Comments on: Web’s Weakest Link: The Power Grid http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/ Business, Internet, Technology & Strategy Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:06:33 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Elad Kehat http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-392271 Elad Kehat Sat, 28 Jul 2007 12:06:50 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-392271 <p>I can't see why you claim that data center/colo facilities have been a distinct advantage for US start-ups. My start-up is based in Europe and I host it in a US data center, because it has better prices and service. I can see why that's good for the US economy - money from start-ups abroad coming in, but how's that a distinct advantage to US start-ups?</p> I can’t see why you claim that data center/colo facilities have been a distinct advantage for US start-ups.
My start-up is based in Europe and I host it in a US data center, because it has better prices and service. I can see why that’s good for the US economy – money from start-ups abroad coming in, but how’s that a distinct advantage to US start-ups?

]]> By: Miriam http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-389930 Miriam Fri, 27 Jul 2007 20:22:11 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-389930 <p>This is a very interesting and scary topic...i've known about this for awhile and I was wondering when any web 2.0 people would actually take notice, thanks for writing this</p> This is a very interesting and scary topic…i’ve known about this for awhile and I was wondering when any web 2.0 people would actually take notice, thanks for writing this

]]> By: GigaOM Is PG&E fiddling while the grid burns? « http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-387853 GigaOM Is PG&E fiddling while the grid burns? « Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:53:55 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-387853 <p>[...] by Om Malik Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 8:49 PM PT | No comments Om’s post about the power grid as the Web’s weakest link got me thinking about where utilities like [...]</p> [...] by Om Malik Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 8:49 PM PT | No comments Om’s post about the power grid as the Web’s weakest link got me thinking about where utilities like [...]

]]> By: Memex 1.1 » Blog Archive » The Web’s Weakest Link http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-387031 Memex 1.1 » Blog Archive » The Web’s Weakest Link Thu, 26 Jul 2007 20:58:55 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-387031 <p>[...] Om Malik’s blog… Yesterday afternoon, I left my apartment, which also doubles as my part time office, in a [...]</p> [...] Om Malik’s blog… Yesterday afternoon, I left my apartment, which also doubles as my part time office, in a [...]

]]> By: Can the capability grid really hold up to widespread EV use? | Auto Blog News http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-386881 Can the capability grid really hold up to widespread EV use? | Auto Blog News Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:50:12 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-386881 <p>[...] Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments [...]</p> [...] Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments [...]

]]> By: Can the power grid really hold up to widespread EV use? » Hybrid News http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-386876 Can the power grid really hold up to widespread EV use? » Hybrid News Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:48:05 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-386876 <p>[...] Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments [...]</p> [...] Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments [...]

]]> By: David Mackey http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-384145 David Mackey Thu, 26 Jul 2007 02:19:46 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-384145 <p>Have you seen Jericho, the CBS post-nuclear show? We are always at the brink of disaster - the electric grid is just one more method. Not that I am suggesting we should be paranoid...Rather part of life is living with the reality that our lives are that close to chaos.</p> Have you seen Jericho, the CBS post-nuclear show? We are always at the brink of disaster – the electric grid is just one more method. Not that I am suggesting we should be paranoid…Rather part of life is living with the reality that our lives are that close to chaos.

]]> By: Sylvain Carle http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-384054 Sylvain Carle Thu, 26 Jul 2007 01:46:16 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-384054 <p>Did I hear anyone say "midwest"? As all the shipping companies already know, it has lower cost per squarefootage and a much more reliable power infrastructure... or so the rumors go.</p> <p>And Canadian datacenters could look good too, apart from the fact they are a bit "off the grid" as major peering exchage goes (but not that bad, just "not as good" as the main American peer points).</p> Did I hear anyone say “midwest”? As all the shipping companies already know, it has lower cost per squarefootage and a much more reliable power infrastructure… or so the rumors go.

And Canadian datacenters could look good too, apart from the fact they are a bit “off the grid” as major peering exchage goes (but not that bad, just “not as good” as the main American peer points).

]]> By: Ray Podder http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-383820 Ray Podder Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:15:33 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-383820 <p>Of course I hope this creates more of an urgency for alternative power. But I think the real discussion is (or should be) around de-centralizing how power itself is distributed...</p> <p>As we live more and more at the crossroads of the virtual and real, self powered Internet appliances, WiTricity and virtual (with no specific physical location) servers may be the next innovations that need attention. Why can't all the gazillions of things off the grid with hard drives pitch in classic p2p fashion?</p> <p>Business model and spectrum regulation concerns for the time being aside, is the idea really that far fetched?</p> Of course I hope this creates more of an urgency for alternative power. But I think the real discussion is (or should be) around de-centralizing how power itself is distributed…

As we live more and more at the crossroads of the virtual and real, self powered Internet appliances, WiTricity and virtual (with no specific physical location) servers may be the next innovations that need attention. Why can’t all the gazillions of things off the grid with hard drives pitch in classic p2p fashion?

Business model and spectrum regulation concerns for the time being aside, is the idea really that far fetched?

]]> By: DataGuy35 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-383539 DataGuy35 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:36:07 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-383539 <p>How could these Web 2.0 companies not have redundant servers? It's a function of moving fast and not taking the necessary steps to plan for all contingencies. For those who heed the wake-up call, Phoenix is a great alternative. http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2007/07/02/story15.html</p> How could these Web 2.0 companies not have redundant servers? It’s a function of moving fast and not taking the necessary steps to plan for all contingencies. For those who heed the wake-up call, Phoenix is a great alternative. http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2007/07/02/story15.html

]]> By: James Urquhart http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-383439 James Urquhart Wed, 25 Jul 2007 21:51:21 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-383439 <p>To me the scary thing is that, from an infrastructure point of view, utility computing is going to share all of these traits. The only saving grace will be computing capacity vendors who understand that geographic distribution is a necessary part of a high up-time offering.</p> <p>365 Main is a great company...the fact they failed to deliver here should be symbolic of the fact that ANYONE can lose a data center despite best efforts. I guess my only question is why Facebook, Technorati and others didn't prepare for this possibility by distributing their services among a variety of datacenter locations...</p> To me the scary thing is that, from an infrastructure point of view, utility computing is going to share all of these traits. The only saving grace will be computing capacity vendors who understand that geographic distribution is a necessary part of a high up-time offering.

365 Main is a great company…the fact they failed to deliver here should be symbolic of the fact that ANYONE can lose a data center despite best efforts. I guess my only question is why Facebook, Technorati and others didn’t prepare for this possibility by distributing their services among a variety of datacenter locations…

]]> By: Chris Car http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-382911 Chris Car Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:43:40 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-382911 <p>The problem is that Web 2.0 applications are centralized applications (in data centers). Compare it with blogs, it is not possible that the blogosphere will be shut down by a power outage. ;-) And that's simply because</p> <p>a) many people host their blogs on their own servers in data centers around the world or b) they use different blog hosters, spread in data centers around the world</p> <p>I know, it's not that easy to build an open source and decentralized Flickr clone, but it will come and it will increase availability of these services.</p> The problem is that Web 2.0 applications are centralized applications (in data centers). Compare it with blogs, it is not possible that the blogosphere will be shut down by a power outage. ;-) And that’s simply because

a) many people host their blogs on their own servers in data centers around the world or
b) they use different blog hosters, spread in data centers around the world

I know, it’s not that easy to build an open source and decentralized Flickr clone, but it will come and it will increase availability of these services.

]]> By: Mike Elliott http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-382685 Mike Elliott Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:15:56 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-382685 <p>Everyone understands minor disruptions. As long as no critical data is lost, most people can tolerate a very brief loss of service.</p> <p><a HREF="http://mikeelliottsblog.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">http://mikeelliottsblog.wordpress.com</A></p> Everyone understands minor disruptions. As long as no critical data is lost, most people can tolerate a very brief loss of service.

http://mikeelliottsblog.wordpress.com

]]> By: A.T. http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-382601 A.T. Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:37:39 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-382601 <p>I don't think Bebo hosted in US for reliability, it is there to please potential auditorium with lowest delay. Tho choosing UK as location place doesn't make lesser risks related to reliability issues, I guess.</p> I don’t think Bebo hosted in US for reliability, it is there to please potential auditorium with lowest delay. Tho choosing UK as location place doesn’t make lesser risks related to reliability issues, I guess.

]]> By: maxconfus http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-382586 maxconfus Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:32:11 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-382586 <p>interestingly power is the only 365/24/7 auction. it makes ebay look like peanuts in terms of revenue. not sure what is the situation in s.f. but in n.y. it's a lack of transmission lines to carry power and not a lack of generation, after all who would want a transmission line in their back yard... be surprised the x-mas lights come on...think excel spreadsheets and email...</p> interestingly power is the only 365/24/7 auction. it makes ebay look like peanuts in terms of revenue. not sure what is the situation in s.f. but in n.y. it’s a lack of transmission lines to carry power and not a lack of generation, after all who would want a transmission line in their back yard… be surprised the x-mas lights come on…think excel spreadsheets and email…

]]> By: Brian Kotlyar http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-382222 Brian Kotlyar Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:15:09 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/07/25/webs-weakest-link-the-power-grid/#comment-382222 <p>Just as worrisome (from a business perspective) is that almost none of these companies offer an actual uptime SLA. If you buy into the idea of Enterprise 2.0 and how SAAS is remaking enterprise IT then a failure like this is particularly frightening.</p> <p>We've got some research on the topic over at www.yankeegroup.com - though I think most of it is password protected.</p> Just as worrisome (from a business perspective) is that almost none of these companies offer an actual uptime SLA. If you buy into the idea of Enterprise 2.0 and how SAAS is remaking enterprise IT then a failure like this is particularly frightening.

We’ve got some research on the topic over at http://www.yankeegroup.com – though I think most of it is password protected.

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