Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 31 March 2011

Preparing the mid term presentation slides, with the headers and the contents to be added have already been planned. The contents more or less were already done, and left with the schedule which will update as time goes until end of week 5.

Daily research on Cisco solutions 31/03/2011

Week 4 Day 4 Continuing on android tutorial, had encounter a problem on assigning an Id, search internet and found out it is a bug. Inorder to solve the ID problem, either recreate the problem again or change the name assign to the ID.

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 31/03/11

Done with enhancing Chapter 5(Cloud Computing) on the existing powerpoint files downloaded from skydrive. Basically, there's isn't much resource from the files done by the existing group. In fact, i've done my own research on the public cloud, private cloud, hybrid cloud, IaaS, SaaS and PaaS. Read through some of the related websites on all these topics and added into the slides but still can't totally absorb what some of the topics mean. We will spend more time research and add into the slides if possible.

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 30/03/11

Added more slides on advantages and problems encounted on Chapter 4(Containment, Hot/Cold aisle). Started Chapter 5(Cloud Computing) by researching through google and edited the starting few powerpoint slides of the chapter first. Will resume research on the other resources tomorrow and will plan the draft presentation powerpoint with yeeheng.

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 30 March 2011

Decided to go through Topic 4: Containment again, as there is still more to be added in after we went through the resource folder.
Hence we added few more slides to that topic. So now this topic is completed.

Topic 5: Clouding Computing will be doing it tomorrow.

Daily research on Cisco solutions 30/03/2011

Week 4 day 3 continuing on Android tutorial

Daily research on Cisco solutions 29/03/2011

Week 4 day 2 had been doing android tutorial

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 29/03/11

Done with enhancing chapter 4(Containment, Hot/Cold Aisle). Read up some of the pdf files downloaded from the skydrive and added in more relevant stuff on containment. Did some research through net due to some of the topic i don't really understand in the pdf files. Roughly will try to enhance slightly a few more slides in chapter 4 due to pages not enough. Tomorrow will focus on Chapter 5(Cloud Computing). Will spend more time on this topic because it's a important topic for Data Center v3.0

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 29 March 2011

A new chapter is completed, which is Chapter 4: Containment.
Together with kin leong, we research and used some past reference left behind by the previous group
to edit and create the content for this chapter.
Is only a 14pages slides but we still think that we can add in more, but we will get back to this when it reaches the end where we finalised everything.

Better Billing in the Clouds after years of improvements.

According to TM forum, "Cloud computing is one cloud that, rather than making things gloomy, has been brightening up the enterprise world -- especially the telecoms market. It is going beyond hype and presenting communications service providers with opportunities for growth and profitability. This attracting the attention of a growing number of organizations and CIOs who see the potential for reducing the need for capital investment, making operational costs more predictable, improving the availability of services and enabling organizations to respond more flexibly to variable demand. In addition, cloud computing presents communications operators with an opportunity to grow their revenues from the enterprise segment."

Read more at: http://www.tmforum.org/ViewEmail/4574/home.html?em=52963075

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 28/03/11

Edited and completed chapter 3(UPS) with yeeheng and removed some of the slides that which we find is not very useful in that topic. Will try to complete chapter 4(Containment, hot/cold aisle) by tomorrow as the topic is kind of big and couple of days to research for the details and add in.

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 28 March 2011

Starting on creating the powerpoint notes for Chapter 3: UPs System.
Helped kin leong in doing this topic and we discussed the contents, what should we add in or remove in the morning. And we proceeded onto editing it after lunch break.
We managed to complete this chapter by today and will continue Chapter 4: Containment
tomorrow.

Daily research on Cisco solutions 28/03/2011

Week 4 Day 1 Today i had enhanced the presentation PPT plus rehearsal, lasty i had read though android lectures note lesson 1

Daily research on Cisco solutions 25/03/2011

Week 3 Day 5

I had been trying to install Vcentre server but it is unsuccessful even in window server 2008, will try to find out what is causing the problem. I had downloaded 2 linux during the research of password recoverly for ESXi grml and slax. Eventually i decided to use the repair method.

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 25 March 2011

Completed Topic 2: Data center with the help from kin leong.
started on Topic 3: UPS system , expected to be completed by next week.
Weekly report and also the requested "About Us" word document  were completed as well.

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 25/03/11

Completed Chapter 2 (Data Center) by giving Yeeheng some advises on what to add on and remove from the previous group powerpoint slides. Regarding my Chapter 3 (UPS system), we have edited some of the slides and enhanced it with some images and removing some of the points in some of the subtopic, so that the slides won't be cover with too much words.

Daily research on Cisco solutions 24/03/2011

Week 3 Day 4

i had setup a draft of PPT for current training, finished basic Flash tutorial today, downloaded Vcentre server and in process of finding guide for Vcentre Server

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 24 March 2011

Discussed with kin leong about the contents for chapter 1 and 2.
Chapter 1 we kept it aside first and will get back to that chapter when all chapters are done. As the chapters will explain the overview of all the chapters.

And for Chapter 2 is 95% done, including the pictures. Only left with the design, alighment of some headers and some information regarding the V1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and blade server.

Chapter 2 will be completed by tomorrow morning and chapter 3 will soon start around in the afternoon.

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 24/03/11

Using the previous project group files as base, we started to edit and add-on some addition topics into the file. Topic includes server rack and blade server, comparison table between different version of data center and some others small features. Due to chapter one is the overview of the whole module, we decided to touch on the other individual chapters first than slowly get back to make changes on chapter one.

We will complete chapter 2 (Data Center) by tomorrow morning and move on to the next chapter.

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 23 March 2011

Went through the work done by the previous group, discussed and edited those areas we want to remove or add more to elaborate, as some areas were redundant so we can improve by adding more important and relevant information.
Confirm ideas and work task with supervisor, able to proceed on with the given work.
Brainstorm and planned out all the work we suppose to do, improve and research on.
Will need to go into details of the practical portion of the project, including more research and hands-on work on trying out the practical to understand it ourselves.

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 28/03/11

Edited and completed chapter 3(UPS) with yeeheng and removed some of the slides that which we find is not very useful in that topic. Will try to complete Chapter 4(Containment, hot/cold aisle) by tomorrow as the topic is kind of big and more details needed to add in.

Daily research on Cisco solutions 23/03/2011

Week 3 Day 3

Continue on flash tutorial and discussion for Virtualization

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 23/03/11

Start to focus on the first two chapters done by the previous group file and discuss with yeeheng what to be enhanced. Research on server racks for some images and the fundermental on how racks operate, server racks is one of the topic we going to enchance into one of the chapters.

After discussion, we get more understanding on what we need to do and focus on. Downloaded the files through skydrive and will start reading it tomorrow. Will approach cheehau and get more understanding on how VMware ESXi function, install and play with.

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 22 March 2011

Went through the previous group's final year project work again, and we had our discussion over what they have done, what should be improved and what we should do as part of our own FYPJ.

Project discussions result in coming out with:
- The things that we want to improve on the exsisting project
- The contents with several chapters and title
- The brieft project plan and checklist

Daily research on Cisco solutions 22/03/2011

Week 3 Day 2

Continue on flash tutorial

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 22/03/11

Opened up those half done project's powerpoint slides completed by previous batch and roughly browsed through how their project start and how they do their project. Get an idea from the existing project and started to plan with yee heng on what should be done, to be enhance and add-on in the following week before mid-term presentation. This week's weekly report, will add in another new version of the draft project plan on what will be done in the upcoming weeks.

Daily research on Cisco solutions 21/03/2011

Week 3 Day 1

been playing with Photo tutorial and starting on flash tutorial

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 21 March 2011

Back to research on "Virtualization" , because Chee Hau had borrowed this book about "Virtualization" for me to read through. So since i got this book, i might as well make good use of it.
Only managed to read through some chapters from the book, and extract some main points.

Received the previous batch's work, and browse throught the topics and what they have done.
At least now we know what we have not research on, and can proceed further.

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 21/03/11

Read up on one of the chapter (Existing Backup and Recovery) in the library book I've borrowed. Briefly understand how data center backup their data in the past by using tape. Eventually I'll research on how latest version data center backup their data.

Received the previous batch half done project. Decide to spend some time reading through those powerpoint sides and word documents first. Regarding the testing out of VMware ESXi software. Maybe will put it a side and do it in later part.

Daily research on Cisco solutions 18/03/2011

Week 2 Day 5

Continuing the Photoshop Tutorial and had borrow 2 book regarding Window Server 2008 and Virtualization

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 18 March 2011

Completed the weekly report stating the things i have done for this entire week, the outstanding  work and what i would need to do for next week.
And also we discussed what is our project objective for this FYP, but it is only a brieft work, and will update it as we go along the way.

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 18/03/11

Continue doing research on vmware virtualization to have more understanding and how vmware works in workstations. Done weekly report with project objectives, but it's not in full version right now. Will add on more resources when there's more things to be done in the project.

Videos on VMware:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE_6tKCeS1g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GVZHuHHdnk&feature=related

Daily research on Cisco solutions 17/03/2011

Week 2 day 4

Tutorial on configure ESXi host and vSphere client connecting to ESXi host had been completed, i am also continuing the PhotoShop Tutorial

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 17 March 2011

Started on another topic to reseach, which is "Technologies/Software used in the data center"
Besides the common VMware, there is Hypervisor, vSphere, VMware EXSi, VMware vCloud  and there is still more to be find out.
Brieftly read through and understand the content about some technologies and got to know how it is used and applied in the industries.
The research area is still too wide for us to digest the contents, and unsure if the research area we are searching for and the current findings we have is the correct or relavent to our project, uncertain that whether we are on the right track.
And the whole project remains unclear and have many doubts.

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 17/03/11

Start my research by watching some videos on VMware virtualization through youtube. Kind of understand how virtualization benefits on Data Center by using VMware. But don't really understand how the whole system work with the VMware virtualization implemented and how it consolidate all hardwares, applications and operating systems into a few physical devices.

Basically i learned VMware Virtualization from this few links and there's actually too much to cover, so i'll spend more time on those topics required in my project to have more understanding:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdMDdeoJmHM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg2sRV5ay08&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnNX13yBzAU&feature=related

Daily research on Cisco solutions 16/03/2011

Week 2 day 3

I had created a tutorial to install ESXi on VMware WorkStation, tutorial on configuation ESXi host and using Vmware vSphere client to connect to ESXi host is still in process. Window 7 is also installed in Vmware WorkStation and i had started playing with some photoshop CS5 tutorial

PhotoShop CS5 online tutorial
http://tv.adobe.com/show/learn-photoshop-cs5

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 16 March 2011

As continued from what i did yesterday, i went on finding more about the history of data center, and i concluded some points which i think is suitable or similar to "Data Center v1.0".
And i went on searching for the software, technologies used in a data center, but the research is still half way done, will resume for more information tomorrow.

I did a wild search and came upon to this two websites, which i think will be useful for our project.
-This link is about how the future data center will be.
- http://www.globalfoundationservices.com/news/documents/CoverStoryDCD-FOCUS-MagMSFTNextGenApril2010.pdf

-In this link, it is about the evolution of data center.
- http://www.kkant.net/ICDCS2010/icdcs_panel_Cherkasova.pdf

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 16/03/11

Continue to do some research on "Virtualization on Data Center" in the morning and found a few more websites that explained on Virtualization implemented on latest Data Center use in the industry.
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/2005/0808datacenter1.html

In the afternoon, tried to research on "What is VMware ESXi?" and understand how this application works and a bit of understanding on Bare Metal Hypervisor.

Differences between VMware ESX and VMware ESXi:
http://www.virtualizationadmin.com/articles-tutorials/vmware-esx-articles/general/vmware-esxi-server-compare-esx-server.html

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 15 March 2011

Had to research on the versions of data center. What i did today was on version 1.0,
my research was not fruitful as "Version 1.0" is too wide and could not be exactly found over the web.
Hence i still could not get a full idea of what is it about, but instead of continuing on the same key word.

i tried to search for the history, the 1st data center, thinking that maybe version 1.0 maybe as the same as saying the traditional or old data center. but i was taught it only applies to the mainframe time.
so that is why my findings for today were wasted.
Probably i will continue researching about it tomorrow.

Daily research on Cisco solutions 15/03/2011

Week 2 day 2

I had successfully installed VMware ESXi on VMware Workstation and had use VMware vSphere client to login and to create a Virtual Machine(Window Xp). After creating a Virual Machine in ESXi, i have some basic understanding of using a vSphere client to create and control a ESXi host and vCentre Server to control multiple ESXi host, unfortunately vCentre Server is not free so i did not had a chance to try it out

Some problem i encounter, school computer had download and architecture restriction (cannot use x64), there for i realize i can't install ESXi on school computer. school network also had bandwidth limit resulted inaccessible of photoshop video tutorial

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 15/03/11

Resume my research on "Data Center 3.0". Base on the latest DC3.0, mainly enhancement is done by cisco company. Read up some of the articles regarding unified computing system that created by cisco. Regarding VMware ESXi software testing. Will try to get some understanding tomorrow before get started with it.

Most of the research i've found is all on cisco website.
http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2009/hd_031609.html
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/datacenter/what-you-need-to-know-about-ciscos-data-center-30/147

Daily research on Cisco Solutions 14/03/2011

Week 2 day1

VNC and RDP on window is working, however i encounter some problem in Red Hat
linux

i can't start the VNC server as it always give me a error message that server is not
found when i had already set the server name, other than that VNC viewier is working
which allow me to remote access window XP.
I had research on remote access on linux using RDP but i had not try it out yet

Mean while i had try out FTP on window, client to client is working already but
when i try to use window 2008 to client, i could only see the file but can't access it
due to the security issues.

EXSi download problem had been solved

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 14 March 2011

As posted in my previous blog post, i will continue what is not yet completed from last week.
Which is "Cloud Computing", i choose to extract information from the book i borrowed from the school library instead of the web, but it only provide me with a short brief of the topic, but generally is enough to understand what is it about.
But further researching will still be done when needed.

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 14/03/11

As following the schedule planned on the weekly report for last week. I still yet to complete my research on Cloud Computing topic last week. Today I've done my researched on cloud computing and understand roughly the fundamental of what is cloud computing mean and what it does.

Below links is the website I've researched on:

http://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/definition/cloud-computing
http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/historyoftechindustry/a/cloud_computing.htm

Youtube video link on cloud computing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obrv2hHtfp4&feature=related

Lastly, read up on cloud computing in the book ("Foundation of Green IT") for more references and understanding.

Research methodologies

It is important, for many reasons, to decide on a research method before you start researching:
1. It gives you a mental map on what you are doing.
2. It kicks in a timeline and helps to make sure you complete what you set out to research.
3. Organized and helps to put the 'puzzle' into place.
4. A common 'language' for team discussions.

There are many great places to look for research methods, try a search like this:

http://www.google.com.sg/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=1h&oq=re&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4SUNC_enSG380SG381&q=research+methodologies

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 11/03/11

Base on the comparison between the three versions of Data Center required in our project research. One of the main different between on the three versions is Data Center 1.0 and 2.0 strategies focused on data center consolidation but Data Center 3.0 targets virtualization and automation. Cisco intend to enhance some features on Data Center 3.0 which is optimizing application performance, service levels, efficiency and collaboration in it.

Regarding the Data Center 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 comparison chart, me and yee heng done a table and input some basic physical differences between the three versions. We will continue doing our research to get more resources on how virtualization implemented on Data Center and what benefit features will be enhance in it which make a green data center in future.

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 11 March 2011

Discussed and come out with the project plan&project schedule, the cover page of the weekly report.
Managed to come out with some topics that we need to research for next week and also the next following week. 
wrote down the weekly activities using the report template given, and state the outstanding stuff that i have not yet managed to complete in this week but will continue over the weekends and be done by next week monday.
Had a discussion with kin leong about the versions of data center, we talked about what is the current data center, what is the difference after version 2.0 is implemented and the future of version 3.0.
did sort out some doubts and many questions are still a question mark. A further research is needed to be done.
Complied the weekly report with the project plan and schedule and individual report.

Daily research on Cisco Solutions 11/03/2011

Day 5 11/03/2011

I had finish the chart with the differences on VMware Server, workstation and EXSi and had uploaded it to the sky drive plus the weekly report

i had learn how to set up RDP and VNC on window and had installed red hat linux
FTP is still in process as i cannot download IIS 7 due school restriction

remote access for XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mobility/getstarted/remoteintro.mspx

VNC guide
http://www.realvnc.com/products/free/4.1/index.html

Place to download IIS 7.0
http://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/setup-ftp-server-in-windows-iis/

Window server 2008 tutorial
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Windows_Server_2008/

Daily research on Cisco Solutions 10/03/2011

Day 4 10/03/2011

I realize it is impossible to finish the UC320W Administration Guides so i just focus on the data sheet for the rest of the cisco item

today i had read up on cisco data sheet on mobility - wireless
there are 3 product on this session, cisco 3300 Series Mobility Services Engine,
Cisco Context - Aware Software and
Cisco Adaptive wireless IPS Software

http://www.Cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/

meanwhile i had installed window server 2008 and window XP on VMware WorkStation,
testing will start tmr

by right i will have window 7 pro ready as well but some file in the DVD is corrupted so
i had ask help desk to another DVD which will take a few day to be ready

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 10 March 2011

Continue researching from the book that i borrowed from the school library
reading on the chapters about "Server consolidation", "Virtualization" 
able to derive some main points out  about each topic and wrote it down together with the other findings i researched on, on the previous days.

Cloud Computing will be next to be researched on, although i only read up brieftly about it, i will continue and extract the main points and understanding about the topic.
Same goes for the comparision for Data center version 1.0, 2.0, 3.0.

Daily Report on Reseach for FYPJ: 10/03/11

Research on virtualization and read through few contents on the book I've borrowed. The book briefly describe the features and disadvantages of existing data center. It also explained some impacts after implementing virtualization on data center such as power consumption, physical end-devices reduced and so on. At the meanwhile, research some of the differences of data center 1.0 and 2.0.

Regarding the comparison chart for the data center 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0. We'll include it on tomorrow weekly report submission.

Daily Research Report For FYPJ @ 9 March 2011

- Research is currently done as a group on common topics about data center and relevant information
- Based on this 4 main points ( Cloud Computing,Virtualization,Data center management and Data center
   3.0. )

  Monday, 7 March 2011
 - A brief research is done on "What is data center" and what can be found or seen in the center. 

 And from the topic, it carries me away to the other details all about data center like how it operates, what it provides, how the server works. A quick look through of the information is only done for today. 

 Tuesday, 8 March 2011  
- Researched topic is on "Data Center management" , went through how companies handles and manage data centers. Able to found out the requirements in designing a proper data center, with the environment control of the data center, voltage provided to the racks to fire protection and security.

Wednesday, 9 March 2011
- Besides information found on the web, we actually went to borrow some books from the school library for extra, better references on Data Center which covers "Virtualization" , "Server Architecture" and       
"Cloud Computing".
Reading some relevant chapters and going through examples given in the book.

Daily research on Cisco Solutions 09/03/2011

Day 3 09/03/2011

I had go to the cisco web site and had read up about cisco voice new product
Cisco UC320W

reference for cisco voice products
http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/solutions/small_business/products/voice_conferencing/index.html

Cisco UC320W overview, features and etc..
http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/solutions/small_business/products/voice_conferencing/uc_300_series/index.html

UC300 series start guide
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/unified_communications/csbuc300/quick_start/UC320W_QSG_78-19296.pdf

UC300 series Administration Guides(Still reading in process)
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/unified_communications/csbuc300/admin_guide/UC320W_AG_78-19371.pdf

Daily Report on Research for FYPJ: 09/03/11

Currently the roles and individual tasks for us will be in group because we both need to know the overall functions of a data center.

Monday – 07/03/11
Basically on the first day, I’ve done some researched on the fundamental of the data center and understand roughly how it works before getting more in depth to know about the features of a data center such as management of the data center and cloud computing, visualization and etc.

Tuesday – 08/03/11
Researched on data center management and downloaded a copy of a pdf file related from Cisco website. Mainly of the researched was still on fundamental of the data center such as the history of data center, benefits of using a data center and some features. Lastly got some ideas on future implementation on data center which is Cisco are targeting to create Data Center 3.0.

Wednesday – 09/03/11
Went Library and borrowed a book, “Foundation of Green IT: Consolidation, Virtualization, Efficiency, And R0I in the Data Center” and get some understanding on how the existing server environment, power cooling and some data protection. Watched some Videos on youtube regarding Data Center on visualization, VMware and how Data Center works in future.

Daily research on Cisco Solutions 07/03/2011 to 08/03/2011

Day 1 07/03/2011
i had order software (window server 2008, win XP and Window 7 from SIT MSDN, need about 3 day to be ready. Mean while i had download VMware server and VNC software for later pratice.
i had read up about the differences about VMware server and workStation and prepare the photo shop CS5 tutorial

Day 2 08/03/2011
i had read though ccna 2 and 3 power point and had prepared Android tutorial