Cloud Computing is actually a modern version of an old IT solution. Essentially it is the organising of an IT network into one large, central mainframe into which all the local portals are linked. The ‘cloud’ is the metaphorical name for the central mainframe. It is where all the complex computing is carried out, where the data is stored and where the main processing software applications are run.

Gone are the days of filing cabinets, folders and printed labels. Today almost every business stores at least a portion of its data online.

The decreasing cost of managed online storage means that what used to be obtainable only for the large enterprising organisations is now readily available for SMEs. An emerging technology for the smaller business, managed storage is a positive step for organisations who’ve found their generation of data increasing – as often happens after investment into ecommerce solutions.

The biggest problem with getting stuff for free is that you are likely to be irritating some company wanting to charge for the service. That is exactly the relationship between Linux and Microsoft. Despite being one of the most successful and profitable companies on the planet, it seems that Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer
is losing sleep over all the cash that the evil free software community is diverting from his firm.

Ballmer asserts that Linux developments have infringed nearly 250 Microsoft patents and he hints that to some extent free software developers are standing on the shoulders of Microsoft developers. Microsoft is not the only bear in the room for the Linux community as there are a number of other patent-based issues that Linux faces. However, Linux survives thanks to some innovative options and a delicate balance.

In this white paper we will review the problems and solutions to Linux’s seemingly age-old patent issues.

The past, the present, the future of Linux development is all about the independent hobbyist who dedicates hours and hours of their time to simply experimenting with Linux code out of interest, creative desire or a sense of wanting to achieve a personal goal. Without the Linux hobbyists there would be no open source and frankly no Linux.

While many professional outfits now work on developing Linux code, and therefore make a significant contribution to the Linux community, it is the abiding spirit of the hobbyist that underpins the whole open source ethos.

So what are the vital qualities that the hobbyist offers and why do they remain a crucial part of the Linux community?

Linux users and indeed the users of any networked computer system need to be vigilant with regards to hacking and phishing attacks.

Internet security becomes increasingly important as information of a sensitive nature is more frequently stored online. There are many precautionary tactics to ensure the safety of your internet data.

Here is a compilation of some of the most frequent types of attack you may come across on modern computer systems.

With a myriad of versions of Linux in the public domain, choosers of Linux must undertake a certain amount of research in order to find one that suits their specific purpose.

The attraction of a Linux software platform as a base for offering hosting services is obvious to anyone familiar with Linux. As open source software Linux applications offer the considerable benefits of quality, versatility, choice and always being up to date.

But with so many different Linux platforms to choose between, finding the right application for your needs is a potential minefield that must be successfully negotiated. Having carefully evaluated its own needs, UKFast selected Fedora Core as its Linux platform of choice. But why opt for Fedora?

The challenge of a search engine is to provide the most relevance to its users.
Website response speed helps search engines to assess the site’s relevance because speed is one of the criteria recognised in a successful site.
If a more powerful, faster server is used, the site loads more quickly and is rewarded by being moved higher in a the search engines’s displayed results.

Clustering is when a group of two or more computers (sometimes called nodes) work together as one single system in order to provide high availability of services for users. When a failure occurs on one server in a cluster, resources are redirected and workload is redistributed to another networked server.

Clustering several servers makes both Linux web and database solutions many times more robust. The process is mostly undertaken by organisations that have mission-critical websites/applications and businesses that are very serious about their internet presence.

For many businesses, e-commerce and a strong online presence means they have the potential to grow incredibly quickly. When a business increases in size and client base, so must its server hardware because the more information stored online, the more servers necessary to keep it there.

Additionally, when a website starts to receive a lot of traffic, many companies find that they need to upgrade their server solution from shared to dedicated hosting. This is because of the need for increased bandwidth, processing power and the desire to develop the solution to integrate with databases and other functional software. The more customers that rely on a website to work all day, every day, the more mission critical it becomes.

Similarly, as a business’s content becomes more vibrant and variable, increased dedicated bandwidth proves itself necessary.

It has been reported that 6% of all PCs will suffer an episode of data loss in any given year*. On viewing these statistics it becomes clear that combating data loss should be a high priority for any business in today’s computer-reliant society.

There are several ways to tackle data loss, including disaster recovery plans, using reliable and tested technology and backing up information.

A suitable and effective plan to combat disaster is vital in the day to day continuity of every organisation on Earth. Planning business continuity is planning for the unexpected. If procedures are performed correctly it should minimise the effects of disaster on a business, enabling quick and efficient recovery. In light of the catastrophic events of the last decade, solid business continuity plans remain a prominent topic.

The impact of 9/11 showed businesses exactly how an unexpected incident causes catastrophe as data loss repercussions echoed around the globe for years afterwards. Additionally, natural disasters such as tsunamis, hurricanes or floods (which are arguably becoming more frequent due to the warming of the planet) show how damage to hardware causes severe issue to the daily running of an organisation when so many rely on technology to function effectively.