 Grid and Utility Computing: Vive la Difference!
Many people see grid computing and utility computing as identical twins. After all, both provide pools of computing resources and offer the flexibility of on-the-fly resource allocation. However, there's a fundamental difference between these two technology architectures, and IT professionals are starting to recognize the value of both.
Grid Storage, Part 2: Inside the Basic Building Blocks
In the first installment of this two-part feature on grid-based storage arrays we looked at the price and performance considerations for moving to this architecture. This month we detail the fundamental components of pooled storage arrays and discuss how to choose the right ones for each implementation.
Grid Storage, Part 1: An Antidote to Spiraling Costs
Storage resources are the second costliest hardware component, next to servers, in most data centers. Fortunately, grid-based storage arrays offer relief to spiraling costs. In Part One of this special two-part feature on low-cost storage arrays in grid environments, we detail the price and performance benefits of moving to pooled storage resources.
Sorting Out Grid Standards
To assure cohesiveness and the interoperability of products from multiple IT vendors, enterprises should choose grid technologies that adhere to open industry standards. But sorting out standards can sometimes seem like one of the most daunting tasks surrounding grid computing. Here's help.
Agility Test: On-the-Fly Resource Allocation
Grid computing provides IT flexibility that enterprises need, thanks in part to the technology's ability to dynamically allocate resources. Here's what agility-minded enterprises should look for to benefit from grid computing.
Locking Down Grids: How to Balance Security and Agility
Grid computing doesn't reduce cybersecurity threats. In fact, grid can open the door to new types of vulnerabilities if enterprises install the technology without taking some necessary new precautions.
Grid and SOA: A Perfect Match?
Hardware resource pooling has delivered documented ROIs of more than 150 percent. Similar resource pooling for applications can provide a foundation for well-orchestrated Web services that run in a cohesive and a flexible service-oriented architecture (SOA).
Commodity PCs
As enterprises ask their IT departments to support core applications and new business initiatives with stable or even declining budgets, the combination of grid software and commodity servers becomes a potent cost-saving combination.
ROI Protection
A handful of stumbling blocks can saddle grids with disappointing computing power and slower-than-anticipated investment returns. Here's how to avoid those problems.
Automating Grid Management: How to Simplify a Complex World
Grid's promise is enough to make a CIO swoon: Scalable and almost limitless computing resources " all obtained while also lowering IT costs overall.
Sensible Transitions: "Grid-ify" Your Enterprise
Dozens of business enterprises are using grid computing to solve real-world business challenges. Here's how any company can find success when moving from a traditional, siloed computing platform to a fully functioning grid.
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