Thorsten von Eicken's RightScale Blog

The cloud is coming of age. Amazon took another huge leap forward when it announced that EC2 is now out of beta, together with an SLA that is evidence of Amazon’s commitment to provide top-notch service. Their uptime has been stellar, and they are now standing behind their offering contractually in a much stronger way, and signaling how customers can set their expectations.

Read about the announcement on the AWS blog and on their CTO’s blog.

The advent of Windows on EC2 is welcome news too. Even though Windows is not typically the OS used for serving highly variable workloads, it is a sign of the cloud maturing that even the more static workloads typical of Windows deployments will be more easily allocated and managed using cloud resources. (Mhh, I wonder whether the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference happening next week has something to do with the timing of the announcement…)

RightScale is of course supporting the new features that enable launching and bundling Windows instances, and we’ll have everything on our production systems within a couple of days. (Update: our Windows support went live the same day as Amazon’s announcement and we’ll be adding some more functionality soon; feedback and suggestions are always appreciated!) In case you’re wondering, EC2 is supporting Windows Server 2003 R2 for the time being. Windows Server 2008 is apparently on the roadmap but not available at present and it’s apparently against the T&C’s to upgrade on your own.

But let’s shift over to the differences between Windows and Linux instances (apart from the obvious).

Launching

Launching a Windows instance really is no different from launching a Linux instance: you just pick a different machine image (AMI). But once it’s running, the game changes: SSH is not exactly the most popular remote access tool for Windows, so instead you get to use RDP, Windows’ Remote Desktop Protocol. But there’s a catch: what’s the administrator password? Well, Amazon has concocted something I can’t really describe with any other word but a hack: at boot time, the ec2-configuration-service that Amazon added to the Windows AMIs generates an admin password randomly, encrypts it with your SSH private key, and writes it to the console output. You then use a command line tool (or ElasticFox) that reads the console output, locates the encrypted password, and uses your SSH public key to decrypt it. Then you get to type the password into the RDP client. [Expletive deleted...]

We’ll have an RDP button in the RightScale UI that will automate all this and get you into your server with far fewer hassles. Launching an RDP client from the web browser isn’t very smooth, unfortunately, specially as we want to support non-Windows users.

Bundling

Bundling is very different on Windows instances than Linux instances. The Linux approach of creating a loopback filesystem in a file, tar-ing and encrypting up the root disk onto that filesystem and then uploading that to S3 doesn’t quite cut it. Not that the process is all that great under Linux either: it’s one of the most fragile and frustrating aspects of EC2, and one we avoid using as much as possible with our server templates and RightScript mechanism.

For Windows there now is a “please bundle my instance, will you” API call to EC2. Nice! Except for the fact that it will shut the instance down in order to bundle it up! In Amazon’s words: “Internally, it queues the bundling task and shuts down the instance. It then takes a snapshot of the Windows volume bundles it, and uploads it to S3.” The API gets a couple of new calls to start the bundling and then to query on the progress of the bundling.

Of interest here is also the fact that Amazon recommends deleting all temp files using the Windows Disk Cleaner tool, then defragmenting, and finally zeroing the free space using “sdelete.” The last step is presumably because they’re bundling the raw disk partition and not the files in the filesystem and zeroing the unused space reduces the size of the compressed image.

For the RightScale UI we rolled all these API calls into a single bundling button: you press it, we make the calls, EC2 makes it happen, you watch the progress.

Mounting EBS volumes

Another slight difference is mounting Elastic Block Store (EBS) volumes on a Windows instance. You can theoretically attach up to 8 volumes to an instance, and they appear as drive letters ‘a’ through ‘h’. But the local disks also appear using these drive letters, so the low-down is that you can mount 5 EBS volumes on a small instance, 4 on a large, and 2 on an extra-large.

Pre-announced monitoring and auto-scaling services

We’re quite excited about Amazon’s pre-announcement of monitoring and auto-scaling services. The details are still quite sketchy through our sources, but all indications are that they’ll integrate very nicely into the RightScale system, giving our customers the choice of using our monitoring system or Amazon’s or both. We’ve been focusing on all the configuration management and dynamic configuration that needs to occur when doing autoscaling, which is much more than just launching instances when the monitoring system says it’s necessary. On top of that, the architecture of the multi-server deployment must be designed to actually support auto-scaling as well as failure tolerance. This is precisely why we offer our customers server templates for popular software stacks with all the hooks for auto-scaling already in place.

All in all, the announcement amounts to two great leaps forward for the cloud computing world: broader OS support and a stronger business commitment for EC2. It seems that cloud solutions get stronger and stronger with each passing quarter. Of course, managing the increasing complexity through design, architecture and automation remains a critical ingredient in this picture — and one that continues to be our main focus at RightScale.

Thorsten von Eicken is part of a star-studded lineup of speakers at SYS-CON's 1st International loud Computing Conference & Expo. Between them, they'll be covering every aspect of the hottest IT topic for years, with not just Amazon but also IBM, Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, Intel, HP and a host of others all offering, using or developing high-end computing services typically described as “cloud computing” - through which massively scalable IT-related capabilities are provided as a service using Internet technologies.

Forrester Research analyst James Staten calls cloud computing "classic disruptive innovation - where the mainstream dismisses the product and small companies have time to create a real differentiated value." But there are so many offerings just now that what infrastructure architects are looking for above all is a set of organizing principles they can use to guide them in choosing between them all.

Such principles. and a host of associated topics, will be addressed in San Jose by a Top Speaker Faculty that includes:

• Dr Werner Vogels - VP & CTO, Amazon.com (Keynote)
• Mike Feinberg - Senior Vice President, Cloud Infrastructure Group, EMC
• Steve Herrod - CTO, VMware
  
• Rob Weltman - Director of Grid Services, Yahoo!
  
• Peter Nickolov - President CTO, 3Tera
• Kevin Haar - President & CEO, Appistry
• Songnian Zhou - Co-Founder & CEO, Platform Computing
• Patrick Harr - CEO, Nirvanix
• Gerrit Huizenga - Cloud Solutions Architect, IBM
  
• John Keagy - CEO & Co-Founder, GoGrid/ServePath
• Sajai Krishnan - CEO, ParaScale
  
• Reuven Cohen - Founder & Chief Technologist, Enomaly
• Mike Eaton - CEO, Cloudworks
• Jonathan Bryce - Founder at Mosso (Rackspace)
• Nati Shalom - CTO, GigaSpaces
• Don MacAskill - CEO & Chief Geek, SmugMug
• Billy Marshall - Founder & CEO, rPath
• Dr Thorsten von Eicken - CTO & Founder, RightScale
• Jonathan Pyke - Chief Strategy Office, Cordys
  
• Jason Stowe - Founder & CEO, Cycle Computing
• David Young - Co-Founder & CEO, Joyent
  
• Dave Durkee - Founder, CEO & Technical Director, ENKI
• John Janakiraman - CTO, Skytap
• Stuart Charlton - Chief Software Architect, Elastra
• Lars Leckie, Principal, Hummer Winblad Venture Partners
• Dr Rich Wolski - Professor, U.C. Santa Barbara
• Javier Soltero - Co-Founder & CEO of Hyperic
• Omer Trajman - Director of Field Engineering, Vertica Systems
  
• Rachel Chalmers - Senior Analyst, Enterprise Software, The 451 Group
  
  and with a special Cloud Bootcamp on November 20 led by
  
  
• Alan Williamson, Founder at Blog-City.com, Creator of BlueDragon
  

All breakout sessions are all listed in further detail here.



Speaker Faculty - SYS-CON's Cloud Computing Expo 2008 West


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Sponsorship and Exhibit Opportunities
Sponsorship and Exhibit Opportunities Offered on a First-Come First-Served Basis. To inquire about sponsorship and exhibit opportunities please contact Carmen Gonzalez at 201-802-3021 or by email at events(at)sys-con.com. Currently, a limited number of sponsorship and exhibition packages with multiple sponsorship discounts are available for the upcoming events.

A Who's Who of Virtualization and Cloud Computing Technology Rock Stars!
SYS-CON faculty alumni include such notable speakers as: Bret Adam (rPath), Deepak Alur (JackBe), Theo Beack (BEA Systems), Kevin Brown (Kidaro), Donato Buccella (Certeon), Bob Buffone (Nexaweb), David Christian (MindBridge), Jonathan Clark (Thinstall), Ariel Cohen (Xsigo Systems), Andrew Conte (APC), Simon Crosby (Citrix Systems), Kurt Daniels (Parallels), Sujil Das (Mellanox Technologies), Kevin Epstein (Scalent Systems), Shai Fultheim (ScaleMP), Rick German (Stoneware), Dror Gill (Ceedo), Ravi Gururaj (VMLogix), Matthew Haynos (IBM), Stephen Herrod (VMware), Arthur Hitomi (Endeavors Technologies), Gordon Jackson (DataSynapse), Peter Jensen (Thinstall), Steve Kaplan (AccessFlow), David Kleidermacher (Green Hills Software), Madhur Kohli (Levanta), Brian Korn (Scalent Systems), Gary Lamb (AccessFlow), Rich Lechner (IBM), Matt Lee (Neocleus), Victoria Livschitz (Grid Dynamics), Bob Lozano (Appistry), Peter Manca (Egenera), Andi Mann (EMA), Jerry Melnick (Marathon Technologies), Mark Milligan (VirtualLogix), Shridhar Mittal (iTKO), Hezi Moore (Reflex Security), Phil Morris (Sun Microsystems), Parviz Peiravi (Intel), Geva Perry (GigaSpaces Technologies), Harry Petty (Brocade), Stephen Pollack (PlateSpin), George Pradel (Vizioncore), Bob Quinn (3Leaf), Ben Rudolph (Parallels), Bill Scarborough (VMware), John Stetic (PlateSpin), Brian Stevens (Red Hat), Robert Steward (DataDirect), Allen Stewart (Microsoft), Butch Villafor (Egenera), Roland Wartenberg (SAP), Matt Waxman (EMC Corporation), Julian Weinstock (Desktone), Hubert Yoshida (Hitachi) and Kurt Zieglar (SIMtone).

The Most Distinguished Faculty November 19-21, 2008 -San Jose, CA
SYS-CON’s upcoming faculty includes such distinguished speakers as: Dan Avida (Opus Capital), Alex Bakman (VKernel), Michael Berman (Catbird), Ken Berryman (Symantec), Brad Brown (TUSC), Jonathan Bryce (Mosso), Donato Buccella (Certeon), Rachel Chalmers (The 451 Group), Stuart Charlton (Elastra), Reuven Cohen (Enomaly), Dave Durkee (ENKI), Mike Eaton (Cloudworks), Yakov Fain (Farata Systems), Walter Falk (IBM Global Technology Services), Mike Feinberg (EMC), Joe Fitzgerald (ManageIQ), Kyle Gabhart (Web Age Solutions), Anup K. Ghosh (Secure Command), Michel Gien (VirtualLogix), Alex Givens (UC4 Software), Dr. Robert Hagmann (Coral8), Patrick Harr (Nirvanix), Ralph James (RSSBus), John Janakiraman (Skytap), Mike Kemp (Liquid Computing), Lynn LeBlanc (FastScale), Lars Leckie (Hummer Winblad Venture Partners), Patrick Leonard (RogueWave), David Linthicum (The Linthicum Group), Paul Lipton (CA), Jay Litkey (Embotics), Bob Lozano (Appistry), Jim Mackay (iTKO LISA), Billy Marshall (rPath), Dave McCroy (Hyper9), Dwayne Melancon (Tripwire), Leslie Muller (DynamicOps), Mike Neil (Microsoft), Baldwin Ng (Microsoft), Peter Nickolov (3Tera), Gerardo Pardo-Castellote (Real-Time Innovations), Cornelius Pone (PPC), Bob Quinn (3Leaf), Sean Rhody, Jesus Rodriguez (Tellago), Michael Rowley (Active Endpoints), Nati Shalom (GigaSpaces), David Snead, Javier Soltero (Hyperic), John Suit (Fortisphere), Ratmir Timashev (Veeam), Omer Trajman (Vertica Systems), Dr. Werner Vogels (Amazon), Thorsten von Eicken (RightScale), Ed Walsh (Virtual Iron), Roland Wartenberg (SAP), John Whaley (MokaFive) Alan Williamson (Blog-City), Steve Wilson (Sun Microsystems), Rich Wolski (U.C. Santa Barbara), David Young (Joyent) and Songnian Zhou (Platform Computing).

Cloud Computing Technology Providers and Contributors in 2008-2009
The following companies are among the providers and contributors of Cloud Computing technology: 10Gen, 3Leaf, 3Tera, Absolute Performance, Accenture, Akamai, Amazon.com, Appirio, Appistry, Areti Internet, Boomi, Box.net, Canaan Partners, Cloud9 Analytics, CloudWorks, CNI Systems, CohesiveFT, CSRware, DataDirect, Dell, DNAmail, eBay, Elastra, EMC, EngineYard, Enki Consulting, Enomaly, Excelian, Flexiscale, Fortress ITX, Forum, GigaSpaces, GoGrid, Google, HP, IBM, IBRIX, Joyent, JumpBox, Layered Technologies, Level 3 Communications, Linxter, LongJump, MDV, Microsoft, Moka5 (MokaFive), Mosso, NewServers, Nirvanix, Ocarina Networks, OpSource, Panorama Software, Peer1 Networks, Pervasive Software, Platform Computing, PLX Technology, Qlayer, Rackspace, RampRate, Red Hat, RightScale, rPath, Salesforce.com, Saugatuck Technology, ServePath, Skills Matter, Skytap, SnapLogic, SOASTA, Sun Microsystems, Symphoniq, Symphony Services, Tap In Systems, Teneros, Terremark, Transitive Corporation, Univa UD, Verizon Business, Vertica, VMware, XCalibre, Zabovo.com, ZOHO and Zuora.

Virtualization Technology Providers and Contributors in 2008-2009
The following companies are among the providers and contributors of Virtualization technology: 3PAR, Accellion, Acronis, Actional, Active Endpoints, ActiveGrid, activePDF, ActiveServers, ActiveState, Actuate, Adaptec, Agile Software, AGiLiENCE, Agilysys, Akorri, AlachiSoft, Alter Logic, Altor Networks, Altova, AMD, AMDAHL, Amentra, Amyuni, anacubis, Apani, APC, Appcelerator, AppSense, AppStream, Array Networks, Ascential, Astaro, Attune Systems, Autodesk, AutoVirt, Availl, Avanade, Azul Systems, Barracuda Networks, BEA Systems, B-hive, Black Duck Software, Blackbaud, Blade Network Technologies, Blue Coat, Blue Lane, BlueArc, BlueNote Networks, BluePheonix Solutions, BMC Software, Borland, Bristol Technology, Brix Networks, BroadVision, Brocade, Burton Group, Business Objects, CA, CalAmp, Cassatt, Cast Iron Systems, Catbird, Cayenne Technologies, Ceedo Technologies, Cenzic, Certeon, CiRBA, Cisco Systems, Cision, Citrix Systems, ClearApp, ClearCube Technology, CollabNet, Compass America, Composite Software, Compugen, Compuware, Configuresoft, Continuity Software, Coraid, Courion, Coyote Point Systems, Crescendo Networks, CSC, DataCore, DataSynapse, Dell, Desktone, Digipede Technologies, Double-Take Software, Ecora Software, EDS, eG Innovations, Egenera, Elastra Corporation, Electric Cloud, Embotics, EMC Corporation, Emulex, Endeavors Technology, Enigmatic Corporation, Enterprise Management Associates, Entuity, EqualLogic, Ericom Software, ESRI, EVault, eXludus Technologies, F5 Networks, FalconStor, FastScale Technology, Foedus, Force10 Networks, Fortisphere, Forum Systems, Fujitsu, GemStone Systems, Getronics, GlassHouse, Green Hills Software, Grid Dynamics, GridGain Systems, GT Software, Hitachi, HP, Hyper9, Hyperic, IBM, ICEsoft, IGEL Technology, Illumita, ILOG, IMEX Research, Information Builders, Ingres, InstallFree, Integrien, Intel, Intellium, International Computerware, iTKO LISA, JBoss, Juniper, KACE, Kidaro, LeftHand Networks, Leostream, Lifeboat Distribution, Liquid Computing Corporation, Liquid Technology, Lynux Works, Mainline, ManageIQ, Managed Methods, ManageSoft, Marathon Technologies, McAfee, Mellanox Technologies, Microsoft, Mid-Atlantic Computers, Mindbridge Software, Mindreef, MKS, MonoSphere, Motorola, MQSoftware, mySoftIT, NASTEL, Ncomputing, NEC, Neocleus, NeoPath Networks, Neoware, NetApp, Netegrity, Neterion, Netuitive, Neverfail, Nexaweb, NextAxiom, Nimbus, Nimsoft, Niyuta, NoMachine, Novell, ONStor, Opalis Software, Open Kernel Labs, OpenSpan, OPNET Technologies, Optaros, OpTier, Oracle, Pano Logic, Parallels, Parasoft, Perforce Software, PHD Technologies, Phoenix Technologies, Phurnace Software, Pillar Data Systems, PlateSpin/Novell, Progress Software, Prolifics, ProSync Technology, Provision Networks, QLogic, Quest Software, Racemi, Raritan, Raxco Software, Red Hat, Reflex Security, Resolution Enterprises, RingCube Technologies, Riverbed Technology, Rogue Wave Software, RSA Security, Sagnet Solutions, SanDisk Corporation, SAP, SAVVIS, ScaleMP, Scalent Systems, Seanodes, Secure Command, Secure Computing, Sentillion, Shavlik Technologies, ServInt Internet Services, Silpion IT Solutions, SIMtone, Skytap, Skyway Software, Software AG, Sonasoft, SourceGear, Splunk, StackSafe, SteelEye Technology, StillSecure, StoneFly, Stonesoft, Stoneware, StoreVault, StrikeIron, STT WebOS, Sun Microsystems, SunGard, Supermicro Computer, Surgient, SWsoft, Sybase, Symantec, Systar, TBD Networks, Tenfold, TheInfoPro, Thinstall, Third Brigade, TIBCO Software, Tidal Software, Tideway Systems, TOA Solutions, TRANGO Virtual Processors, Trend Micro, Tresys Technology, Trigence, Tripwire, Ulteo, Unisys, United Devices, VaST Systems, VDIworks, VeeAm Software, Verari Systems, Verio, VeriSign, Vicom Computer Services, VirtenSys, Virtera, Virtual Iron, VirtualLogix, Virtugo Software, Virtutech, VisionCore, Vizioncore, VKernel, VMLogix, vmSight, VMware, Vordel, vThere-Sentillion, Vyatta, WaveMaker, Web Age Solutions, WSO2, Wyse Technology, XDS, XenoCode, Xiotech, xkoto, Xsigo Systems, Zenith Optemedia, Zeus Technology.