Object-based storage, cloud gateways best suited for archiving/backup

Service Providers are evaluating Cloud Storage options as they prepare to become the "Storage Utility" to the ever connected consumer.

Here is a great view into this future:

Object-based storage, cloud gateways best suited for archiving/backup

Hosted Exchange 2010 SP2 Info

With new guidance provided by Microsoft, Hosting companies and Service Providers must reassess their options for deploying Hosted Exchange 2010.  Parallels Automation for Messaging and Collaboration provides the solution.

To learn more, check out the following links:

Parallels Automation for Messaging and Collaboration

Exchange Server 2010 SP2 and Support for Hosting Exchange

Released: Migrating Exchange from HMC 4.5 to Exchange Server 2010 SP2 whitepaper

Exchange 2010 Service Pack 2 and Hosting

Released: Exchange Server 2010 SP2

The following links provide additional details:

http://www.parallels.com/products/automation/operations/modules/exchange/

http://www.parallels.com/products/automation/operations/modules/office365/

The following PDFs provide additional details:

http://www.parallels.com/r/pdf/ds/parallels_automation_saas_module.pdf

http://www.parallels.com/r/pdf/wp/automation/Microsoft_Office_365_WP_EN_LTR.pdf

http://www.parallels.com/r/pdf/ds/Parallels_Operations_Automation.pdf

...

Best Practices for Sales Engineering

Throughout my career I have practiced the art of the Sales Engineer from both sides.  As both an SE and as a manager.  From UNIX mini-computer deployments and migrations as an engineer to break-fix operations as a Compaq Authorized Service Center Manger.  From Systems Engineering Consultant, Network Systems Engineer, Infrastructure Services Manger, Product Manger and Principal Systems Engineer to Director of Sales Engineering.

A few key resources that have traveled with me and serve me well include the following:











Working with bright, insightful people at innovative technology companies is an exciting career path!

PS. Another great resource for Sales Engineers and Technical Sales Specialists is the Great Demo blog.  You can check it out here

New Cloud Infrastructure Option for Service Providers

New Cloud Infrastructure Option for Service Providers:

Parallels Automation for Cloud Infrastructure Launches; Provides the Industry’s First Turn-Key Solution to Deliver Cloud Infrastructure Services to Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs)

September 23, 2011
New, scalable Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) module of Parallels Automation is complete with integrated provisioning, billing, and self-service management

Cloud-ready virtualization solution – Parallels Server Bare Metal – is fully integrated into PACI, combining maximum density Cloud Infrastructure using Parallels Virtuozzo Containers with world-class hypervisor technology
- http://www.parallels.com/news/id,29042

Parallels to leverage Scality RING technology in its “Parallels Automation for Cloud Infrastructure” – February 23rd 2011
- Scality and Parallels Automation Announcement

vSphere storage changes bring opportunities for VARs
- vSphere storage changes bring opportunities for VARs


 
The Open Data Center Alliance is an independent IT consortium comprised of leading global organizations from a wide array of industries who have come together to provide a unified vision for long-term data center requirements.
- www.opendatacenteralliance.org

Parallels - Solution Provider Member:
“Parallels looks forward to advancing Open Data Center Alliance Service Catalog Usage Model in the public cloud, contributing our expertise in powering 5,000 Parallels Hosting Partners globally serving more than 10 million SMBs with a wide-range of IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS offerings. Parallels enables cloud service providers to shorten their time to revenue, raise average revenue per user, and lower customer churn. Open standards and interoperability across key cloud data center elements will help all parties optimize to Profit from the Cloud.”

John Zanni, Vice President, Parallels Service Provider Marketing and Alliances- http://www.opendatacenteralliance.org./membership/membervoice

How do I size Exchange 2010?

Great Video Posted over on the Exchange 2010 TechCenter @
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/ff727932.aspx

How do I size Exchange 2010?
- About This VideoExchange 2010 introduces new functionality in server roles, including new high availability features. Join Nicolas Blank as he discusses how to size critical Exchange 2010 server roles using tools and calculators to establish the disks, IOPS, replication bandwidth, CPU cores, and memory requirement for each role.

Exchange Server 2010 SP2 and Support for Hosting Exchange

Okay, this is going to be interesting.  So if a Service Provider has deployed Exchange 2010 SP1 with the "/hosting" switch, do they have to redeploy?

http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2011/08/30/exchange-server-2010-sp2-and-support-for-hosting-exchange.aspx

Deploying Lync Server 2010

Deploying Lync Server 2010 (Part 1)
http://www.msexchange.org/articles_tutorials/exchange-server-2010/management-administration/deploying-lync-server-2010-part1.html

Deploying Lync Server 2010 (Part 2)
http://www.msexchange.org/articles_tutorials/exchange-server-2010/management-administration/deploying-lync-server-2010-part2.html

Planning, Deploying, and Testing an Exchange 2010 Site-Resilient Solution

Planning, Deploying, and Testing an Exchange 2010 Site-Resilient Solution sized for a Medium Organization (Part 1-13)

http://www.msexchange.org/articles_tutorials/exchange-server-2010/management-administration/planning-deploying-testing-exchange-2010-site-resilient-solution-sized-medium-organization-part1.html

So, You Want to Host Exchange? (repost)

A new post by:
Michael van Dijken
Senior Product Management
Exchange Partner Marketing

http://blogs.technet.com/b/hameroff/archive/2011/08/08/so-you-want-to-host-exchange.aspx

One of the questions which I found come up consistently (both in conversations and in my interactive breakout session at WPC titled “So You Want To Host Exchange?” – BP22i) was whether to deploy Exchange 2010 using the “/hosting” mode switch, or to simply use the standard configuration typical of an on-premises deployment. Given that this was such a topic of interest, I thought I’d address it here on the Exchange Partner blog. But first a little background on the subject.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/hameroff/archive/2011/08/08/so-you-want-to-host-exchange.aspx

You might also be wondering how to deploy without using /hosting mode given that our published guidance is for /hosting mode. The best approach to do this today is to use a hosting automation solution, or to engage the services of a System Integrator with depth in the hosting industry (such as Implement.com). Following this approach both speeds your time to market, and offers you the confidence of a product already tested and proven in the marketplace. Check out these hosting automation solutions from the partners we work closely with:

•Parallels Automation Microsoft Exchange Service Module

 
 

"IT" will happen. Prepare for it.

http://www.crn.com/slide-shows/cloud/231000954/the-10-biggest-cloud-outages-of-2011-so-far.htm

SPOLILER ALERT!!!  There will be outages. The cloud is not immune. It turns out, the cloud computing services and architectures are just as prone to downtime as their on-premise counterparts.

GO FIGURE!

Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V: Insiders Guide to Microsoft's Hypervisor

Fully updated for Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V, you will find additional content on new features and capabilities such as Live Migration and support for 64 Logical Processors (LP). 

• Teaches how to manage virtual machines with the latest System Center tools such as Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2, Data Protection Manager 2010, and Operations Manager 2007 R2
• Covers all of the new functionalities of Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V, including Live Migration, 64 LP support, Processor Compatibility Mode, enhanced processor functionality support, hot-add and remove of storage, TCP Offload support, and VM Queue support
• Demonstrates key scenarios for Hyper-V, including server consolidation, testing and development, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery, and Dynamic IT
• Provides step-by-step instructions and examples

This insiders guide will help you get the most out of your hardware and reduce cost with Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V.

Amazon EC2 Cloud Outage (Data Center Failure) Remediation

When it comes to IT you must always be prepared!

Here are excellent posts that provide you direction and insight from lessons learned.

8kmiles Blueprint for Achieving High Availability: http://cloudblog.8kmiles.com/2011/04/29/design-for-failure-architecture-blueprints-for-achieving-high-availability-in-aws

How Netflix plans for Cloud failure: http://techblog.netflix.com/2010/12/5-lessons-weve-learned-using-aws.html

RightScale CTO, Thorsten von Eicken in regards to the Amazon outage:
Lessons Learned: http://blog.rightscale.com/2011/04/25/amazon-ec2-outage-summary-and-lessons-learned
Follow up to Amazon response: http://blog.rightscale.com/2011/05/02/aws-outage-follow-up-if-you-wanted-details-you-got-details

There is also a webinar that RightScale is putting on this week, May 6 at 11 AM Pacific Time:
Architecting for High Availability in the Cloud with Sr. RightScale Architect, Josep Blanquer
Register here: http://pages.rightscale.com/high_availability-050611.html

A "running history" of the Amazon Web Services outage can be followed by one of those hit by the outage:
http://blog.hootsuite.com/notes-on-todays-outage/