This site is dedicated to teaching how to utilize cloud server products. Many companies are outgrowing small virtual hosting shops and want there own customized and optimized server farms. Cloud servers should be the next step for most small and medium businesses. The flexibility, scalability and redundancy offered with cloud computing is a game changer for businesses.

Most of what I talk about here is using public cloud server products such as Rackspace Cloud Servers or Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2).  These two products offer low cost of entry with no contracts, and with hourly billing they are ideal for short term projects or hosting whole company infrastructures.

Until the last year using cloud services was mostly the domain of specialty developers. It was not at all user friendly, very little useful documentation and way too much FUD.  Things are now starting to change, but there is still not much good general information about the specifics of administrating Linux cloud systems.

The largest challenge I see with most businesses trying to move to the cloud is expecting it to be the same as other IT solutions. I have seen many small businesses moving from a ‘one-box-wonder’ single solution holding their website, database and email services. They then come to the cloud and try to do the same thing with sometime terrible results. The reality is the cloud a is different place than standard dedicated hosting solutions and requires some different thinking about setup, build out and optimization. This site will feature guides, recommendations and various editorials to help utilize cloud server products in the best way for your company.

This site will try to help bridge the gap. As a senior Linux admin with a major cloud company, I have seen the future and it is the Cloud. In some way it will effect all businesses that have a web presence. The sooner you understand the technology and get out in front of it, the better situated your business will become.