Cloud News Computing Information Technology

Google Cloud Platform Now Available to Everyone Including Businesses

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:35:17 PDT

It was announced by Google today at I/O that its Google Cloud Platform is now available to everyone.

Currently the service, has around 3 million users but now it can be envisaged that businesses will make use of this new general availability and will certainly be a strong competitor with its services when compared to the popular Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the emerging Microsoft Windows Azure.

The main features on the Google cloud platform announced are:

Sub-hour billing charges for instances in one-minute increments with a 10-minute minimum, as a result developers only pay for compute minutes that they use.
Shared-core instances provide smaller instance shapes for low-intensity workloads.
Advanced Routing features help create gateways and VPN servers and enables developers to build applications that span local network and Google’s cloud.
Large persistent disks support up to 10 terabytes per volume.

Google is using its attractive existing data-center infrastructure in order to attract developers and businesses. Where software app developers can benefit from APIs that allow them to integrate with apps with the usage of data centers for compute and storage development.

Feel free to add your comments to this post, thank you.

BlackBerry Enterprise Messaging Platform New Features for Users

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:00:55 PDT

Today there is a new update on BlackBerry Enterprise IM 3.0, where users of BlackBerry 10 now have new messaging capabilities. The new features include integration with third-party services, such as Microsoft Lync, Office Communication Server and IBM Lotus Sametime.

The way it works is that messaging data is encrypted from send state to read state, it then results that it not only protects BlackBerry enterprise users but also protects users on desktops and third-party platform-enabled smartphones.

It was announced today, by BlackBerry Frank Cotter of which it stated: "To be competitive in today's fast-paced marketplace, you need to enable your workers with tools that let them collaborate in real time." In this interesting development, it means that the enterprise mobility management solution now works across multi-platforms.

Furthermore, BlackBerry has plans to launch BlackBerry Messenger to iPhones, iPads and Android-based devices.

Feel free to add your comments to this post, thank you.

Google Cloud Notification Messaging Service Now Available on Chrome

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:11:35 PDT

Following 2012's announcement at Google I/0 on the availability for cloud push notification messaging service designed for Android. It now follows that this week, this service is now also available to Chrome and Chrome OS.

As a result, software cloud app developers can now create Chrome apps with the capabilities built-in that allows developers to wake up their apps remotely or with a combination of either sending simultaneously notification messages directly to their all cloud app end users from a central server.

The Google chief Mark Scott wrote further details following the announcement in his blog post ”event pages keep apps and extensions efficient by allowing them to respond to a variety of events, such as timers or navigation to a particular site, without having to remain running persistently.”

On the Chrome platform push notification messages can be delivered directly to signed-in users provided the user has the respective cloud app installed.

There are sample apps including in-depth tutorials, for any developers wishing to create software apps this new functionality.

Feel free to add your comments to this post, thank you.

Zoho New Business Card Details Scans Data Directly to CRM

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:31:35 PDT

The cloud based Zoho platform made available to its users a new mobile phone app on iTunes and Google Play that works by scanning business cards on the go, after which the input data is directly published to a user's Zoho CRM which can be either as a new contact or to update an existing contact.

The process as stated by Zoho's Raju Vegesna is done by synchronizing the scanned data to the user's CRM utilizing a background service. Furthermore, if the scanned data contains a Twitter handle, then it automatically assigns on the Zoho CRM contact details its Twitter account. Later the data can be exported from the Zoho CRM, however at present the data cannot be exported directly from the scanner mobile app as it first needs to be added to the Zoho CRM and then subsequently the data exported if required. However, we understand that in following versions this capability will be added to the features of the mobile app business card scanner.

Other existing mobile apps already exists such as Evernote Hello where users can have the service integrated with LinkedIn, email and calendar features. Another example is the CamCard where the scanned data can be exported to Microsoft Excel. However, a mobile app that integrates with a CRM system, this is where this Zoho app offers its unique selling point.

Feel free to add your comments to this post, thank you.

Sony Now Has Available a Cloud Platform Media Cloud Services

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:43:55 PDT

Sony now has available a cloud platform called “Ci”, aimed at production studios, broadcasters, among other creative professionals. The new services Sony Media Cloud Services provides users a shop for finding, producing, and archiving content.

Cloud Applications from the new service include:

Ci MediaBox
Ci VideoLog
Ci AudioSync
Ci FrameMatch
Ci ReviewApprove

Jeff Mayzurk of NBCUniversal stated: "Ci MasterSuite is an innovative approach to delivering professional media applications. Sony's cloud-based, service-oriented architecture makes it easy to integrate these tools into our workflow, and the browser-based user interface will enable our teams to access content and collaborate from anywhere on our network" .

Feel free to add your comments to this post, thank you.

Oracle Acquires Nimbula to Create a Similar Amazon Web Services?

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:03:48 PDT

We understand that Oracle is acquiring Nimbula, this is a cloud OS start-up created by some founding people of the popular cloud service that is Amazon Web Services (AWS).

It appears that this latest development by Oracle is not an attempt to directly participate on OpenStack, rather a talent acquisition and the technology share, nevertheless Nimbula is a member current member of the OpenStack Foundation.

As a result, Oracle will become an OpenStack interested party despite not being a direct member. The growing interest and current members include VMware via Nicira, HP, Dell and IBM.

In an overall strategy it can be envisaged that Oracle has an interest for the Nimbula technology in a context where the Amazon EC2 offers and has an ever increasing market share on cloud computing solutions. It may be that Oracle is positioning itself in a technology market segment where it feels it may be able offer similar and better solutions following on the current success of Amazon's vision and implementation.

Feel free to add your comments to this post, thank you.

Amazon Web Services Price Cuts on Messaging and Notification Services

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:02:36 PST

The Amazon Web Services now has cheaper pricing particularly on the messaging and notification services, relevant to application developers and are being applied from today to users.

The cheaper services are the Amazon Simple Queue Services (SQS) and the Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS) which were first introduced back in 2010. The new prices are summarized below.

SQS API $0.50 per million API requests.
SNS API $0.50 per million API requests.
The SQS and SNS free tiers are to expand to 1 million free API requests per month.

It appears that this new pricing may be a strategy in order to compete with the growing in popularity Microsoft Azure and Google Compute Engine.

Feel free to add your comments to this post, thank you.

Rackspace Cloud Lowers Its Prices to Compete with Amazon

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:00:14 PST

Rackspace announced that has cut its prices by 33 percent for its cloud bandwidth and content delivery network service. The new pricing also applies for installed tiers on the Cloud Files storage. Further details can be read on the Rackspace blog.

The Rackspace basic pricing is set and works from plans of Cloud Files. The prices range from 10 cents per GB per month for the first 1TB, furthermore depending on usage it then falls to 7 cents per GB per month. It is also available specific pricing that include volume discounts reserved on large storage accounts.

In this context, Rackspace is following on the AWS and the lead from Jeff Bezos.

Feel free to add your comments to this post, thank you.

Firebase Launches Public Beta, for Real-Time Cloud App Development

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:55:18 PST

The Cloud Start-up Firebase today announced that has launched its real-time web app development service into public beta, which will interest developers.

The context that Firebase startup appeared was one where chat service Envolve served as a model. As a result, Firebase is able to make real-time infrastructure utilized from within apps, this provides developers and software applications to run at a considerable fast speeds without relying on server availability or even writing server code.

Currently there are 14,000 developers using Firebase, with an infrastructure supporting up to 250,000 users simultaneously. Examples of this fast development users include Klout and Twitch, where they have built additional features and services.

Although Firebase infrastructure is designed for web apps, it also supports mobile development with the partner Trigger.

Feel free to add your comments to this post, thank you.

Cloud Basic: How Does the Cloud Clean Up?

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 07:05:17 PST

Every cloud has a silver lining, but it will be some time yet before the environment sees major benefits from the wifi hotspots offered by the Cloud within the UK. The Cloud still has a way to go before the initial carbon imprint, and other assorted environmental costs of setting up such huge data storage centres, are paid off and subsequent energy saving is realised. Yet the potential for green goodness is enormous. It is possible for the vast majority of IT infrastructure to eventually be brought to the Cloud and the subsequent energy savings which could be achieved are enormous, especially if the banks of servers for small offices are eventually outsourced to the huge data centres stationed in optimum environmental conditions.

The problem is that these data centres still consume tremendous amounts of energy. The forecasted growth of cloud computing also means that user’s technology demands are growing. In effect, the Cloud could simply drive up demand and, if businesses and consumers simply demand more online services, then energy expenditure could ultimately continue to increase, no matter how energy efficient it becomes.

Another issue is the manner in which this energy is accrued. Many data centres rely on so-called “dirty fuels” such as coal and nuclear power which, as you can imagine, upsets most environmentalists.

Can the cloud rain on your parade?
One dark cloud that remains on the horizon is about the possibility of data theft. No data stored online is completely secure. There is always the risk that your data could be stolen, even when accessing the Cloud on your smartphones. It’s a judgement call. Very sensitive information, such as corporate documents or personal intimate information may warrant more than cloud cover. There are a number of ways to measure cloud security.

The host with the most
You can never have a completely accurate forecast of what can happen to your data but you judge how secure is your host. Cloud hosting sites will typically be certified to ensure that they abide by industry security standards. SSAE-16 is one such internationally held third-party assurance audit. If you have valuable data it is worth looking into the certifications it holds.

Encryption
One way in which cloud security is measured is the depth and complexity of it encryption. Encryption is a vital tool against hackers. It is essential weapon against the accidental or stolen transfer of data. Security-sensitive data should be protected at a number of different entry points including when the data is being acquired, when it is transferred, when it is being accessed and when it is being stored. The AdvanceEncryption Standard is regarded as the highest level of encryption and is of a benchmark acceptable enough for US military secrets.

Data replication
As was mentioned earlier cloud data storage facility of storing multiple copies of a given file in different stages of its development. The resultant exponential versions of a sensitive file means that more needs to be protected. This in turn requires a more expansive security. Tread carefully.

Outlook
So in summary the sky is definitely a little overcast with cloud computing but there are sunny spells forecast for the near future.

About the Author

Reese Jones is a tech and gadget lover, a die-hard fan of iOS and console games. She started her writing venture recently and writes about everything from quick tech tips, to mobile-specific news from the likes of O2, to tech-related DIY.

Find more about her and her work at Reese+ and tweet her @r_am_jones.

Feel free to add your comments to this post, thank you.

Windows Azure New Service Update Improves Capabilities and Pricing

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 02:08:22 PST

Microsoft has announced that Windows Azure now has new features, of which it includes new improved mobile services, website scaling and data sync. For a comprehensive new feature capabilities, they are listed and described on the blog of the Vice President Scott Guthrie.

We have selected the most important improved new features that can be noted below:

Improved capability on the Mobile Services where developers can simply schedule background jobs. Furthermore, the Azure mobile services is now also available in Europe.

On the Website Scaling offering, it is now possible to scale websites up to six shared instances and up to 10 reserved instances. It then follows that Azure now has a new custom create workflow where the configuration source control settings are managed.

For the Data Sync offering, the SQL Services also has a new Windows Azure Management Portal. Furthermore, SQL Data Sync is now capable to synchronize data between multiple SQL databases.

Below is a short summary of the main improvements:

Mobile Services (job scheduler support, Europe Region Support, Command Line Support)
Web Sites (scale improvements, integrated source control)
SQL Data Sync (New HTML portal)
ACS Management (New HTML portal)
Media Services (job and task management, blob storage support, reserved compute)
Virtual Network enhancements
Subscription Filtering Support
Windows Azure Store (now available in more countries)

It was recently published by Forrester Research a report where it was noted that Azure is now second in popularity in comparison to Amazon Web Services.

Feel free to add your comments to this post, thank you.

Red Hat Buys ManageIQ For Open Source Integration Software Stack

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 01:29:50 PST

The open-source giant Red Hat has recently purchased the data center management software company ManageIQ. One of main characteristics of ManageIQ is that it can manage virtualization settings and cloud computing development within Data centers that produces integration with public clouds. As a result, infrastructures can be set in such a way that they can be replicated over many servers in a flexible driven demand. Furthermore, ManageIQ has plenty of experience of being a central hub that works with a variety of cloud computing providers such as Amazon Web Services.

One reason for the Red Hat decision is that its own open-source cloud strategy is to integrate with a public cloud services such as Amazon. It then follows that other competitors such as VMware will now be lagging behind, particularly in relation to cloud software stacks capabilities and open source integration.

The hybrid cloud computing integration and development already includes vendors such as Adaptive Computing, BMC, CA Technologies, Cisco, Dell, Egenera, HP, IBM, and Microsoft.

Feel free to add your comments to this post, thank you.

Amazon Elastic Block Store Now Easier To Move Across Regions

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:28:33 PST

The service from Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) is capable to be developed in a way that it can create storage volumes which in turn can be mounted by Amazon EC2 instances. In a context where it is quite flexible and easy to mange and move EC2 instances to other regions within a network, however when it comes EBS instances and moving them, it has always been less flexible. To address this and thus innovate, Amazon has now introduced EBS Snapshot Copy, that consists of a new service capability designed specifically to permit moving of EBS Snapshots from one region to another, with fast and simple settings configurations.

Amazon has provided examples where this new service flexibility could be used, particularly in the case of geographic expansion, migrations to other regions and disaster recovery including data backups. Furthermore, EBS snapshots that can be moved include AWS Marketplace, VM Import/Export, and Storage Gateway.

Amazon is also developing a service to allow Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) to moved quite flexibility between regions.
Feel free to add your comments to this post, thank you.

Platform as a Service from Dell, Project Fast PaaS Innovative Solution

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 13:45:49 PST

A new solution by Dell called Project Fast PaaS built on Cloud Foundry is now included on the new offering Dell Cloud Labs. It also incorporates the solution Project Sputnik, a Linux laptop for developers within the Crowbar framework, based on OpenStack and Hadoop powered offerings.

As a result of this new offering a web discussion appeared, named the Dell world think thank. Furthermore, an interesting blog post was published where it details the offering. Where Dell differs from Amazon Web Services (AWS) is that it offers built solutions as opposed to blank virtual machines.

The PaaS solution the way it works is that is an on-premise private cloud platform, where the whole package solution arrives built for fast implementations on customer's premises. It then follows that developers simply have to fill forms such as the programming language, required memory, specifications for database and relating the application.

Feel free to add your comments to this post, thank you.

Facebook First Steps Into Providing Cloud Computing to Users

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:19:48 PST

Facebook is now venturing into cloud computing storage, a new addition it is providing to its users so that unpublished photos can be saved into its storage provision. This new service is called Photo Sync background uploads, as a result from a users perspective the user experience improves as well as improving the photos upload process responsiveness. Furthermore, photos with more detailed tags including metadata can be uploaded which will benefit users on their marketing campaigns and settings.

The way how it works is described here, in a context where using the facebook mobile app with settings into “Sync” while pressing the button at the bottom of photos, from the photos located in the smartphone. Then the results are that the photos will be syncronised or auto-uploaded after which the user can select the sharing activity and options.

Facebook does have a partnership with Dropbox on the file-sharing options on Groups. Feel free to add your comments to this post, thank you.

Businesses Can Now Move Shared Email Mailboxes to Google Apps

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:30:38 PST

In a context where a large proportion of businesses tend to use shared email mailboxes provided for their employees including public folders, it then follows that the data with databases storage contain valuable proprietary information and knowledge important to businesses.

Subsequently, many cloud-based email services do not provide this service feature for businesses, however in order to address this market gap now a new service from Google designed to allow and provide Google Apps Groups Migration API on the existing Google Apps Provisioning API, where software developers can access this new service to build and create tools to move shared emails from any data source to their internal Google Groups discussion archives.

Setting up this migration process however, for small business is not so easy as it will depend on the dedicated skill based employees, nevertheless Google states “provides a simple and easy way to ‘tag’ the migrated emails into manageable groups that can be easily accessed by users with group membership.” The Migration process development API is limited to 10 queries per second per account and half a million API request per day. The maximum size of a single email, including attachments, is 16MB.

SkyDrive New SDKs for Developers, Cloud Storage as a Platform

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:32:24 PST

It was announced today by Microsoft that its SkyDrive now has a new set of APIs, this follows on the developments last year, where Microsoft’s cloud storage service provided SDKs for virtually every major platform. Nevertheless, this new announcement includes a specific set of new SDKs designed for .NET and Windows Phone 8 development which adds storage service functionality.

SkyDrive As A Platform, is now quite a wide ranging open service as it attempts to compete with Google Drive, Dropbox, SugarSync, among others.

The new SDK from SkyDrive also includes IFTTT, a service functionality that permits customizable connections between web services, current examples include DocuSign and SoundGecko.

Acquia Media Cloud Management OpenWEM and Drupal Commons

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:41:11 PST

Dries Buytaert founded Drupal and Acquia, the news today however is Acquia has announced a new service called Acquia Media Cloud which also includes a new version of Drupal Commons for community based features.

The way Acquia Media Cloud presents itself is by being built in such a way that improves digital marketing features combined with other users capabilities that adds management administration of digital assets including images and videos. It may be comparable to other existing third party services such as Dropbox, SkyDrive and Google Drive nevertheless in this case, Acquia Media Cloud is custom built to interact seamlessly with Drupal management user activities.

Drupal Commons is a free version of Drupal design for businesses looking to build interactive websites such as blogs and user forums. This news comes in a context where it recently acquired Mollom, a spam preventing service for comments. Furthermore if follows on the announcement of Badeville’s gamification, to help website administrators award users with points and badges.

IBM Buys Butterfly Software for Data Center Migrations and Analysis

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:42:32 PST

Today was announced that IBM acquired Butterfly Software, this was a private company that specialises in data analysis and migration with its own software, and the company is based in Maidenhead, England. A great feature of the software solution is that it is capable to migrate to and from datacenter infrastructures. As a result and according to its claims, businesses can gain lower costs, within backup and a recovery safe framework implementation. It then follows that enterprise data can also be analysed and processed safely for future development and business growth infrastructure planning.

This comes as, IBM also acquired last month Kenexa, a company that specialises in helping businesses process large amounts of data for analysis with reduction and streamline of data in mind, furthermore it also allows for businesses to make better informed decisions, thus greater capability for better future projections.

Backbone, Interoute and Unisys Partner to provide IaaS

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:43:35 PST

A new partnership between Backbone, Interoute and Unisys has been formed to provide an IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) by combining virtual data centre with the management suite from Unisys. As a result, businesses and their IT systems are able to deploy virtual computing including storage infrastructure at their enterprise applications quickly, including features or solutions implementations such as private cloud.

Matthew Finnie, from Interoute stated “Support to accelerate the move to cloud computing is what the industry needs right now. Some organisations want to be able to migrate with expert support and guidance, to ensure they receive optimum benefits from the cloud – including increased efficiencies and flexibility. In the past, some companies have been reluctant to move to cloud computing due to basic concerns and lack of knowledge.”

Europe Has No More IPv4 Addresses

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:44:25 PST

It was announced today by the RIPE NCC (Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Centre) that IPv4 addresses are now quite limited. As a result IPv4 addresses are no longer available in Europe, the former USSR including the Middle East.

However this news should not come as a surprise, in a context where many were lacking in availability since February 2011. Furthermore, the APNIC also has no IPv4s since May 2011. AfriNIC, LACNIC, and ARIN still have enough IPv4 addresses for another two more years.

Windows Apps The Next Amazing Thing in Technology Development

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:45:56 PST

Following an appearance from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, at Nokia’s launch of the new Lumia smartphones that incorporate the operating system Windows Phone 8 earlier today in New York, a new vision was claimed which may surprise some people.

Steve Ballmer stated “This is the year for Windows... Windows phone, Windows tablets, Windows PCs. It is the year for Windows. We’ve re-imagined Windows from the ground up…All of the devices are designed to be beautiful and functional...Represents the single-largest opportunity for software developers today.”

This comes in the context, where the new desktop operating system Windows 8 is to be officially launched soon, with features that will attempt to revolutionize software development and allow for a streamline of compatibility cloud solutions across devices and workstations.

Steve Ballmer further stated: “One year from now, between Windows phones, Windows tablets, Windows PCs, we should see we should see close to more than 400 million new devices running those new operating systems,” Ballmer said. “Those devices running Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, I’m quite sure, represent the largest single opportunity for software developers today — 400 million per year is unrivaled. I’ll bet you right now, the next app developer to hit it really, really big will be an app developer on Windows.”

Windows Azure Mobile Services, Cloud Management on the Go

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:47:10 PST

Earlier today it was announced by Microsoft, a new service for its Windows Azure named Windows Azure Mobile Services. It then follows, that developers are now capable to have a cloud management user interface on their mobiles for their projects based on Windows 8 applications.
The new mobile system permits developers to add, read and store data which is stored on an associated SQL database inside Azure. It is also possible to authenticate users and send push notifications.

This new service, will help developers particularly with common essential tasks such as writing code to retrieve data including a visualization of data and analytics, as it will allow developers to have more time to concentrate on their development of applications. In this context, it can be noted that this new service from Microsoft Windows Azure will compete with other specialist service providers such as Parse, Kinvey and Urban Airship.

Azure Mobile Services is on a “Preview” mode, however developers are required to apply and enroll. These new Service is free up to ten, initial Windows 8 applications running on shared instances.

The Future of Cloud Computing Management, Single UI

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:49:39 PST

As the VMworld is this week, it should come as no surprise that VMware will showcase it solutions as the best in the business. However, its solutions may not necessarily be so, particularly when comparing to other multi-platform solutions such as the innovative cross-platform ManageIQ, as it offers quite interesting data integration solutions with a combination of different service providers, furthermore a central simplification of management for cloud infrastructures.

ManageIQ capabilities are quire impressive as it integrates with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and CloudWatch, including the features below:

DIY self-service provisioning, monitoring, charge back capabilities, adaptive automation and policy based orchestration.

Cross platform virtual infrastructure support including VMware, Red Hat and Microsoft.

Support for the underlying physical infrastructure.

In this context, VMware has realised that it is not present on this market segment, so it decided to acquire DynamicOps in order to offer its customers the capability to manage multiple cloud infrastructures under different environments under multiple hypervisors. Thus, the management capability to run apps on VMware, Xen or a KVM virtualized infrastructure. Nevertheless, at present VMware does still not have a complete hybrid cloud management environment solution.

The future of cloud computing may be Open source to really thrive, but in terms of management the future may be on a single User Interface (UI) capable of managing data centres and cloud infrastructure solutions including hybrid combined on a centralized command point. This possible future was mentioned on Tier 3 by Jared Wray.

OpenFlow, Simpler Open Optimal Computer Networks

noreply@blogger.com (Elio Assuncao) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:53:36 PST

An interesting new idea for the operating communications in computer networking has been published. It is called OpenFlow, and it consists of an open standard to provide software-defined networking to work in IP networks.

Following this development and proposal, it can be concluded that software applications will be able to command and manage computer networks by dynamically optimizing traffic and communications within the interactivity of hardware settings. This innovation, permits for the creation of apps, where users and administrators would benefit from an optimization such as traffic flows taking the shortest paths, link utilization, user domains able to reach new levels and hardware devices interact seamlessly.

The main principle for implementing OpenFlow is that in the case of routers, their routing information would be downloaded from a central web server where the properties transmitted would be adjusted on a case by case basis depending on the network hardware. Nevertheless, although the idea appearing to be a good one, there are however factors to take into consideration. It then follows, that hardware manufacturers would need to open up their routers with intelligent services between them and the central web server for the settings optimizations, and in the networking environment the redundancy and security features are also important.

Other main characteristics of OpenFlow system further than traffic optimization it also includes: capability to be used on a single custom infrastructure or organization, optimization by rewriting packets which means that it can behave as a NAT or AFTR, furthermore as it can drop packets it can also behave as a firewall. Load-balancing is also possible thus offering greater flexibility and releasing the central controller from spending time on these tasks.

OpenFlow, if accepted and implemented by vendors and organizations, does offer greater benefits to the traditional computer networking structure communications as it opens the door for the development of software apps, nevertheless only time will tell how this technology will be received. The new specification home is now Open Networking Foundation.