Data Center 101

What are data centers?

Data center support corporate database, websites, provide locations for ISP’s ASPs website hosting companies, DSL providers and other IT services.

Elements of data centers:

• ·         The location site
• ·         Command center (NOC)
• ·         Cable management
• ·         Network infrastructure
• ·         Terminal servers
• ·         Environmental control
• ·         Electric Power
• ·         People

Considerations to consider before building one:

·         Physical constraints such as:

• Available space and weight of the equipment
• Power requirements
• Cooling
• Bandwidth

·         System availability profiles:

Categorization:

                Device redundancies

                Power   redundancies

                                Adequate power

                                Surge suppression

                                Cable layout

                                Proper grounding of equipment

Forms of power redundancies:

                Battery feed UPS

                Power generators

Cooling redundancies

Network redundancies

                Over flow

                Proper cable management

                Cabinet with appropriate connection media

Constraints/Issues facing data centers:

Why would an organization set up a data center: It’s easier for an organization to store their large volumes of data to eliminate Risk, and security threat of their information being leaked out. This is common among banks and Insurance firms.

How an organization would benefit from building one: They are able to Control their data privacy, integrity and confidentiality.

Future Issues/topics

·         Are there laws governing the setting up of one in Kenya?

·         Why has it become a trend in Kenya; or rather why are more companies embracing them?

Enjoy Pictures of the Google data center

Credits: Seven seas Knowledge for life Program

The rise of smart phones and the fall of consumers..

Why would a consumer buy a commodity that they would not sufficiently use? According to an economist, one should use a commodity until it serves them maximumly. According to my observation of around 60% of consumers with smart phones, only 30% maximum use the applications of their smart phones or have actually downloaded apps that they currently use.

Smart phone usage depends on several factors such as career, age, lifestyle, income. If one is an IT Guru, they will actually want to own a phone that fits the bill in terms of usage et al. Some IT professionals such as programmers, can own several with different Mobile operating systems as a test ground for their systems. Business professionals on the other hand, want to read their emails and actually respond as fast as possible, viewing and attaching all relevant materials from their phones. Some smart phones have gone a step further and actually enable a user to sign their documents from their own phones.

Age, most young people actually use their phones for more than the calling, sms, Internet functionalities. They keep up with the latest applications, such as games, or music players, others even watch movies from their smart phones depending on the memory capacity.

Lifestyle, some people are 'walking brands' they actually represent a kind of brand that people would like to be associated with. A phone also should much the kind of lifestyle that they want to live.

Smart phones do not come cheap, so why would someone not use the applications that are available to the user?

·         Time: Most apps require searching and testing, some people will only act on referrals rather than search for their own. As for some they do not have the time to use these applications.

·         Ignorance: This is whereby one doesn’t know or rather doesn’t want to know what their phones can do for them.

·         Illiteracy: This could be as a result of being given a phone as a gift, or Buying a phone where one is not sufficiently educated.

·         Boring applications: Some applications are general especially games, they maybe be boring to one user, but interesting to another. The best way to solve this is to download applications that suite your interest.

As an IT person, i would encourage people to maximally use their phones so as to get ROI also to appreciate technology and engineering through the usage. This also helps programmers get reviews about their applications in terms of usage, ad revenues, points to improve also better your live by making things easy.

Buy a phone that you intend to use,don't be like a Subaru driver who drives it through traffic all the days of his life.

PS: If you can get it on your computer, probably there is a version for your smart phone.

All pictures are subject to copyright.

Is M-Shwari the new shylock?

Long time ago, probably around 8 years ago, driving a BMW or  Mercedes, was considered that you are part of  rich.When the new Hummer came around, it went for around 5M, and only a few bought them.As the years have gone by, more and more Kenyans are earning big bucks, shaking the lifestyles of the middle class resulting to growth in Banks and micro finance institutions.

Kenya has become a den of banks.Banks are everywhere, if you do not see a branch then you will see an bank agent.This tends to tell us a lot about our economy.Middle class people have money, when i say money I mean MONEY..Look at the traffic jams that are ever increasing, because of so many cars,another scenario is the boom of smart phones.Nearly every week, there is a launch of a new smart phones and tabs which cost an average of 20,000 and above for a gadget.

Middle class are spending a lot of money on lavish lifestyles according to Daily nation and some who cannot afford it are trying too hard by taking up loans to buy lavish items according to the standard. Banks have come up with alot of packages to fit the class of people such as Car loans, mortgage loans for the gated house communities that are sprouting everywhere in the country.Banks do not have good reputations as at now, due to the increased loan interest that over stretch consumers, meaning that there is an opportunity for micro finance institutions.

The difference between a bank and a shylock in lay mans language  is that a bank gives you an amount of money, for a particular period at an interest, you pay at reasonable time while a  shylcok is, someone who lends money at excessive rates of interest according to the free Dictionary.

The M-Shwari service is designed to act as a rudimentary credit facility for those who have been locked out of the loans market for lack of collateral and credit history. “M-Shwari will attract a one-time facilitation fee (read interest rate) of 7.5 per cent of the borrowed amount,” Safaricom said in a statement this is according to Business daily.But the period is one month?

How do you repay a lon in 30days? unless you are a shylock



Is mshwari the new shylock? thats the question I have been asking my friends.

Fof those people who do not know who a shylcok is, someone who lends money at excessive rates of interest according to the free Dictionary.