There's a lot of buzz lately about cloud computing. While it sounds like a new and improved way of forecasting the weather, the people at The Weather Channel have nothing to worry about.
Cloud computing is basically anything which involves delivering hosted services over the Internet, such as IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service), PaaS (not Easter eggs, but Platform-as-a-Service) and SaaS) Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Computer people like cute and catchy names, and this one comes from the cloud symbol that represents the Internet in various flow charts and diagrams.
So what does this really mean? The whole point of the Internet is to deliver services efficiently. If it's a public cloud, it sells to anyone and everyone. Amazon.com is a public cloud. There are private clouds which are proprietary, such as a hospital portal that allows access only to doctors who are affiliated with that hospital. What's really key about cloud computing are the forces that are driving it.
Microsoft is seriously looking at a new way for large corporations to buy MS Office under a new license called "Union." It would charge companies the same amount for software whether it is hosted on-site or in the cloud. SD Times reported that this new license would address various degrees of software usage. Regular and heavy users may require an on-premise server version. Light users may be able to use a version that is hosted by Microsoft. The "Union" bundle might combine Office 2010 (which is currently in the beta stage) with office web applications and store it from Sharepoint Online. It sounds, well, nebulous, but it's all about the money. Microsoft is hoping to maximize revenue without driving customers to seek inexpensive or free solutions.
More small and mid-size banks are paying considerable attention to cloud computing because it may be cost-efficient for regulation, compliance and security. Accessibility is also a driving force. Yet a survey by the think-tank, The Financial Services Club, reported that 37.9% of retail banking firms are not even considering cloud computing, in part because they are unsure of what it is. A survey by Wall Street & Technology found that that 12 percent of executives in the capital markets are dismissing cloud computing as a marketing gimmick.
The bottom line is that until there is more evidence for effective cost-cutting and until more large companies use it, cloud computing is remain a niche for people in IT. A word to the wise: Learn!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Two, Four, Six ... Eight?
Most consumers are happy with duo-core processors. Bump up a computer to dual-quad and they're even more thrilled with the performance. But the news that Intel will soon launch six-core processors has people like me higher than a kite. The "Westmere," which sounds like a luxury real estate development, is expected to be out by the end of the month. Advanced Micro Devices is trailing slightly behind with its Phenom II X6. The Westmere is not the first six-core chip from Intel, but the Core i7-980X is targeted for dual-socket platforms and more advanced than the six-core Extreme Edition chips, which is based on 32-nanometer process technology. Hyper-threading will, for all practical purposes, double the number of threads executed per core. Pricing? Just over a thou and you need 12MB of memory on your computer. Some industry experts think it's overkill for most people. But then, didn't Bill Gates once say that no one will ever need more than 640MB of hard drive? Westmere, Eastmere. Phenom. Extreme. Whatever the name, they'll set new standards.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
How Fast Do You Need It?
Fast wireless is usually talked about in conjunction with sending photos, videos and music from cell phones. But what about wireless networks in hospital IT infrastructure?
Across the country, hospitals -- despite financial scares -- have been piloting or deploying wireless VoIP handsets, PDAs, phones and even badges to improve communication. The problem is that the more wireless devices, the more chances of dropped calls and choppy sound, something that iPhone users have been experiencing because of its popularity.
The newest standard in wireless is the 802.11n. Its proponents claim it has real world throughput that's about seven times faster (at 160 Mbps) than the older 802.11g networks, and even at 300 feet and 70 Mbps, it's 70 times faster.
The reason for this fast speed is multiple input/multiple output (MIMO), which requires multiple antennas to send and receive data in simultaneous radio streams.
This is all in theory. In reality, the 802.11 network sometimes operates at just 130Mbps or below. In order for the network to run at full force, you need Wireless N routers and network adapters linked and running in a channel bonding mode, which uses two adjacent WiFi channels simultaneously.
Nothing is perfect. With channel bonding, there is a risk of interference with nearby WiFi networks. By running in traditional single channel mode, the risk is kept low. The network needs to include only 802.11n users, not b or g, or the entire network's performance may suffer, depending on the router. The bottom line is that technology is always changing. The issue is where to prioritize.
Across the country, hospitals -- despite financial scares -- have been piloting or deploying wireless VoIP handsets, PDAs, phones and even badges to improve communication. The problem is that the more wireless devices, the more chances of dropped calls and choppy sound, something that iPhone users have been experiencing because of its popularity.
The newest standard in wireless is the 802.11n. Its proponents claim it has real world throughput that's about seven times faster (at 160 Mbps) than the older 802.11g networks, and even at 300 feet and 70 Mbps, it's 70 times faster.
The reason for this fast speed is multiple input/multiple output (MIMO), which requires multiple antennas to send and receive data in simultaneous radio streams.
This is all in theory. In reality, the 802.11 network sometimes operates at just 130Mbps or below. In order for the network to run at full force, you need Wireless N routers and network adapters linked and running in a channel bonding mode, which uses two adjacent WiFi channels simultaneously.
Nothing is perfect. With channel bonding, there is a risk of interference with nearby WiFi networks. By running in traditional single channel mode, the risk is kept low. The network needs to include only 802.11n users, not b or g, or the entire network's performance may suffer, depending on the router. The bottom line is that technology is always changing. The issue is where to prioritize.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Faster, smaller, better
Can't wait to get the feedback on the new Atom N470 processor that Intel will release this week. It's supposed to bump up the performance on netbooks slightly to 1.83GHz. Every nanosecond counts today.
The real question is why is it next to impossible to find a netbook with more than 1G of memory? When they first came out, it was easier to find 2G. Windows needs 1G to run. For some, the netbook could be more than just a box with e-mail and Internet capabiilty. My wife used to work in the investment business when Psion (remember them?) had spreadsheet capability. A netbook with enough power to run MS office is perfect for business travelers who need spreadsheets, Word and PowerPoint because it gives them almost everything they need yet is lighter than most laptops. At least the Atom N470 processor is more power efficient and will allow improved system and graphics performance.
The real question is why is it next to impossible to find a netbook with more than 1G of memory? When they first came out, it was easier to find 2G. Windows needs 1G to run. For some, the netbook could be more than just a box with e-mail and Internet capabiilty. My wife used to work in the investment business when Psion (remember them?) had spreadsheet capability. A netbook with enough power to run MS office is perfect for business travelers who need spreadsheets, Word and PowerPoint because it gives them almost everything they need yet is lighter than most laptops. At least the Atom N470 processor is more power efficient and will allow improved system and graphics performance.
Friday, February 26, 2010
The Future of UNIX Servers Announced
I am not a super duper UNIX admin, but I do have expertise in the entire spectrum of network administration tasks in the UNIX, LINIX and Solaris environments. When I read that IBM will introduce the next generation of Power Systems, I got excited. This is to be the first family of systems and storage that offer virtualization capabilities all the way through to the operating system and middleware. This is supposed to be groundbreaking to support complex workloads with technology that's flexible as business needs evolve.
If anyone knows more about this, please contact me at kenjcohen@gmail.com. I always like to keep abreast of new technology.
If anyone knows more about this, please contact me at kenjcohen@gmail.com. I always like to keep abreast of new technology.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Oops! Someone Forgot About Security!
It's mind boggling that after years of hearing and reading about identity theft, it's all too easy to let it happen. I have several friends and many, many acquaintances who are in transition -- that is, unemployed and looking for work. Most of them are in IT. Gone are the days when you sent a cover letter and resume by snail mail. Today you go online. Sites such as www.dice.com send you daily job leads. Some of those direct you to recruiters; others direct you to the web sites of large organizations such as Citibank. Recruiters are efficient because they just want the resume so they can forward it to hiring managers. Corporations and other large organizations such as hospitals have long, complicated online forms which require you to reinvent the wheel each time.
That's bad enough, but I was surprised to learn that some of these web sites require the job applicant to put his entire Social Security number and date of birth. Unless someone works in network security in that organization, there is no way to gauge its vulnerability to intrusion.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, The Great Pretenders, all you need to steal someone's identity is the name, Social Security number, date of birth and current address. All of the above are on those online job applications, which go to Human Resources. If the organization is also a health care provider and the security is outdated and/or weak, there is more opportunity for identity theft from hacking into medical records. Oops! Someone forgot about security or the powers that be did not want to spend the money on upgrades.
Part of the problem is that these online applications were written and authorized by individuals who were trying to make things easy for themselves. It's understandable, but they really need to talk the network security people in IT. There are ways to prevent identity theft, but once it happens, it's a nightmare for the victim. A quick fix by the company is all that's needed: remove the part that requires the Social Security number. It's that simple.
That's bad enough, but I was surprised to learn that some of these web sites require the job applicant to put his entire Social Security number and date of birth. Unless someone works in network security in that organization, there is no way to gauge its vulnerability to intrusion.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, The Great Pretenders, all you need to steal someone's identity is the name, Social Security number, date of birth and current address. All of the above are on those online job applications, which go to Human Resources. If the organization is also a health care provider and the security is outdated and/or weak, there is more opportunity for identity theft from hacking into medical records. Oops! Someone forgot about security or the powers that be did not want to spend the money on upgrades.
Part of the problem is that these online applications were written and authorized by individuals who were trying to make things easy for themselves. It's understandable, but they really need to talk the network security people in IT. There are ways to prevent identity theft, but once it happens, it's a nightmare for the victim. A quick fix by the company is all that's needed: remove the part that requires the Social Security number. It's that simple.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Where Are We With EMR's?
One of the goals of the Obama adminstration is to put all medical records in a digital format. It's a noble goal, but one that has a long way to go.
For starters, many doctors are reluctant to spend upwards of $10,000 to go from paper to digital. They have huge overheads (malpractice insurance premiums, facility rental costs, equipment costs, disposal costs and labor -- nurses, receptionists, secretaries and billing clerks). The last thing they want to do is add to that, especially since they are unclear about the advantages. And the dirty little secret is that many doctors are not that computer-literate.
The other problem is that there is no standard yet for medical records. The point of electronic medical records (EMR's) is to become more efficient. A specialist should be able to e-mail a patient's records to the GP. A doctor should have access to the patient's records, even if the patient had been admitted to an out-of-state hospital, say, with a heart attack. If the patient were at a VA hospital, that's doable, from Maine to Hawaii. If the patient was taken to a regular hospital, good luck.
My son's pediatrician not only relies on EMRs, but encourages patients to take advantage of access. There's an annual tech fee of $25.00, but it's worth every penny. If we visit relatives in Florida and we need to double check on the dosage of Children's Tylenol that he recommends, we can access it from any computer or smart phone with a good browser.
If we are to make visible progress with EMR's, we need a consortium of government, insurance and tech firms to come up with standards for software that is both user-friendly and flexible. Standards change. Twenty-some odd years ago, Lotus ruled the world of spreadsheets. It interfaced with Quicken and other software. Excel was able to capture the market not just because it is easier to use, but because people could easily convert. That's the direction we need to take with EMR's.
For starters, many doctors are reluctant to spend upwards of $10,000 to go from paper to digital. They have huge overheads (malpractice insurance premiums, facility rental costs, equipment costs, disposal costs and labor -- nurses, receptionists, secretaries and billing clerks). The last thing they want to do is add to that, especially since they are unclear about the advantages. And the dirty little secret is that many doctors are not that computer-literate.
The other problem is that there is no standard yet for medical records. The point of electronic medical records (EMR's) is to become more efficient. A specialist should be able to e-mail a patient's records to the GP. A doctor should have access to the patient's records, even if the patient had been admitted to an out-of-state hospital, say, with a heart attack. If the patient were at a VA hospital, that's doable, from Maine to Hawaii. If the patient was taken to a regular hospital, good luck.
My son's pediatrician not only relies on EMRs, but encourages patients to take advantage of access. There's an annual tech fee of $25.00, but it's worth every penny. If we visit relatives in Florida and we need to double check on the dosage of Children's Tylenol that he recommends, we can access it from any computer or smart phone with a good browser.
If we are to make visible progress with EMR's, we need a consortium of government, insurance and tech firms to come up with standards for software that is both user-friendly and flexible. Standards change. Twenty-some odd years ago, Lotus ruled the world of spreadsheets. It interfaced with Quicken and other software. Excel was able to capture the market not just because it is easier to use, but because people could easily convert. That's the direction we need to take with EMR's.
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