Green IT

What is the Azure Services Platform? Microsoft version of Cloud Computing

The Azure™ Services Platform (Azure) is an internet-scale cloud services platform hosted in Microsoft data centers, which provides an operating system and a set of developer services that can be used individually or together. Azure’s flexible and interoperable platform can be used to build new applications to run from the cloud or enhance existing applications with cloud-based capabilities. Its open architecture gives developers the choice to build web applications, applications running on connected devices, PCs, servers, or hybrid solutions offering the best of online and on-premises.
Azure reduces the need for up-front technology purchases, and it enables developers to quickly and easily create applications running in the cloud by using their existing skills with the Microsoft Visual Studio development environment and the Microsoft .NET Framework. In addition to managed code languages supported by .NET, Azure will support more programming languages and development environments in the near future. Azure simplifies maintaining and operating applications by providing on-demand compute and storage to host, scale, and manage web and connected applications. Infrastructure management is automated with a platform that is designed for high availability and dynamic scaling to match usage needs with the option of a pay-as-you-go pricing model. Azure provides an open, standards-based and interoperable environment with support for multiple internet protocols, including HTTP, REST, SOAP, and XML.
Microsoft also offers cloud applications ready for consumption by customers such as Windows Live™, Microsoft Dynamics™, and other Microsoft Online Services for business such as Microsoft Exchange Online and SharePoint® Online. The Azure Services Platform lets developers provide their own unique customer offerings by offering the foundational components of compute, storage, and building block services to author and compose applications in the cloud.

Reference: http://www.microsoft.com/azure/whatisazu…

Batch Processing and ActiveBatch 7.0 Part 5

ActiveBatch® includes an extensible Built-in Library that allows developers and users a “scriptless solution” for automating workflows to better address the requirements for Process Automation. With ActiveBatch you can create and execute an array of business processes such as Database or ETL, Crystal Reports, and other processes into more tightly integrated workflows as a job step(s) across a diverse group of applications and scripts.

Among the Automated Business Processes included in the Jobs Library are:

* SQL Server Jobs Including DTS Packages and SSIS
* Crystal Reports® Integration
* SQL Blocks for Oracle or SQL Server
* FTP/SFTP Operations  z/OS
* Email Jobs
* Managing Services
* Supporting File Operations like Copy or Zip
* ActiveBatch operations and more

To create an integrated workflow using job steps, select the type, and complete a few fields, directly or using variables, such as the server name, job name, or database name, and other required information. Database and other job types can be integrated into an automated Business Process that can be triggered through ActiveBatch by events, simply date and time or through using the conditional status of a predecessor job.

Simply add a request for ActiveBatch to report progress and your operations group can view the steps as the sequence progresses.

Steps can be grouped using flow controls and be nested as well for improved Business Automation.

Our unique Library allows for reduced errors by eliminating complex scripting, improving service levels and allowing for a reduced cost of operations through centralized and integrated control of diverse jobs and applications.

Check our Job Library details for more specific information or tell us about your requirements for scriptless automation to improve your Business Processes.

Cheaper technology will mean more waste

In the last few years, the used PC and other peripherals market really flourished in the US and many other parts of the world. The idea was to take buy used PCs and other peripherals (mainly from corporate America) and sell it to the developing countries market. This business model provided cheaper computers to many low-income individuals as well as saved the environment by extending the life cycle of these used equipment.

This industry is now threatened by the rapidly dropping princes of new PCs and other peripherals. Its great to see the prices dropping but what will happened to the millions of used PCs and other peripherals that will fill the land? I remember advising few of my clients who wanted to buy used PCs for their businesses to buy new ones since the price difference is not that great between used and new.

I think the environment has many years to suffer.

Do you turn off your computer at night?

As in IT consultant, I am sure you were asked this question many times “Should I turn my computer off at night or when I am not suing it or should I leave it on?”

I think the world is divided on this issue, some tech would tell you to turn if off and other would say, including myself, if you are a heavy computer user, never turn it off.

Turning the computer on and off each time would wear out its components, just like a car, if you turn it off each time you stop at the red light, you would harm the engine and other components.

But now, there is the issue of reducing energy use and green IT, is it better to turn off the computer when is not in use, or is it better to put it on standby mood or sleep mood? What would consume less energy? And if we have hundreds of computers, how much energy we would save verses how much tear and wear these computers would suffer for each start up procedure?

I don’t know the right answer, but I leave my laptop on most of the time, I still believe that power on procedure or start up takes a lot of energy to complete.

Go Green …Save the environment….spot new trends..Part 2

I am not sure how large corporations contributing to “Go Green” movement. I know almost all credit cards and other utilities companies in the US offer electronic statements and billing, but they still use papers in many other areas. Few months back, I had an issue with one of my credit cards companies and in order for them to investigate the matter; they faxed me about 18 pages of paper work to read and then sign. I really thought they could have done a better job communicating via e-mail and phone, 18 pages of paper seemed a lot to me, most of it were instructions.

I am not sure which company or country is number one on the “Go Green” list, but I know there are lots of efforts been taking be American companies to be reduce waste.

Currently I am in India, and as I go around I see so much use of papers everywhere. At one hotel where I was staying, I asked the manager who was busy filling guests information in a very large record keeping book while his assistance was entering the same information in a computerized database, “why do you have to keep some much paper work?” and he said so we can keep a permanent record. I told myself “that why we have electronic databases and database backups.”

The manager in the above example may need to be told that keeping his records in an electronic only format not only a safer and more secure method of securing his data, but it will save him space and money.
In these two articles on “ Go green”, I was trying to talk about very simple steps that anyone can take to help in reducing waste, I didn’t want to get into complex environmental issues related to the climate change etc. Just simple tips that the average person can use.

Go Green …Save the environment….spot new trends

I am not an environmentalist, but to live in clean and safe environment and to preserve our national resources it concerns me too. Everyday while driving on the streets of the country where I happen to be, I look around and just wonder how careless people can be about their environment. Of course I can not tell everyone I see on the street to be clean and to preserve the national resources, but as a manager, I can talk to my employees about the importance of preserving our resources and create work place policy where resource are used in the most efficient way.

As a manager in today’s work place, one of the first things I notice whenever I walk into a new office is how their resources are being used. Reducing costs while keeping quality is sometimes a delicate balance to maintain, but with little practice, you can maintain both.

Few tips you can use almost immediately:
1- Reduce the use of paper cups, ask each employee to bring her/his own drinking cup.
2- Most new printers come with a tool to help you lower ink consumption, check your printer’s manual.
3- If you work in an office with many computer systems, set the power saving mood on on those computers.
4- Encourage all your employees and clients to use e-mails instead of fax and letters, unless is absolutely necessary.
5- Where applicable, setup offices where there is enough sun light coming through the windows, so you don’t have to turn on the lights during day time.
6- Get into the habit of using ceiling fans or even small desk fans and reduce the use of air conditioning.
7- For taking notes, use your computer note pad program instead of paper note pad.

These are few tips you can use with little efforts. Adapting new ways to keep your work place environment friendly is not only helping all of us save resources, but it will also be the skills future managers must possess.