The Cloudcast #124 - Cloud Operations

Topic 1 - VMTurbo isn’t your first go round creating products and companies in this space. Prior to VMTurbo, you created SMARTS which was acquired by EMC. What made you decide to start over and create something from the ground up a second time?

Topic 2 - What common problems are you seeing today? Do you see different problems based on Enterprise vs. SMB? SP’s? What is your view of this space?

Topic 3 - Are your products Open Source (not from what I could tell)? Has Open Source Software and the increasing scopes of projects/Products in OpenStack/CloudStack/vCloud affecting how you see approaches to operations of clouds?

Topic 4 - What CMP (cloud management platform) characteristics do you see the most that are driving adoption of additional management products? Where are the holes today? Monitoring, Multi-Tenancy, Compliance and Security, Application Level Management?

Topic 5 - How do most of your customers get started today? What challenges do they tackle first? Do they hit the low hanging fruit? Do they attack the big issues?

Topic 6 - Do you get many requests for deep API Integration for DevOps or integration with public clouds? Where do you think the private cloud industry will go in 2014?

The Cloudcast - Donuts, Donations and Dummies

"Rewards" - Krispy Kreme Challenge 2014 Donations

Last week we announced that we're starting both our training and fundraising for the 2014 Krispy Kreme Challenge (@k2challenge). 8000+ runners, 5 miles, 12 donuts, uphill both ways. And once that stupidity is over, the event makes a HUGE donation to the NC Children's Hospital (@ncchildrens) - for 2013 it was over $180,000. People might laugh at the participants in the event, and they should since it's blatant gluttony, but the impact they make to those families is significant.

This year we've decided to raise our target goal. Last year it was $2500 and we raised $4310 with your generosity. This year we started our goal at $5000, but we really think we can do quite a bit more ($7500?, $10,000??). The hardest part for Aaron and Brian is asking people for money. We know it all goes to a great cause (100%, every penny), but it's tough for us to ask. So we're borrowing an idea from FundAnything.com and giving "rewards" back to you for your generosity and donations.

Here's how it works. At various levels of giving, we're offering something back.
NOTE: These levels are additive. You get all the things at your level and below it.


$10-$25: Recognition on the podcast, website and big check given to NC Children's Hospital

$50: The Cloudcast t-shirt (the good "softy" ones that are popular at tradeshows now)

$100: Your logo (company, blog, podcast, etc.) on our official race-day shirt

$250: Be a guest co-host on an episode of The Cloudcast

$500 (corporate level): Sponsorship of The Cloudcast for one month (4 shows)

$1000 and beyond: Let's talk, we'll coming up with something awesome!!

The Cloudcast – #123 – Monitoring the Clouds from the Cloud

The Cloudcast #122 - The Clash of the Cloudcasts

Team Cloudcast - Charity Challenge for NC Children's Hospital

It's that time of year again. The time when we all begin to give thanks for our health, our families and the good things that life provides for us. Aaron and Brian know they are extremely lucky to have their own health, as well as their health of their daughters. But not everyone is so lucky. Sometimes children get sick, and more than just the kind of sick that keeps them home from school with the sniffles. The children that have extremely illnesses need the help of outstanding medical facilities like the NC Children's Hospital. Words can't describe the amazing work that the doctors, nurses and administrators at this facility do for both the children and their families.

Once again in 2014 (February), we will be running in the Krispy Kreme Challenge, which is not only an incredibly fun event but also serves as an outstanding fundraiser for the NC Children's Hospital. If you life the show, we'd be incredibly appreciative if you'd consider making a donation on behalf of Team Cloudcast. In 2013 we raised $4300, and in 2014 we have a goal of $5000. With your help, we can exceed those goals and make an even bigger difference in 2014. And if you're in the US, donations are tax deductible.

On behalf of Team Cloudcast, we want to thank you in advance for your generosity and support. As much as we love giving back to our industry with the latest Cloud Computing trends, this event is far and away the most important thing we do each year. Collectively, if we're able to make even a small difference for an sick child or their family, then that's a real game-changer!

Thank you,
Aaron & Brian

The Cloudcast – #121 – Does SaaS need better Security?