts an allegory in which either Tiberius or the god Mars accepting Roman standards from a Parthian soldier, recalls his diplomatic victory over the Parthians in 20 BCE, when he was able to negotiate the return of some Roman legionary standards that had been captured in 53 and 36 BCE (Janson 2007a 122). Finally, his orator’s pose symbolizes his ability to rule by reason and persuasion, rather than through force (Stokstad 198).The Augustus of Primaporta was a part of the Augustan period, a new Roman idealist movement that was â€Å"grounded in the appearance of the everyday world† (Stokstad 197, Honour 198). This type of sculpture assimilates the traditions of ancient Greece with more modern Roman references. This statue, a good representation of the movement, has been described as a â€Å"sophisticated combination of Greek idealism and Roman individuality,† which came together to form â€Å"a new Augustan ideal† (Stokstad 197).The godlike idealized body of Augustus, with its perfect Greek athletic figure, its tight cap of layered curls, its prominent brow and nose, and its contrapposto pose, is combined with realistic portraiture in the head so that Augustus’ features are clearly distinguishable (Stokstad 197, Lodge 4).This type of Roman idealist sculpture was frequently used as imperial politic al propaganda. The references to divine and earthly claims to power and the posture and beauty of the statue, combined with the distinctive portraiture, stand for the proposition that the individual Octavian Augustus was a noble and powerful ruler.The visual imagery of the statues of this time, such as the Augustus of Primaporta, was key in creating a â€Å"new mythology† of the imperial line (Lodge 2). This statue solidified and paid homage to Augustus’ claim to authority by depicting his many claims to rule. Later statues of Roman emperors would draw on the Augustus of Primaporta as propaganda to tie them closer to the Julian line (Lodge 3).Another example of the Augustan style, which similarly shows Augustus in a particular light for propagandistic purposes is the Via Labicana Augustus, which originally dates from 20 BCE, and a copy of which can be found in the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme at the National Museum in Rome (Lodge 2).This sculpture shows Octavian Augustus —again with distinguishable features on the head—dressed as pontifex maximus, the highest priest in the ancient roman religion. Showing Augustus as an idealized religious figure spoke of him as a virtuous and pious citizen of Rome, and a conserver of traditional Roman values, which conveyed another type of authority in addition to the more military and diplomatic authority portrayed in the Augustus of Primaporta (Lodge 7).The image in the Via Labicana Augustus, when combined with that of the Augustus of Primaporta, shows an imperial figure who ruled justly, piously, and well, and with the support of both heaven and earth.Works CitedHonour, Hugh & John Fleming. A World History of Art. London: Lawrence King Publishing, Ltd., 2005. 196-199.Janson, Anthony F. & H.W. Janson, A Short History of Art. 7th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc., 2007a. 121-122.Janson, Anthony F. Janson’s History of Art. 7th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc., 2007b. 191-193.Lodge, Nancy. â€Å"Images of Roman Power: Roman Imperial Sculpture.† 1-7. available at http://www4.vjc.edu/gems/NancyLodge/ArtasPropaganda.pdf.Stokstad, Marilyn. Art History. 2nd ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc., 2005. 197-198.

Holes Book Review: Themes Within the Novel Essay

Twist of fate play major roles in the lives of the main characters in Holes. In â€Å"Holes†, the whole story is based around Stanley’s situation in the present and it’s connection to the past. Stanley’s bad luck is the result of his â€Å" No good rotten-pig- stealing-great-great-grandfather,† who failed to fulfill his promise of carrying Madame Zeroni up the mountain where the stream runs uphill. His situation at Camp Green Lake was connected to the history of ‘Kissin’ Kate Barlow, a schoolteacher turned bandit who robbed his great-grandfather and buried her treasure somewhere on the lake. The boys are forced to dig holes because of this and the person overseeing them is the Warden, who is the granddaughter of Mr. Charles Walker who was, in a way, responsible for Kate Barlow’s death. Stanley meeting Zero, Zero turning out to be Madame Zeroni’s great-great-great-grandson and Stanley helping to carry him up God’s thumb was not a coincidence, but it was fate that brought them together so they could complete the cycle and end Stanley’s curse. Fate has the power to alter lives and change them into a game of chance. The actions of one’s past may affect the situation of one’s future and therefore I agree that fate had played a major role in the novel. In the story, one of the themes are to always respect ones promises and to fulfill them or you had to face the consequences. This is shown when Elya Yelnats does not fulfill his promise to Madame Zeroni and soon after, pays the price. In the novel, Madame Zeroni warns Elya â€Å" That if he failed to do so, he would be cursed for eternity.† And at the time â€Å"†¦he thought nothing of the curse and as a boy he was carefree.† This shows that all people should fulfill their promises so we do not suffer the consequences. This positions the readers to feel sorry for Stanley because the actions of his great-great-grandfather has affected Stanley’s life even if he has done nothing. Stanley’s destiny is explained throughout the novel, because there are many clues, which point towards his destiny and the situations, which lead to the present. When Zero tells Stanley that his named was Hector Zeroni or how his great grandfather found refuge under God’s thumb and it’s relation to the mountains at Camp Green Lake because they provide a connection to Stanley’s past and destiny. This explains the situation to the reader and provides insight to the storyline. Fate plays a major part in the story because it intertwines both the past and the present, giving a connection between Stanley and his great-great-grandfather. This is shown throughout the story because all the problems Stanley faces in the present situation is caused by certain situations which his family was connected to by fate. For example, such scenes like Stanley Yelnats the 1st was robbed by Kate Barlow and her treasure being his suitcase, which Stanley digs up in the end of the book. This shown that the events of ones past may affect ones future. This positions the readers to feel pity for Stanley because he does not know the bigger picture happening to him. Friendship plays a key role in Stanley’s fate as he becomes friends with Zero during his stay at Camp Green Lake and this disrupts X-ray’s sense of superiority and threatens his position of power at camp. The friendship is beneficial for Stanley at the start and the end of the novel because by becoming friends and carrying him up the mountain, Stanley finally breaks his families curse. Stanley carrying Zero up the mountain shows us the true meaning of friendship. This positions the reader to connect to the characters at a human level. In the novel, the story tells us the importance of keeping a promise, having a strong friendship, of destiny and it’s connection to the past and that fate always plays a major role in any situation. Nothing is ever a coincidence and all the events in the novel are linked to Stanley’s history, which affected his present situation. All this could have been avoided if Elya Yelnats have had more common sense and if he had been more mature.

Coucher - to put to bed - French Verb Conjugations