Entic.net: On The Cloud

We've come across a good article on Cloud computing and what to watch out for. Have a look here.

We would like to add to this and ask, if there are problems or you are in need of support, how easy is it to get these Cloud computing providers to help? Do they just provide a email address or do they have a phone number you can talk to?

Do you need to tailor your application to make it work with the Cloud? Doesn't that mean you have to spend more development cycles to use the Cloud? You also can't move from one Cloud provider to another without changing your code.

What about compatibility issues? Say, you use a database cloud that is on mysql 5.0 and then they decide to upgrade to 5.1, how will your application behave? The Cloud is meant for general purposes, not tailored to your specific needs.

Given these concerns in the article and mentioned above, we are still not convinced Cloud computing is the best thing.

Using a Solaris VPS from Entic.net works just as well as those cloud computing products. These are Solaris zones based and hence are semi-managed. We take care of the OS specific patch updates, which are automatically rolled out to your own server because of the loopback file system inside Solaris zones. As for the application file system, that is delegated to you. You can upgrade to mysql 5.1, or not.

If you are seeing a lot of growth and you need a bigger server, it is easy for us to deploy new servers and then do a zone migration to a bigger server. Isn't that what Cloud computing also promise? You also should not throw hardware at problems. Almost all the time, a mysql database can be optimized with better Table schema and better SQL queries.

The Cloud computing is meant to be easy to use, where the technical stuff is hidden from you. You just use the service. You don't know how it all works. Clouds of course have its benefits, otherwise the Cloud wouldn't be a big deal now. Tread with caution.

Solaris VPS (virtual servers) zones from Entic.net are somewhere between a Cloud and a server you run in-house, in your data center. We believe this solution is better then a full blown Cloud. Our Solaris VPS offers flexibility and the full control if you need. Oh, and you can pick up the phone and talk to us. You do not have to wait in line to talk to someone in Tier 1 support from India. We can setup all the technical details.

Try out a virtual server from Entic.net, and if it doesn't suit your needs, give the Cloud a try! Its easier to go from a virtual server to a Cloud than it is to go from a Cloud to a dedicated/virtual server.