Projects

1. Visit the IT department at your school or a local company to determine what type of network it is using. Draw a sketch of the network configuration. 2. Prepare a 10-minute talk explaining Web 2.0 and cloud computing to a college class. 3. Using the text and your own Internet research, briefly describe the five most important points you will include in your presentation. 4. Perform research on the Internet to identify an ASP that offers Web-based business solutions, and write a brief memo describing the firm and its services. 5. Perform research on the Internet to learn about trends in wireless networking, and typical costs involved in the installation of a wireless LAN.

Web 2.0
Web 2.0 is the term given to describe a second generation of the World Wide Web that is focused on the ability for people to collaborate and share information online. Web 2.0 basically refers to the transition from static HTMLWeb pages to a more dynamic Web that is more organized and is based on serving Web applications to users. Other improved functionality of Web 2.0 includes open communication with an emphasis on Web-based communities of users, and more open sharing of information. Over time Web 2.0 has been used more as a marketing term than a computer-science-based term. Blogs, wikis, and Web services are all seen as components of Web 2.0. Web 2.0 was previously used as a synonym for Semantic Web, but while the two are similar, they do not share precisely the same meaning. The shift to Internet-based collaboration has been so powerful and compelling that it has been named Web 2.0. Web 2.0 is not a reference to a more technically advanced version of the current Web. Rather, Web 2.0 envisions second generations of the Web that will enable people to collaborate, interact, and share information more dynamically. One of the goals of Web 2.0 is to enhance creativity, interaction, and shared ideas. In this regard, the Web 2.0 concept resembles the agile development process and the opensource software movement. Web 2.0 communities and services are based on a body of data created by users. As users collaborate, new layers of information are added in an overall environment known as the Internet operating system. These layers can contain text, sound bytes, images, and video clips that are shared with the user community. Netscape vs. Google If Netscape was the standard bearer for Web 1.0, Google is most certainly the standard bearer for Web 2.0, if only because their respective IPOs were defining events for each era. So let's start with a comparison of these two companies and their positioning.

Netscape framed "the web as platform" in terms of the old software paradigm: their flagship product was the web browser, a desktop application, and their strategy was to use their dominance in the browser market to establish a market for high-priced server products. Control over standards for displaying content and applications in the browser would, in theory, give Netscape the kind of market power enjoyed by Microsoft in the PC market. Much like the "horseless carriage" framed the automobile as an extension of the familiar; Netscape promoted a "webtop" to replace the desktop, and planned to populate that webtop with information updates and applets pushed to the webtop by information providers who would purchase Netscape servers. In the end, both web browsers and web servers turned out to be commodities, and value moved "up the stack" to services delivered over the web platform. Google, by contrast, began its life as a native web application, never sold or packaged, but delivered as a service, with customers paying, directly or indirectly, for the use of that service. None of the trappings of the old software industry are present. No scheduled software releases, just continuous improvement. No licensing or sale, just usage. No porting to different platforms so that customers can run the software on their own equipment, just a massively scalable collection of commodity PCs running open source operating systems plus homegrown applications and utilities that no one outside the company ever gets to see. At bottom, Google requires a competency that Netscape never needed: database management. Google isn't just a collection of software tools, it's a specialized database. Without the data, the tools are useless; without the software, the data is unmanageable. Software licensing and control over APIs--the lever of power in the previous era--is irrelevant because the software never need be distributed but only performed, and also because without the ability to collect and manage the data, the software is of little use. In fact, the value of the software is proportional to the scale and dynamism of the data it helps to manage. Google's service is not a server--though it is delivered by a massive collection of internet servers--nor a browser--though it is experienced by the user within the browser. Nor does its flagship search service even host the content that it enables users to find. Much like a phone call, which happens not just on the phones at either end of the call, but on the network in between, Google happens in the space between browser and search engine and destination content server, as an enabler or middleman between the user and his or her online experience. While both Netscape and Google could be described as software companies, it's clear that Netscape belonged to the same software world as Lotus, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, and other companies that got their start in the 1980's software revolution, while Google's fellows are other internet applications like eBay, Amazon, Napster, and yes, DoubleClick and Akamai.

Cloud Computing
Cloud computing refers to the cloud symbol that often is used to represent the Internet. The cloud computing concept envisions a cloud of remote computers that provide a total online software and data environment that is hosted by third parties. A users computer does not

perform processing or computing tasks the cloud does. Cloud computing effectively eliminates compatibility issues, because the Internet itself is the platform. This architecture also provides scaling on demand, which matches resources to needs at any given time. For example, during peak loads, additional cloud servers might come on line automatically to support the workload. Cloud computing is an ideal platform for powerful Software as a Service (SaaS) applications Cloud computing promises to cut operational and capital costs and, more importantly, let IT departments focus on strategic projects instead of keeping the datacenter running.

Cloud components

In simple, topological sense, a cloud computing solution is made up of several elements: clients, the datacenter, and distributed servers. In the preceding figure, these make up the three parts of cloud computing solution. Each element has a purpose and plays a specific role in delivering a functional cloud-based application.

Application Service Provider (ASP)

An ASP (Application Service Provider) is a company that delivers applications - software through the Internet and charges a monthly fee. Traditionally, software is sold. You physically receive a CD and you install it on your hard drive or your office's server. ASPs don't operate this way. They deliver software as a monthly service and use the Internet as the medium. Here's an example: Many companies use QuickBooks or Peachtree as their accounting software. Today, there are ASPs that offer web-based accounting packages that businesses can subscribe to. So instead of using an application that runs on your own desktop, you could login via the Internet and use a web-based application to perform tasks online - entering bills, cutting checks, etc.

The benefits of a web-based application managed by an ASP: Your company is not responsible for upkeep of the service provided. You save money and eliminate the hassle that comes with support, maintenance and upgrades. It's web-based, so your organization will have access to the software from anywhere. The risk of a bad technology investment is drastically reduced.

 You generally guaranteed better application availability, better data security, more frequent data backups, disaster recovery and basic, centralized technical support. If you're a small business, you'll be able to rent software which might otherwise be impractical or unaffordable. You'll have more time, money and energy to focus on business issues rather than IT concerns.

Leverage Lock Media's world-class Data Center

Dedicated Software Hosting Just like ASP, software hosting will generally give you all the benefits listed above. However, there is a difference. When a company decides to hire an outside provider to manage and run a piece of software that could have been installed and run on-site, it's referred to as software hosting. "Hosting" means that the software has been loaded on the provider's equipment and is running from their physical location as opposed to the client's. Software Hosting vs. ASP

Software hosting differs from traditional ASPs because the applications are different. Similar to a software vendor, an ASP will generally write and maintain its own proprietary applications such as an accounting application, a human resources program, etc. No other company can sell that application, nor would you be able to purchase the software to run on-site. Software hosting generally applies to software that can be installed on-site e.g. Microsoft applications, Siebel, etc. Alternative Delivery Model ASP Technology provides solutions to enhance the existing delivery capabilities to newer platforms such as SOA, SaaS, Web 2.0, and Mobile using functionally rich, vertical specific customized application sets. These newer application service delivery models would give the required competitive edge allowing enterprises to easily integrate, re-usability and interoperability between the business applications. ASP Technology offers application development services for customers to expand their current application capabilities into the following alternative delivery models: Software as a Service Web 2.0 Communications as a Service Shared development platforms Services on user owned devices (handhelds/PDAs) Custom Software Application Development ASP Technology provides a comprehensive range of Application Development Services that provide the organizational flexibility to meet the fast changing business requirements and challenges. Extensive research and understanding of functional aspects gives us the strategic edge for providing custom development services to the global companies. ASP Technology follows a well-defined software development lifecycle process for development of customized software applications for our customers' utilizing the latest technologies and structured methodologies including XP, Agile and SCRUM. We have experience in developing new software applications - that help to launch new business services, replace legacy applications, and address functional gaps in existing business applications. Specifically, our services cover the following: Enterprise Application Development ASP Technology provides full life cycle of application development spanning across requirement analysis, design, engineering and implementation. ASP Technology follows industry best practices for consistent and quality Project Management that often exceed customers' expectations. ASP Technology process framework has project, technical and SQA reviews done at all phases of project execution including Project Management, Software Configuration Management, Defect prevention, Software Quality Management and Quantitative

process Management. Open Source Application Development ASP Technology's open source application development engagements provide alternative costeffective solutions to customers who are looking for a customized enterprise application at a substantially lower cost than commercially available software. ASP Technology will work with the Customer in identifying the various components that can be used from Open Source community and integrate them with custom glue code. All modifications to the source code will be as per the Software's licensing agreement and any modifications to the source code of the original application will be done keeping the upgrade path of the customer in perspective and following the open source community's guidelines.

Trends in Wireless Networking

By Drew Robb | Published on: 16-Mar-06 Related Articles Push-Button Wireless Security Ignite Your Wireless Network Five Ways to Improve Your Wireless Network Looking to reduce IT costs? Learn how to cut expenses without cutting services, plus tactical approaches to controlling costs and cutting power expenses outside of the data center. Download now. America's love affair with wireless connectivity continues to grow with no end in sight. The FCC reports that U.S. cell phone usage now exceeds landline usage, with close to 200 million American cell phone lines in operation. Notebooks outnumber desktops these days and most laptops come with wireless as a standard feature. As a result, more and more small businesses are finding ways to integrate wireless technology into their daily operations. "The benefits of mobility in business are well known, and they are as applicable to SMBs as they are to larger enterprises," says Nikos Koutsoukos, director of small business product line management at small-business networking giant, 3Com. "Smaller businesses need to be more flexible both physically and in it terms of business, and going wireless allows them to do so." American firms are finding a number of ways to incorporate wireless products into their everyday tasks. Transportation companies and businesses with small fleets of cars or trucks, for example, can track vehicle movement using GPS-enabled cell phones. They simply log onto their computer and can see instantly the location of each vehicle. Cheetah Tracks, by

Westlake Village, Calif.-based Cheetah Software Systems Inc., is one example of such a product, targeted at companies with two-to-50 vehicles. All it takes is a cell phone, an Internet connection and a PC running Microsoft MapPoint. The cost is $15 per cell phone, per month. Other wireless applications include letting sales people access the company database from anywhere, controlling inventory and letting field technicians update customer accounts or service call systems while out on the road. Such functionality not only saves time and money, but it also improves an organization's productivity since salespeople no longer need to connect to the network in the morning, download their data and then return to the office to upload their activity reports. That translates into more face time with customers. Branch in a Box While wireless networks used to be a little cumbersome to implement, vendors are now coming out with plug-and-play tools that make wireless networking relatively pain free. "There have been more 'branch-in-a-box routers' coming on the market that include wireless as an option," says Michael Disabato, an analyst at the Burton Group. "Such tools eliminate multiple boxes and simplify management." NetGear, Inc.. of Santa Clara, Calif., for instance, offers the ProSafe Wireless Access Point (Model WG102). It is an entry-level, all-in-one wireless access point (AP), bridge and repeater, and it provides strong, built-in security. For example, it helps detect rogue (unauthorized) APs, i.e., access points that aren't part of the official company network but let outsiders sneak in undetected. The ProSafe Wireless AP costs $179.99 Linksys, now part of Cisco Systems, Inc., also offers an all-in-one solution with its Linksys Wireless-G VPN Router (Model WRV54G). For $99 it provides virtual private network (VPN), switch, access point, firewall capabilities for small businesses such as coffee shops so that they can turn their business into a hotspot for customers. 3Com, on the other hand, offers what it calls the market's first convergence bundle. It combines a voice-ready switch with an SMB IP telephony platform (to run voice traffic over an Ethernet network) and secure wireless support. It is a much more comprehensive product than those listed above, but comes at a higher price around $2,000. "In such a product, traditional router functions have merged with security and other functions to ensure that a Wide Area Network (WAN) can work well over a geographically dispersed environment," says Koutsoukos. "More sophisticated wireless and networking technology is available to SMBs since it's now easier to use and more affordable." Security Concerns Even with increased vendor choices and lower costs, some small businesses aren't rushing to implement wireless. Why? Many remain nervous about wireless security. There are

just too many stories unauthorized access to business networks due to lax wireless security practices. "Security is still a huge issue in wireless," says Disabato. "With the spread of Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), it's far too easy for an unauthorized person, or company, to piggyback on to your wireless network unless you have the right security measure in place." Vivek Chugh, NetGear's product line manager agrees. He says if you're going to deploy a wireless network, you have to ensure the security of the data being sent over that network. "Securing your data over a wireless infrastructure has matured over a period of time, and there are technologies built into today's access points and routers that prevent unauthorized personnel from associating with your wireless network and accessing your sensitive data," says Chugh. "The key step to deploying a wireless network in any SMB environment is planning the installation and setup and deciding on what security mechanism to put in place, so that unauthorized users don't steal your sensitive data," he says. For example, modern APs include features that prevent unauthorized users to connect to a wireless network through rogue access points. Chugh also brings up an important point about the types of wireless threats that now exist. Due to the proliferation of the technology, more and more avenues of potential security weakness can be exploited. "The biggest change in the past year for SMB networks has been Unified Threat Management (UTM) on the security side," he says. UTM provides anti-spam, anti-spyware, antivirus support combined with firewall and VPN technology for a turn-key solution that encompasses all forms of network access, both wired and wireless." Until recently, UTM has been more of an enterprise-level tool. The good news for small businesses is that such products to the market are designed for and targeting smaller firms. NetGear and Computer Associates Inc. , are examples of companies with security suites aimed at small business. Acronyms and Numbers What features should business owners look for in wireless products? Unfortunately, a quagmire of terminology, acronyms and hard-to-decipher standards makes this a challenging question. For example,802.11is a common term that deals with wireless technology. It is the umbrella standard for most types of wireless networking. The only problem is that there are so many variations of it, that it's hard to keep up 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11i and 802.11n.

To keep it simple, 802.11g is a safe bet for current equipment and offers a data transfer rate of around 24.7 Megabits per second (Mbps). A new variation called 802.11n is coming out soon which will increase those speeds greatly over 100Mbps of raw throughput on a wireless network. This is just about as fast as can be experienced over a hard-wired network. Then there's the acronym nightmare that concerns wireless security terms. Originally there was Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) but it faltered rapidly and was replaced by Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). WEP added encryption to a largely wide-open WAP, but it failed to provide the same level of security as hard-wired networks. Then came Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). It included more advanced encryption and stronger user authentication. WPA was actually pretty good, but another called WPA2 has recently become available that is even more secure. "WEP is insufficient to protect wireless networks from determined attackers," says DiSabato. "However, WPA/WPA2 is a dramatic improvement in Wi-FI security that resolves all of WEP's known weaknesses. They provide enterprise-class security for user authentication and encryption." His advice is to phase out WEP-based gear rapidly and move to WPA or WPA2. WPA may well be enough for most small businesses. So companies with WPA networks, he says, don't need to rush to upgrade. "If you don't have WPA installed, go straight to WPA2," says Disabato. "Everyone else should plan on going to WPA2 within two-to-three years." Koutsoukos of 3Com suggests that choosing the wireless standard and speed should be based on a solid migration path for the future. You don't want to adopt technology today that may give you compatibility trouble in a year or two. "Choose a solution that lets you grow and protects your initial investment while keeping the initials costs low," he says. "And if the wireless infrastructure starts to grow rapidly, small business will have to give some thought as to how they can simplify its management." Wireless for All? Who should go wireless? Wireless vendors, understandably, feel that wireless should be be adopted broadly. "If small businesses are looking for anywhere/anytime network access, then they should deploy a wireless infrastructure," says Chugh. "A company can provide its salespersons with wireless devices, so that they can download list of customers that they need to visit and send back activity reports through a wireless network." Disabato, however, feels that it isn't a question of who should go wireless but what. "Anyone can go wireless, provided they can justify the benefits and the potential security risks," he says. "What should not go wireless are devices like printers, scanners and other high-

bandwidth devices that can adversely impact performance. Also, critical applications like call centers should remain wired." Drew Robb is a Los Angeles-based freelancer specializing in technology and engineering. Originally from Scotland, he graduated with a degree in geology from Glasgow's Strathclyde University. In recent years he has authored hundreds of articles as well as the book, Server Disk Management by CRC Press.

Wireless Network Cost

Wireless G Routers: $40-$60 (Php. 1,700-Php. 2,500) Wireless N Routers: $70-$170 (Php. 3,000-Php. 7,300) Wireless networks, also known as Wireless LANs (WLANs), allow for wireless communication between computers and the Internet without the need for cables between the networked devices. Simple wireless networks can be set up for the home or small office using one's existing Internet access. Typically, a person who is familiar with setting up a computer can install a home wireless network in about an hour by following the guides and manuals. Typical costs: Wi-Fi technologies conform to several wireless standards that allow the network devices to communicate and interact with one another. There are currently four wireless standards: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n. Every wireless networking device will list what standards it follows on the box. 802.11g and 802.11n are the prevalent wireless technologies, though most routers still support older standards. Wireless-G (802.11g) broadband routers typically cost less than the newer and faster Wireless-N (802.11g) ones. These 802.11g routers range from $40 to$60. The Linksys WRT54G2 WirelessG Broadband Router is well-reviewed option in this price range. Wireless-N broadband routers cost more and offers the fastest speed and longest range. These routers cost anywhere from $70 to $170 depending on what features and capabilities get implemented. The D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Wireless Router at $90 is good choice. The higher priced Netgear Rangemax WNDR3700 Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router at $160 offers twice the bandwidth using Netgear's RangeMax technology.

What should be included: The wireless broadband router and a network cable to connect to your home internet cable or DSL modem. User manuals and quick start guides to help install and set up the router for the wireless network. Additional costs: In order for one's computer or laptop to communicate to the newly set up wireless network, network adapters such as wireless USB adapters, PCI cards or laptop PC adapters may also be needed. Most newer laptop and notebook computers already have built-in wireless capabilities. USB adapters typically cost around $10 to $20 for wireless-G such as the Belkin Wireless G USB Adapter ($22). For wireless-N adapters, those range from $25to $70. The Belkin N+ USB Adapter has gotten favorable reviews ($70). PCI adapters for desktop computers involve opening up the computer case and installing the card into a free PCI slot on the motherboard. A wireless-G PCI adapter like the Cisco-Linksys WMP54G Wireless-G PCI Adapter costs around$36. Professional installation is also available for those who would prefer outside help. Best Buy's Geek Squad can set up a wireless network for $150, each additional computer or device to the network costs $49. TIP: While all different brand wireless devices should be able to communicate with each other because of the wireless standard, sometimes companies will make the installation for devices under the same family have easier set ups. If one needs to exchange the range of a wireless network, a wireless access point (WAP) or bridge may be used. These typically cost around $80 for a wireless-G one like the Netgear Rangemax Wireless Access Point WPN802. There are not many wireless-N extenders or bridges currently on the market, but Linksys does offer the WET610N Dual-Band Wireless-N Ethernet Bridge. Discounts: TIP: Sometimes bundles will be offered at a better price and these often include a wireless router and a USB adapter to be used on a computer. TIP: Many of the networking companies also provide some online or telephone support if there are installation issues, thus saving on any outside professional servicing costs.

Shopping for a wireless network: The companies Linksys by Cisco, D-Link, Netgear and Belkin are major manufacturers of wireless routers and adapters. Store retailers such as OfficeMax, Best Buy, Staples, and Office Depot all sell wireless networking equipment. Online retailers such as Amazon, Newegg.com and CompUSA also sell wireless computer components. TIP: All of the various networking companies also offer their products for sale on their websites. However, the prices there are often not as discounted as what one would find either in a store or from online retailers.