BoneTruck

Traditional Data Backup and Clouds, They Don't Mix

2010-12-21T23:01:18Z

People are enamored with "cloud computing" these days. It's featured in TV commercials, vendor certifications, magazine articles, and industry analyst research. These hawkers commonly pitch "the cloud" as a magic solution for all your IT woes. However, let's examine why the cloud is not a replacement for traditional data backup.]]>

Image via Wikipedia

Tape is the foundation of traditional data backup systems. Current tape technology has amazing capacity at reasonable cost. For example, the LTO 5 tape has 1.5 TB of native capacity, up to 3 TB with compression, and costs less than $100 USD. So, why is the cloud not a magic replacement for tape? In a word, bandwidth. I liken the problem to pushing an elephant through a straw.

For example, assume our daily backup, or elephant, is 5 TB in size. How much bandwidth is necessary to push that backup into the cloud? How large must the straw be to fit the elephant? Here are some estimates to complete the data transfer within given time constraints.

Size	Hours	Bandwidth	Similar Number of T1's
5 TB	24	509 Mbps	315
5 TB	10	1,222 Mbps	755
5 TB	5	2,444 Mbps	1510

Coincidentally, moving 5 TB in 5 hours requires bandwidth roughly equivalent to an OC-48. Have you checked on the price of an OC-48 recently? I suggest you swallow your coffee and sit down before you look. It's far more costly than a brand new van and enough LTO 5 tapes to fill it. Keep in mind, we only need two or three tapes for our example.

Contrasting the cost of tape against the cost of equivalent bandwidth highlights why traditional data backup is not a candidate for the cloud. Organizations must fundamentally change the way they do backups to effectively leverage the cloud. Until then, replacing tape with the cloud is a pipe dream.

Quick Start to Web App Development with the Snap Framework and OpenBSD

2010-10-06T22:50:34Z

The Haskell based Snap Framework is now available via the OpenBSD ports tree. If you enjoy writing your programs in Haskell, you now have a quick and convenient way to establish a base for web application development. Follow these three simple steps to begin writing web applications and web services in Haskell.

]]> Snap Framework package from your favorite mirror:

#> sudo pkg_add -vi hs-snap-server hs-heist hs-xhtml-combinators

The first package, hs-snap-server, installs the server libraries for the Snap Framework and all the necessary dependencies. The hs-heist and hs-xhtml-combinators packages are required for the skeleton web application that Snap will create for you. Heist is a xhtml templating library.

Second, use the snap command to create a starter web application:

#> snap init my-web-application

Third, compile the start web application from the "src" directory:

#> ghc -make Main

Now execute Main and point your web browser at port 8000. You should be greeted with the response "hello world". Give it a try. I would like to know how it works for you.

Three Steps to a Free Laptop Backup

2010-10-02T11:31:38Z

I use Dropbox to maintain a near real-time backup of my important data. You can too. Here's how to get started.
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Download and install the Dropbox client. It's a very small file that installs quickly.

Put files in your Dropbox folder. What could be easier?

The software client constantly monitors your "My Dropbox" folder for changes and copies them automatically to the "cloud". You can retrieve your data even if you lose your laptop, save over an important file, or your hard drive crashes.

Some other nice features of Dropbox include:

Retrieve your data from the web site using any computer.
Share files via the "public" folder instead of email or FTP.
Recover a previous version of a file to undo a mistake.

Watch this video to learn even more about Dropbox.

I recommend you try Dropbox. It's simple, quick, and just might save your bacon. Give it a try and then let me know how you like it.

Rotten Apples Cause Implosion

2010-09-27T16:39:15Z

The Fast Company article "Are You Working With Energizers or Rotten Apples" shares an excerpt from the book "GOOD BOSS, BAD BOSS: How to Be the Best ... and Learn from the Worst" by Robert I. Sutton. I found the article so compelling that I had to tweet about it and share it here too.
]]> I found this article compelling because it precisely aligns with my personal experience, and more importantly, my mantra for leadership. I have been the good boss and the bad boss. I've also worked for the good boss and the bad boss. I've experienced what each kind of boss did to my productivity and engagement. I've seen the effects of my leadership on my team's productivity and engagement. Dare I say, I have a bit of wisdom on this subject now.

Consequently, I think the article is spot on with the assertion that one bad apple on a team can impose a performance disadvantage of 30 to 40 percent compared to a team without a bad apple. But what about leaders? I have seen bad apples moved up the reporting hierarchy with disastrous results. In my opinion, the performance disadvantage multiplies with each promotion bad apples receive.

Fortunately for me, I learn from my mistakes and the mistakes I see others make. Currently I lead three exemplary teams. Together we have achieved many extraordinary results by combining technology trends and business trends with our human capital. I believe that these successes imply I'm doing something right for my teams and therefore I am in the good boss category.

Since reading the excerpt I've decided to add this book to my "must read" list. I realize one book will not make or break me as a good boss. However, everyone needs to spend time sharpening their saw.

The Forgotten Power of the Command Line

2010-04-20T16:27:27Z

Image via Wikipedia

I recently found myself having to change a files extension from '.txt' to '.cfg'. The program I was using expected a configuration file with a very specific name including the extension. No problem I thought as I launched the Windows Vista file manager and proceeded to right click and select rename. I appended '.cfg' and hit enter. But now I found myself now looking at a file named 'autoexec.cfg.txt' which my program still disliked. I proceeded to spend time looking through menus, both right click and otherwise, without success. Windows Vista was determined to keep the files original extension in spite of my best efforts. Searching Google revealed many sites that offered to walk me through the steps to unlock hidden fields, change folder presentation settings, and some that even offered me programs I could download for this renaming task. Are you kidding me? Download a program to rename a file?

Enter the command line. What would have been a multiple step clickfest was boiled down to one command:

rename autoexec.cfg.txt autoexec.cfg

I think graphical interfaces and mouse input often make tasks harder than they need be. Sorry mouse, in this case the command line was clearly better.

Email Efficiency Requires Great Composition

2010-03-29T17:05:05Z

I have championed email efficiency for years and previously wrote Email Productivity in Three Easy Steps on this subject. Improving your business communication skills, including how you compose email, adds depth to your efficiency and effectiveness on the job.

David Silverman presents a concise, 10 point checklist in How to Revise an Email So People Will Read It. I strongly urge you to read his article and improve the email you write. In particular, I appreciated his focus on communicating facts and pruning everything else.

What other techniques do you use for improving your writing?

Please Don't Send Me Your Money

2010-02-10T14:29:40Z

I learned this morning that someone is using my name and address as the basis for their phone scam to get your money. Please do not send them your money! I'm working diligently with law enforcement to get this stopped.

My Resume as a Word Cloud

2009-12-07T17:15:02Z

I like infographics. Perhaps it's the statistician in me. So just for fun, I processed my resume into a word cloud. Here is the resulting image.

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While interesting, I wonder how it would change if I reduced the word list using stemming and consistent case. I'll leave that for another day.

Visit www.Wordle.net if you're interested in trying this yourself. Let me know how it works for you.

He Who Trades Liberty for Security

2009-12-04T15:52:32Z

I was conflicted during my recent trip to Washington DC. I hadn't been there in years and was immediately struck by the changes. Most notably, the concrete. Concrete everywhere! I'm not referring to the ground, I'm referring to the barricades that cordoned off every building, monument, and memorial. Great rings of concrete...

]]> Thomas Jefferson stated "He who trades liberty for security deserves neither and will lose both." I wonder what his reaction would have been to the concrete surrounding the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

Am I the only person seeing the irony here?

Leadership Means Working for Your Team

2009-10-13T17:33:16Z

I recently finished reading the book "Joker One" by Donovan Campbell. It is a gripping account of a Marine platoon's 2004 tour in the Iraq city of Ramadi. Regardless how you feel about the war there, I think you should read this book for perspective on the traits of good leadership. Here are three aspects of leadership the book reinforced for me.
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Cover via Amazon

First of all, own it! Whether you have asked for your leadership position or merely accepted it, you are responsible for it. No matter how the responsibility came to you, you must own it with determination and passion. Anything less sets you and your team on a path to mediocrity or worse.

Second, leadership is not about what you can do but what your team can do. Organizational charts are always shown upside down in my opinion. The irony of leadership is that you work for your team more than they work for you. Get that in your head if you want to be a successful leader.

Lastly, surround yourself with the best people and then challenge, support and empower them. Encourage their ideas, input and feedback. Explicitly tell them that you trust their judgment when you honestly feel it. I can't overstate the value of a tightly cohesive, well functioning team that collaborates on decisions and direction.

I'm fortunate that my leadership position doesn't require making life and death decisions. My office job and its decisions are mundane compared to those made by Mr. Campbell in Ramadi. But as mundane as my decisions may be, I own them.

OpenSSH Retires Deprecated Protocol

2009-10-08T16:22:46Z

Markus@ (OpenBSD developer) has just committed source code changes which disable version 1 of the OpenSSH application protocol. Old clients and servers that rely on protocol version 1 will no longer communicate with future versions of OpenSSH.

]]> For over eight years OpenSSH clients and servers have defaulted to protocol version 2 and negotiated down to 1 when necessary. OpenSSH version 5.3 released on October 1, 2009 includes this behavior. However that negotiation is gone in subsequent versions making protocol version 2 mandatory.

Prepackaged versions of OpenSSH supplied by vendors or embedded in routers, switches, and consoles may be affected if the vendor has not updated in recent years. Now may be a prudent time to check for updates.

Here are links to the relevant file diffs for those interested in the gory details of this change.

readconf.c
servconf.c
sshd_config
ssh_config.5
sshd_config.5

100,000 Paper Airplanes and More

2009-09-28T02:47:12Z

I took my family into Grand Rapids today to have a peek at the ArtPrize work on display. We were thoroughly swept up by the quality and expansiveness of the event. Fortunately it runs through October 10th so we have time to see more of it.

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I found this Mobius band really interesting. While I've made them with a strip of paper, I've never considered using steel and expanding on it like this photo shows.

Other displays were equally fascinating and some defied explanation. My son couldn't resist touching the metal face in this next photo.

I highly recommend you make time to visit this event before it's over. Even though the paper airplanes have flown, there is still so much to see.

13 Habits of Incompetent Managers

2009-08-21T16:21:11Z

Incompetent managers are very damaging to an organization. Fast Company has a great article posted that helps you identify these managers based on their habits. I wholeheartedly agree with all ten points raised in the article and want to add these three additional points. ]]> Regurgitates Trade Rags: Incompetent managers use the latest buzz words and trade rag babble in an effort to sound authoritative and connected. The effect is quite the opposite. Knowledge workers instantly catch on to inappropriate use of buzz words as clearly as music played backwards. Over time this undermines confidence in the manager and ultimately turns staff against them.

Inability to Lead: Managers are leaders not placeholders. Leading requires establishing and communicating a plan as I previously wrote in "The Plans Every Manager Needs". The importance of communicating a plan is directly proportional to a managers position in the chain of command. Your organization is in serious trouble if you have managers with no ability or desire to manage!

Equivication: The ability to speak at length without substance or taking a stand on anything is the hallmark of incompetence perfected. These managers have mastered securing themselves behind obscurity, noise, and misdirection. They spend time and energy to stay uncommitted avoiding anything and everything that might require explanation or justification.

I feel it's important to note that all of these failings can be corrected with coaching by good management. Don't hesitate! Get after these opportunities and your organization will benefit.

Do these points resonate with you? How have you dealt with incompetent management? Let me know by posting a comment.

Time Flies When You're Porting

2009-07-29T13:15:43Z

I was invited to become a full fledged OpenBSD developer in May of this year. The emailed invitation surprised me not long after I reminisced about my tenth year as a casual contributor.]]>

Image by Samuel K via Flickr

Since accepting the invitation, I've gained new insight into the OpenBSD project and the people behind it. I can't overstate how diligently the developers work to make a great product where everything is "just right" and "just works". My respect for the team and development process has increased after witnessing internal discussions where rigorous debate is not only accepted, but expected.

My work is focused on third party software ported to OpenBSD and collectively referred to as the ports tree. Aside from the handful of ports I maintain, I also enjoy tackling Perl modules with significant dependency chains. I use Mercurial patch queues to manage my changes until they are committed to OpenBSD CVS server.

I have felt compelled to put more effort into the project now that I have more skin in the game. It's a treat to be surrounded by other volunteers who feel likewise. The OpenBSD developers are demanding, exacting, and intensely knowledgeable. It's refreshing to work with them and fun to be challenged again.

OpenID Authentication Supported Here

2009-05-25T15:42:20Z

I recently enabled OpenID authentication to simplify posting comments on my blog. Prior to enabling OpenID, you would have to sign up for an account and subject yourself to email verification before you could post a comment. That process was not user friendly and likely discouraged commenting.

]]> Movable Type, the blog software used here, has OpenID support built into the core product. I simply checked the box on the blog administration screen to enable it as documented here. The folks at Movable Type have composed a nice summary on OpenID available here.

Visit www.myOpenID.com to setup your OpenID account and then post a comment here to let me know how you like it.