2009-08-20: Cloud Computing Options

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Based on yesterday's discussion about needing a reliable, sql database we are looking into potentially using cloud computing to ensure the DataFed and AQ uFIND catalogs are stable and always available.

[edit] Needs:

• Design Database Schema
• Create relationships between tables
• Reliable

[edit] Options:

• Microsoft Azure - offers relational databases; Azure Services Platform include Windows Azure, for running applications and storing data, .NET services for linking the applications to the distributed infrastructure, and Live services for linking Azure to Microsoft's Live web applications.
• Amazon SimpleDB is schemaless database; similar to spreadsheet, but can associate multiple values with single attribute. Amazon has other cloud services that may make this more useful?

One option discussed in this article is that you maintain a 'private cloud' like we have, but have it set up to failover to Amazon or Microsoft if needed.