Ping! Zine Issue 70

While at first they only focused on the Windows platform, which meant that they could do very little for cloud management, they expanded to include management of Amazon’s EC2 cloud and VMware virtual machines, which extended its usefulness as a server management interface into the cloud area.

On the server management side, you can use and publish your own scripts, use SQL Servers 2005, 2008, 2008 R2, apply hotfixes, retrieve operating system info, access and modify file systems, as well as create and update event logs. The service is capable of notifying you of any problems that may come around, and give you a way of fixing them. While this service is more focused on server than cloud management, it still seems to be something closest to the universal solution that is needed.

Security is always an issue with services of this kind, especially since it is granted access to your servers, so the provider has made sure that you are covered on all fronts. Apart from investing quite a bit of effort into their transport mechanisms, they have made sure to allow their users to specify authorization layers, both when it comes to particular users, and the devices that they are using to access the cloud. This means that you have complete control over what parts of your systems are accessible to whom, and can manage your one security with a decent amount of control.

Even though some of you might need to look for other solutions for your cloud management, as this service only covers some of the needs, it is an interesting attempt at trying to afford their users with a decent level of control over their cloud systems. Even though the size and means of input make mobile devices a slightly inconvenient solution for cloud management, providers of different cloud solutions are recognizing the need for mobility, and some of them are offering apps that you can use on your tablet or smartphone, so make sure to always check if your system is covered in this aspect, as it could make your life much easier.