Monday, July 6, 2009
The three URL’s that I found on the internet that talks about “green campus computing” are the following:
Campus Computing Goes Green to Save Money
By JOSH KELLER
Relocate a college's server computers next to a solar-power generator. Replace AC power with DC power. Cool the servers only where they get the hottest. Put the servers in the ocean and power them with waves.
Those were a few of the ideas discussed last week at a conference, "Greening the Internet Economy," that was designed to address the problem of the soaring financial and environmental costs of information technology. The event, held by the University of California at San Diego, offered a sampling of a new generation of technologies that promise to help colleges make their IT departments both more efficient and more sustainable.
Many of the participants emphasized the importance of systems that could more intelligently measure energy use on the campus. In recent years, colleges have been hurt by the rising costs of powering and cooling their data centers, in part because those costs are difficult to measure and poorly understood (The Chronicle, January 9).
At San Diego, researchers have started work on hardware to help colleges and other organizations understand how to make their servers more efficient. The device, called the GreenLight Instrument, will deploy sensors and software to measure the energy use, humidity, and other variables in various parts of a Sun Modular Data Center, a popular, self-contained complex of servers.
The goal is to encourage engineers to try different computing strategies to reduce electricity consumption, said Thomas A. DeFanti, principal investigator on the project and a senior research strategist at the university's California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology.
"Right now there isn't enough information for somebody to make a definitive decision: Where do I save my money? Do I eliminate disks in my computers, or do I stop them? Do I use more RAM or less RAM?" said Mr. DeFanti. "Nobody has detailed information on this."
Aiming for Precision
Intelligent measuring systems like Greenlight should be extended to allow engineers to more precisely determine how to use energy, said Gary L. Baldwin, director of special projects at the University of California's Citris program. For example, he said, operators at a data center could direct cool air only where the facility is generating the most heat.
Another idea that shows promise, participants said, is to supply computers directly with local DC power. Computers generally use direct current, but the public electricity grid typically supplies alternating current, and 30 percent of the electricity can be lost in the conversion of one form to the other.
Some colleges have started projects to power their computers directly from solar cells or other sources of DC power on the campus, avoiding the energy loss altogether. At San Diego, administrators hope to build a "power ring" that will supply computers across the campus with DC power, said Mr. DeFanti.
The rethinking of how to supply campus power is part of a broader effort to "divorce ourselves from the electrical grid," said Bill St. Arnaud, chief research officer at Canarie Inc., a Canadian computer-networking organization. Power-transmission lines lose a significant amount of energy over long distances, he said, which means that supplying a campus with energy from faraway power plant can be inefficient.
A better strategy, Mr. St. Arnaud said, is to build campus data centers next to a renewable source of power, like a solar plant. High-speed optical transmission lines, he said, would ensure that the computers would seem "as close as next door."
http://chronicle.com/free/2009/01/10296n.htm
It is obvious that all the ways of implementing Green Computing based on this url are very difficult to apply on USEP because of the large amount of money that is needed to make that possible. Though, we need much more funds, it would be very helpful to all of us especially to the environment if we apply all those concepts stated in this url which are using GreenLight Instrument to save energy, relocate a college's server computers next to a solar-power generator, replace AC power with DC power, cool the servers only where they get the hottest, and put the servers in the ocean and power them with waves.
Sustainable IT in Universities and Colleges June 21, 2008
Posted by Paul Cheeseman
Sustainable IT is a subject that is going to be more and more important for all Higher Education institutions.
I must admit I didn’t realise how important Sustainable IT was until I attended an energy efficiency workshop at Cardiff University. The workshop is part of a series of events, all of which are part of the Managing environmentally sustainable ICT project by JISC and Sust-IT.
All of the presentations were really interesting, Cardiff University also arranged a tour of their brand new server room and High-performance computing (HPC) cluster. It was really good workshop and I’m already signed up for the next event about New Ways of Working.
Apparently the use of natural gas in power stations is decreasing and the use of coal is on the increase. When one of the panel described computers as being ‘Coal Powered’ it certainly made me look differently at IT. I’m now planning a complete review of our server rooms and an investigation into exactly how much electricity we use, and where the inefficiencies are. The panel also made the point that going green is not only good for the environment, there are also huge cost savings that can be made by adopting greener practices. As students become more and more interested in the green credentials of an institution the electricity usage, efficiency and carbon footprint of an institution will become a factor that students begin to consider when selecting an institution.
The rising cost of electricity means that we all have to start taking notice of the electricity we use, if we don’t then energy bills will spiral out of control and cuts in other areas will have to be made to enable institutions to pay their bills. This might sound like doom mongering, but the panel explained that in the private sector decisions to cut staffing and other resources are already being made because of the high cost of electricity.
The British Computer Societey are working on an EU Code of Conduct for server rooms / data centres. Institutions will be able to sign up to the code of conduct when a final version of the document comes out later on this year. I will be looking into this Code of Conduct, and if possible I would like to get Edge Hill signed up to the document. Institutions signing up to the code will be given some EU marketing materials to display withing the institution. Signing up for this EU recognised Code of Conduct would further enhance the green credentials of the institution.
http://blogs.edgehill.ac.uk/coreservices/tag/green-computing/
With this url, it talks about Sustainable IT which is a subject that is going to be more and more important for all Higher Education institutions. The idea of their Green Computing is to make computers ‘Coal Powered’ which is not only good for the environment; there are also huge cost savings that can be made by adopting greener practices. Also, the British Computer Society are working on an EU Code of Conduct for server rooms / data centres. With this concept, USEP can apply the Code of Conduct for the implementation of Green Computing though that Code of Conduct is based from Europe.
Business and Green Computing
15 05 2009
By: Dominik Schulte-Zurhausen, Marketing Manager, Tellumat Telecoms
The term ‘Green Computing’ addresses the efficient use of computer resources by business and individuals alike. As natural persons I like to think that we are all aware of the criticality that our personal and business decisions have on the environment.
However, a business, in the sense of being an entity which has no such innate prerogatives as to be concerned about the environmental impacts that its operations have on the environment can not by itself be expected to factor in the long-term value and importance of initiatives such as ‘Green Computing’.
This is where business decision makers and policy makers need to step in order to steer the organization with awareness and knowledge. Due to the fact that, in most part, these business drivers/custodians are measured by their performance in regards to a single bottom line we can not and should not expect them to divert any attention onto issues that they are not measured, audited or rewarded for.
‘Green Computing’, from a technology point of view, is effective and has the potential to dramatically redress the environmental impact that our business creates. What is needed is not more hype around these technologies, but rather an educated and demanding shareholder base that expects of its executives quantifiable returns on multiple bottom lines. I.e. the triple bottom line: Planet, Profit, People
http://tellumattelecoms.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/business-and-green-computing/
Regarding this url, it talks about business having no such innate prerogatives as to be concerned about the environmental impacts. But all I can say is that, without protecting the environment, business would be impossible to hold because of the many factors that the business have to consider such as the environment. It is not always money that should be considered on having business but also the other factors.
Labels: Green Campus Computing
Last July 02, 2009 at 1:00pm, we went to the Apo View Hotel to witness an exhibit on different technology products and to attend a seminar on different organizations that was organized by the Computer Manufacturers, Distributors, and Dealers association of the Philippines (COMDDAP).
First presenter was Mr. Celmer L. Santos from Jupiter Systems, Incorporated. He had talked about Enterprise Resource Information and Control (ERICDMS) Brilliant Dealer Management System which involves car dealerships and service transactions. Though I can’t relate on the topics, I still had taken notes and listen to the facts that he had discussed. Jupiter Systems, Inc. is a 24- year old software company and one of the members of the ERP systems of the Philippines. Mitsubishi, Honda, Mazda, Volvo, and Nissan are some of the car companies that are using their system. Their Database Management Systems process flow starts with the pre-sales, then the vehicle sales and last is the after sales. The Jupiter Systems’ has also Service Management General Features which are the following:
1. Advance bookings or Customer appointments
2. Operation maintenance or FLAT rates
3. Repair orders
4. Repair Estimates
5. Customer Service History
6. Technician Time-in or Time-out
7. Parts requisitioning and picking
8. Service invoicing
9. Warranty claims and processing
10. Field Service Actions(Campaigns)
Next presenter was Leonard Zapa, a Market Deveopment Manager of HP Company. He had discussed about Linux, CE, and XPe and the following topics below:
Key Growth Drivers
1. Data security, reliability, easier
2. Management
3. Remote PC alternatives
4. Virtualization
5. Lower TCO
6. Broadband and related
Challenges for IT Professionals
1. Provide information security
2. Deployment and maintenance
3. Total cost of ownership (TCO)
He had talked about a particular product, the thin client, which is a computing device without a hard drive and can be used independently. Some of its features are the following:
Enhanced security
Easy manageability
High reliability
Environment – friendly
Lower overall costs
Some of the advantages of purchasing it are:
Hardened embedded OS
Free Management Tools
¼ failure rate
10x higher MTBF
Longer life
ONSITE, Whole unit replacement
Up to 80% lower power
Space saving
Reduced (by 75%) foam and board (by 40%) packaging
Minimal heat
Lower initial hardware
The third presenter had discussed about Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System. This was the shortest presentation on the 4 seminars I’ve encountered. The following are the notes I have taken on that presentation.
Key Benefits:
Streamline operations
Improve profit margins
Build customer loyalty
Manage business, not technology
Have a life outside your business
The 2 modules:
1. Individual Stores
2. Head Office/Lead Store
RMS Key Features:
Inventory control and tracking
Purchase orders
Pricing, sales, and promotions
Sales Tracking
Powerful, flexible reports
The last presenter had talked about the Open Source for Business Applications of the Spinweb Productions, Incorporated. When we think of the word open source, the thins that come to our mind are source code, free, open, contributor, free license, etc. Open Source is not a Free Software. Free Software has the 4 freedoms which are:
0. run
1. study
2. copy
3. improve
The benefits of using open source applications are:
reliable
widely used
highly scalable
proven performance
They had also given us some websites such as lullabot.com, joomlapolis.com, joomla.org.ph, and openwp.org.
I was so happy having an opportunity like this and it was my first time to join that kind of seminar and to witness an IT exhibit and above all, it was my first time to be on Apo View Hotel. LOL. Though the topics are more technical and it was hard for me to understand everything, I was still considering it as one of the most amazing experience in my life, to meet high level people in the field of Information Technology. It was during the 2nd presentation that became so interesting because of the prices that are to be given on the Question and Answer portion after. One of my classmates got the price of a 2-gig USB and a t-shirt from HP. Before the seminar, we had gone to the exhibit hall where different products were displayed and sold. I was so interested on the products that I was sure if I have money on that time, I would surely buy everything I wanted there. LOL.
Labels: COMDDAP, ERICDMS, HP, Jupiter Systems, MDRMS, Open Source, Spinweb, thin client
Labels: Database Administrator, IT, USEP
When I have searched online job services on the internet, I was a bit confused of what I would choose for my Assignment 3. It was because the online job services I’ve searched are all difficult for me to achieve yet. But still, I have no choice but to choose the common ones for me so that I can relate to whatever online jobs I would choose. And these are the 5 online job services I have chosen:
1. Web Developer
A web developer is responsible for programming the functionality of a web site. So while a requirements analyst is tasked with determining what a web site should do, the web developer figures out how it is going to do it and then writes the necessary programming code. Much of this programming code is behind the scenes and not visible to the user.
However, a web developer may also be responsible for the code that the user sees. This is the HTML/DHTML and Javascript that make up most of the web pages you interact with in your web browser.
2. Database Designer
Working with a system architect and a requirements analyst, the database designer ensures that all necessary data has a place to be stored. At the same time, the speed at which the data can be stored and retrieved are taken in to account so that user's are not left waiting for unreasonable amounts of time.
Sometimes database designers take on database related activities such as arranging for backups, creating ad-hoc reports, and server tuning. However, these other tasks are often part of a Database Administrator's (DBA) job.
3. Web Designer
A web designer is similar to a graphic designer. In fact, many graphic designers are web designers and vice versa. Sometimes the term web designer is used to describe a web developer, but really a web designer focuses on the user interface. They are responsible for layout, color palettes, and sometimes usability. Web designers often develop some programming skills to enable them to include certain features in the interface such as roll-overs or dynamic menus.
4. Graphic Designer
Web-based applications have brought graphic designers closer to software development projects than ever before. Because the buttons, menus, and other screen elements of a web page are not standardized, there is enormous opportunity for a graphic designer to influence how a site will look. This is often tied in to the branding efforts of a web site. As such, the graphic designer is tasked with deciding how best to portray the values of a company through the use of color and layout.
5. System administrator
A system administrator, systems administrator, or sysadmin, is a person employed to maintain and operate a computer system and/or network. System administrators may be members of an information technology department.
The duties of a system administrator are wide-ranging, and vary widely from one organization to another. Sysadmins are usually charged with installing, supporting, and maintaining servers or other computer systems, and planning for and responding to service outages and other problems.
If I would be given the chance to choose one of the best from the 5 online job services stated above, I would prefer to choose number 3 which is a Database Designer because it is somehow related to the job that I dream to have in the future which is a Database Designer. Though I’m not quite creative on arts, I still want to because I have to. There is still time to become creative and I know that I can make it.
http://www.mariosalexandrou.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_administrator
A database administrator (DBA) is a person who is responsible for the environmental aspects of a database. The role of a database administrator has changed according to the technology of database management systems (DBMSs) as well as the needs of the owners of the databases. For example, although logical and physical database designs are traditionally the duties of a database analyst or database designer, a DBA may be tasked to perform those duties.
Duties
The duties of a database administrator vary and depend on the job description, corporate and Information Technology (IT) policies and the technical features and capabilities of the DBMS being administered. They nearly always include disaster recovery (backups and testing of backups), performance analysis and tuning, data dictionary maintenance, and some database design.
Some of the roles of the DBA may include
• Installation of new software — It is primarily the job of the DBA to install new versions of DBMS software, application software, and other software related to DBMS administration. It is important that the DBA or other IS staff members test this new software before it is moved into a production environment.
• Configuration of hardware and software with the system administrator — In many cases the system software can only be accessed by the system administrator. In this case, the DBA must work closely with the system administrator to perform software installations, and to configure hardware and software so that it functions optimally with the DBMS.
• Security administration — One of the main duties of the DBA is to monitor and administer DBMS security. This involves adding and removing users, administering quotas, auditing, and checking for security problems.
• Data analysis — The DBA will frequently be called on to analyze the data stored in the database and to make recommendations relating to performance and efficiency of that data storage. This might relate to the more effective use of indexes, enabling "Parallel Query" execution, or other DBMS specific features.
• Database design (preliminary) — The DBA is often involved at the preliminary database-design stages. Through the involvement of the DBA, many problems that might occur can be eliminated. The DBA knows the DBMS and system, can point out potential problems, and can help the development team with special performance considerations.
• Data modeling and optimization — By modeling the data, it is possible to optimize the system layouts to take the most advantage of the I/O subsystem.
• Responsible for the administration of existing enterprise databases and the analysis, design, and creation of new databases.
o Data modeling, database optimization, understanding and implementation of schemas, and the ability to interpret and write complex Structured Query Language (SQL) queries
o Proactively monitor systems for optimum performance and capacity constraints
o Establish standards and best practices for SQL
o Interact with and coach developers in SQL scripting
I want to become a Database Administrator in the future for when I first took the subject Database Analysis and Design 1 (DBAD1), I was amazed and became very interested on the said subject though it was quite hard to understand the topics especially at the analysis part. My willingness to become a Database Administrator was first brought up to life when we had our final project in DBAD 1 which is to create a database system. It was so hard to finish because of the fact that we had only a little background and knowledge on making systems especially that it was our first time to take that subject. But with the help of my brother, he taught me the basics and techniques of creating an efficient database system and I really feel so comfortable and interested on what I was doing on that time. Then it all started, my dreams of becoming a Database Administrator someday.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database_administrator
Labels: Database Administrator