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Interview: @Appcore Leverages Apache CloudStack | @CloudExpo

Director of Technology Nate Gordon In Exclusive Interview

Appcore Leverages Apache CloudStack for Private Cloud

Appcore aims to simplify private cloud through Apache CloudStack solutions. Nate Gordon (pictured below) serves as the Des Moines, IA-based company's Director of Technology, in its effort to enhance Apache CloudStack and Citrix CloudPlatform for its customers. We had a few questions for him, and this is what he told us:

Cloud Computing Journal: What have your customers found to be the advantages of using Apache CloudStack?

Nate Gordon: Appcore understands that there are a lot of orchestration platforms in the market to chose from. Before we committed to one platform or the other, we did an extensive analysis comparing architecture features, deployment process and technology roadmap. After this evaluation, Appcore chose to integrate our software solutions with Apache CloudStack and Citrix CloudPlatform. A few of the advantages of the platform include:

1. Apache CloudStack is a complete platform, not a toolkit. It provides service providers all the components, right out of the box, that they need to deploy an Infrastructure-as-a-Service cloud.

2. Deploying an Apache CloudStack powered cloud is simple and straightforward compared to other orchestration platforms in the market. With only two components required for management, there are fewer possibilities for communication and configuration errors. Plus service providers don't have to dedicate a large amount of hardware resources to the deployment.

3. Overall the Apache CloudStack project is organized in a unified direction as new product features are developed. The influence of the project is democratic, which is an important aspect of platform to our service providers customers. This allows them to influence the project, offer feature feedback and contribute to development.

These are just a few advantages of implementing Apache CloudStack over other orchestration platforms in the market. Our service provider customers value the simplicity, stability and scalability the Apache CloudStack platform provides.

CCJ: What are the key management challenges in using CloudStack that Appcore addresses?

Nate: Appcore is solely focused on the service provider market and continues to develop software that is feature rich to enhance IT administrators daily tasks. Appcore is a leading CloudStack solutions company focused on simplifying the complexity of cloud management. Our solutions include software, consulting and support to deliver enterprise-grade clouds tailored to your custom specifications.

Admin Centric Environment View. Appcore simplifies management by equipping service providers with an admin centric view of customer resources. These features provide several benefits including:

  • Easy access to all account resources

  • Complete view of all resources tied to a single virtual machine

  • Quick access to common troubleshooting actions

Metering & Billing. Appcore's software solution, Appcore AMP, also includes integrated metering and billing for a fully productized cloud solution. Adding metering and billing functionality allows service providers the ability to charge for resources consumed by their enterprise customers.

Appcore's software is pre-configured with WHMCS but is designed to integrate with other third-party billing solutions. Usage and metering data can also be imported into the service providers existing billing system to provide customers a single invoice.

Multi-cloud Deployments. Appcore's latest software, Appcore Atlas, empowers service providers to deploy clouds in minutes. This multi-cloud solution integrates pre-configured standardized network, hypervisor and storage. It automates the configuration of private, on-premise and public clouds in 15 minutes.

Unified Authentication. Appcore Atlas also features unified authentication for single system sign-on. This provides a seamless transition between cloud systems for increased user efficiency. It allows the service provider to manage accounts across clouds with synchronized credentials. It also gives the mobility and integration for enhanced visibility into monitoring, orchestration and usage data.

CCJ: How have things evolved for Appcore throughout this year, and what do you expect your customers' missions and goals to be in 2015 and beyond?

Nate: Appcore has evolved since being founded in 2008, and in this past year, we converted from delivering our product as a 2U cloud appliance to a software-only solution. This development occurred based on feedback from our service provider customers and prospects.

Our continuous involvement in the market revealed that most service providers already had hardware investments that they wished to implement as part of their cloud solution. Therefore implementing a software-only solution was just another way to simplify the complexity of cloud. For this reason Appcore released a software-only solution in May, 2014.

Heading into 2015 we anticipate that service providers will continue to look for solutions to simplify the management of cloud. The demand to deploy cloud for their enterprise customers will continue to increase and service providers will look for tools to deploy private, on-premise and public cloud environments. Service providers will continue to demand a reduction in the time it takes to deploy a cloud environment; instead of days, they will need to deploy cloud in minutes for the enterprise.

Service providers are currently yearning for unified cloud authentication so they no longer have to login to several systems to manage their cloud. Instead, administrators are looking for a tool to integrate all cloud components into a single unified platform. Cloud administrators will continue seeking deeper integration into infrastructure including networking, SAN and hypervisor management. They are also looking for management tools that feature resource and capacity planning.

Appcore's mission heading into 2015 and the years to come is to continuously simplify the management of cloud for service providers. In order to do so, we developed our latest software solution, Appcore Atlas, which automates the deployment of multiple clouds. It simplifies the management for administrators and creates a holistic environment. As we continue listen to the service provider market, we will create new products and services that support them.

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Conference Schedule Announced

Are you ready to put your data in the cloud?

What is the future of security in the cloud?

Does Docker quickly advance the development of an IoT application?

What are the implications of Moore's Law on Hadoop deployments?

Get all these questions and hundreds more like them answered at the 15th Cloud Expo, November 4-6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center, in Santa Clara, CA. The Cloud Expo / Big Data Expo / @ThingsExpo / DevOps Summitprograms are now available for you to inspect and investigate in advance.

Our upcoming November 4-6 event in Santa Clara, California will present a total of 10 simultaneous tracks by an all-star faculty, over three days, plus a two-day "Cloud Computing Bootcamp" presented by Janakiram MSV, an Analyst with the Gigaom Research analyst network, where he covers the Cloud Services landscape.

Cloud and Big Data topics and tracks include: Enterprise Cloud Adoption, APM & Cloud Computing | Hot Topics, Cloud APIs & Business, Cloud Security | Mobility, Big Data | Analytics.

@ThingsExpo content tripled from a single track in New York to three simultaneous tracks: Consumer IoT, Enterprise IoT, IoT Developer | WebRTC Convergence.

DevOps Summit also doubled from a single track in New York to two simultaneous tracks: "Dev" Developer Focus and "Ops" Operations Focus.

Schedule for Cloud Expo / Big Data Expo / @ThingsExpoHere

Schedule for DevOps SummitHere

Now that we have published the full conference schedule, please check back for daily updates as we finalize new session abstracts by working with our distinguished faculty members. For your questions please contact us at events (at) sys-con.com. Last but not least we will announce our keynotes on the hottest subjects to be delivered by world-class speakers!

The largest 'Internet of Things' event in the world has announced "sponsorship opportunities" and "call for papers."

The 1st International Internet of @ThingsExpo was launched this June at the Javits Center in New York City with over 6,000 delegates in attendance. The 2nd International Internet of @ThingsExpo will take place November 4-6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California, with an estimated 7,000 plus delegates attending over three days.

@ThingsExpo is co-located with 15th International Cloud Expo and will feature technical sessions from a rock star conference faculty and the leading IoT industry players in the world. In 2014, more than 200 companies will be present on the @ThingsExpo show floor, including global players and the hottest new technology pioneers.

Sponsorship and Exhibit Opportunities for @ThingsExpo Silicon Valley and New York Are Now Available
Sponsors and exhibitors of Internet of @ThingsExpo will benefit from unmatched branding, profile building and lead generation opportunities through:

  • Featured on-site presentation and ongoing on-demand webcast exposure to a captive audience of industry decision-makers.
  • Showcase exhibition during our new extended dedicated expo hours
  • Breakout Session Priority scheduling for sponsors that have been guaranteed a 35-minute technical session
  • Online advertising in SYS-CON's i-Technology publications
  • Capitalize on our comprehensive marketing efforts leading up to the show with print mailings, e-newsletters and extensive online media coverage.
  • Unprecedented PR Coverage: Editorial coverage on IoT.sys-con.com, Tweets to our 75,000 plus followers, press releases sent on major wire services to over 500 combined analysts and press members who attended Internet of @ThingsExpo - making it the best-covered "Internet of Things" conference in the world

For more information on sponsorship, exhibit, and keynote opportunities contact Carmen Gonzalez by email at events (at) sys-con.com, or by phone 201 802-3021. Book both events for additional savings!

@ThingsExpo Silicon Valley (November 4-6, 2014, Santa Clara, CA)
@ThingsExpo New York (June 9-11, 2015, New York, NY)

Secure Your VIP Pass to Attend @ThingsExpo Silicon Valley
Internet of @ThingsExpo announced today a limited time free "Expo Plus" registration option. The onsite registration price of $600 will be set to 'free' for delegates who register during September.

To take advantage of this opportunity, attendees can use the coupon code "IoTSeptember" and secure their "@ThingsExpo Plus" registration to attend all keynotes and general sessions, as well as a limited number of technical sessions each day of the show, in addition to full access to the expo floor and the @ThingsExpo hackathon.

The registration page is located at the @ThingsExpo site here.


@ThingsExpo New York 2015 'Call for Papers' Now Open
The 3rd International Internet of @ThingsExpo, to be held June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, New York announces that its 'Call for Papers' is now open. The event will feature a world class, all-star faculty with the hottest IoT topics covered in three distinct tracks.

Track 1 - Consumer IoT and Wearables: Smart Appliances, Wearables, Smart Cars, Smartphones 2.0, Smart Travel, Personal Fitness, Health Care, Personalized Marketing, Customized Shopping, Personal Finance, The Digital Divide, Mobile Cash & Markets, Games & the IoT, The Future of Education, Virtual Reality

Track 2 - Enterprise IoT: The Business Case for IoT, Smart Grids, Smart Cities, Smart Transportation, The Smart Home, M2M, Authentication/Security, Wiring the IoT, The Internet of Everything, Digital Transformation of Enterprise IT, Agriculture, Transportation, Manufacturing, Local & State Government, Federal Government

Track 3 - Developer IoT: WebRTC, Eclipse Foundation, Cloud Foundry, Docker & Linux Containers, Node-Red, Open Source Hardware, Leveraging SOA, Multi-Cloud IoT, Evolving Standards, WebSockets, Security & Privacy Protocols, GPS & Proximity Services, Bluetooth/RFID/etc., XMPP, Nest Labs


@ThingsExpo billboard is viewed by more than 1.3 million motorists per week on Highway 101, in the heart of Silicon Valley

Help plant your flag in the fast-expanding business opportunity that is the Internet of Things: Submit your speaking proposal today here!

Download @ThingsExpo Newsletter Today Here

Chris Matthieu Named @ThingsExpo Tech Chair

Internet of @ThingsExpo named Chris Matthieu tech chair of Internet of @ThingsExpo 2014 Silicon Valley.

Chris Matthieu has two decades of telecom and web experience. He launched his Teleku cloud communications-as-a-service platform at eComm in 2010, which was acquired by Voxeo. Next he built an open source Node.JS PaaS called Nodester, which was acquired by AppFog. His latest startups include Twelephone. Leveraging HTML5 and WebRTC, Twelephone's BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) is to become the next generation telecom company running in the Web browser. Chris is currently co-founder and CTO of Octoblu.

Website: http://www.ThingsExpo.com

Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/ThingsExpo

About SYS-CON Media & Events
SYS-CON Media (www.sys-con.com) has since 1994 been connecting technology companies and customers through a comprehensive content stream - featuring over forty focused subject areas, from Cloud Computing to Web Security - interwoven with market-leading full-scale conferences produced by SYS-CON Events. The company's internationally recognized brands include among othersCloud Expo® (CloudComputingExpo.com / @CloudExpo), Big Data Expo (BigDataExpo.net / @BigDataExpo), DevOps Summit (DevOpsSummit.sys-con.com / @DevOpsSummit), Internet of @ThingsExpo (ThingsExpo.com / @ThingsExpo) and Cloud Computing Bootcamp (CloudComputingBootcamp.com).

Cloud Expo®, Big Data Expo® and @ThingsExpo® are registered trademarks of Cloud Expo, Inc., a SYS-CON Events company.

More Stories By Roger Strukhoff

Roger Strukhoff (@IoT2040) is Executive Director of the Tau Institute for Global ICT Research, with offices in Illinois and Manila. He is Conference Chair of @CloudExpo & @ThingsExpo, and Editor of SYS-CON Media's CloudComputing BigData & IoT Journals. He holds a BA from Knox College & conducted MBA studies at CSU-East Bay.

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