Satya Nadella to the World: Cloud is Microsoft's Core

[Strazdas]

Cloud might be more reliable, but Cloud services are only as useful as the most restrictive Internet service, and there are many countries with restrictive Internet services.

I agree that sadly there still are locations where such service may not be possible due to availability of internet. However for most of those locations file storage isnt a primary problem.

honestly I just wish science would get off its butt and create the commercially available Data Crystal already, or some form of storage that A: could hold TONS of data in a relatively small and portable size, and B: solved the problem of data vulnerability/degradation. even magnetic tape or disks are at risk to magnets or wear and tear.

yeah, it would be nice if we could magically invent anything we want

Well, quantum computer now manages to count 2+2 correctly 50% of the time.

 

[Slegiar Dryke]

yeah, it would be nice if we could magically invent anything we want

Well, quantum computer now manages to count 2+2 correctly 50% of the time.

*shrugs* hey, I didn't say it'd be easy XD heck, so called "holographic" storage is a thing but it still costs thousands......nothing magic about it, just R&D

 

[Strazdas]

yeah, it would be nice if we could magically invent anything we want

Well, quantum computer now manages to count 2+2 correctly 50% of the time.

*shrugs* hey, I didn't say it'd be easy XD heck, so called "holographic" storage is a thing but it still costs thousands......nothing magic about it, just R&D

Any significantly advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

 

[Slegiar Dryke]

Any significantly advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Oh! right, guess I did forget that phrase ^^;;

 

[ForumSafari]

Well noted. See Cloud COmputing is nothing more than a retread of the mainframe of the 60's..

I don't know about that. A properly executed cloud infrastructure has numerous advantages over a mainframe and over baremetal or single-site virtualised servers.

Mr. Nadella, I need to inform you of a very...very-very...important fact about technology, and it is this:

A cloud system isn't a core ANYTHING. It extends from other hardware that IS core, but it in of itself is not the central medium. You don't build on cloud, but cloud upon other things, and THAT is where your core lies. Your core is PCs. Please try not to confuse these two things.

I'd not agree with that at all. If you're running a cloud like Openstack with entirely disposable hardware auto-provisioned with something like MaaS then Cloud is your core product. The servers and the storage is a commodity that is used and thrown away, your infrastructure survives total replacement and you offer access to that machinery as a core product, with other products that sit atop it to add value.

 

[FalloutJack]

I'd not agree with that at all. If you're running a cloud like Openstack with entirely disposable hardware auto-provisioned with something like MaaS then Cloud is your core product. The servers and the storage is a commodity that is used and thrown away, your infrastructure survives total replacement and you offer access to that machinery as a core product, with other products that sit atop it to add value.

A bad foundation does not a good cloud make. If that's what it takes to make it 'core', then the core is rotten and useless from bad support.

 

[ForumSafari]

A bad foundation does not a good cloud make. If that's what it takes to make it 'core', then the core is rotten and useless from bad support.

I don't understand what your objection to a well deployed cloud is. Hardware abstracted high availability computing with easily replaced metal is the holy grail of sysadmins. Openstack is an incredibly well made product that basically renders servers down to commodity items, the same as other platforms that compete with it.

To put it in perspective Azure is one of the best cloud deployment environments around, hands down. Nadella is correct that Azure is a core Microsoft product, along side Windows, Office, Windows Server and their various enterprise software offerings like SCCM and WSUS. Not only is it leveraged as a core business product but it provides the foundation for other core products like XBOX Live and Office 365.