Comments on: Manage your infrastructure via your iPhone!? http://blog.nigelpoulton.com/manage-infrastructure-via-iphone/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed with nigel poulton Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:10:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Nigel Poulton http://blog.nigelpoulton.com/manage-infrastructure-via-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-680 Nigel Poulton Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:20:48 +0000 http://blog.nigelpoulton.com/iphone-apps-for-the-enterprise/#comment-680 Hi Dave, I know that the iPhone app is not intended to replace the XMS GUI, and I think it looks like a great app. From the YouTube video it looks well designed and simple to use. My initial worries were based on the issues I have with my touch-screen BlackBerry - Im forever making typos and its a bit clunky. Ive had more of a mess around with my wifes iPhone and its much slicker! The more and more I think about this, the more and more I like it. Great little tool to have in your arsenal! I still wonder how many data centre managers will be so easy to convince. I might suggest the notion to some customers over the next month or so see what their reactions. However, with the types of companies I work for, I cant use examples such as programming a DVR - that is a world away from their mission critical kit. Nigel Hi Dave,

I know that the iPhone app is not intended to replace the XMS GUI, and I think it looks like a great app. From the YouTube video it looks well designed and simple to use.

My initial worries were based on the issues I have with my touch-screen BlackBerry – Im forever making typos and its a bit clunky. Ive had more of a mess around with my wifes iPhone and its much slicker! The more and more I think about this, the more and more I like it. Great little tool to have in your arsenal!

I still wonder how many data centre managers will be so easy to convince. I might suggest the notion to some customers over the next month or so see what their reactions. However, with the types of companies I work for, I cant use examples such as programming a DVR – that is a world away from their mission critical kit.

Nigel

]]> By: Dave Allison http://blog.nigelpoulton.com/manage-infrastructure-via-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-678 Dave Allison Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:41:09 +0000 http://blog.nigelpoulton.com/iphone-apps-for-the-enterprise/#comment-678 The idea of the Xsigo iPhone app is not to replace the main Xsigo control UIs (CLI and XMS) but extend the UI to a remote location and allow you to be informed of problems while you lie on the beach.  However, being informed of a problem (through a push notification) is great but will be sort-of useless if you can't do anything about it! The monitoring ability of the iPhone app needs to be coupled with the ability to make changes to fix the problems.  I don't think anybody is suggesting that you set up a datacenter from an iPhone, but it definitely needs to have the ability to allow you to make changes to the configuration. Think of it like the AT&T U-verse app for the iPhone - I wouldn't use it to program my DVR full time but it's awfully useful when I'm not home. The idea of the Xsigo iPhone app is not to replace the main Xsigo control UIs (CLI and XMS) but extend the UI to a remote location and allow you to be informed of problems while you lie on the beach. 
However, being informed of a problem (through a push notification) is great but will be sort-of useless if you can't do anything about it!
The monitoring ability of the iPhone app needs to be coupled with the ability to make changes to fix the problems.  I don't think anybody is suggesting that you set up a datacenter from an iPhone, but it definitely needs to have the ability to allow you to make changes to the configuration.
Think of it like the AT&T U-verse app for the iPhone – I wouldn't use it to program my DVR full time but it's awfully useful when I'm not home.

]]> By: Nigel Poulton http://blog.nigelpoulton.com/manage-infrastructure-via-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-675 Nigel Poulton Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:06:04 +0000 http://blog.nigelpoulton.com/iphone-apps-for-the-enterprise/#comment-675 <p>Techmute,</p> <p>I should have been more clear.  It wasn't <em>you</em> doing the symcli stuff that worried me......  Its the idea of some of the folks Ive worked with in the past attempting work like that ;-)</p> <p>Assuming good staff then Id have no worries.  However, Ive seen my fair share of cowboys in my time.</p> <p>Nigel</p> Techmute,

I should have been more clear.  It wasn't you doing the symcli stuff that worried me……  Its the idea of some of the folks Ive worked with in the past attempting work like that ;-)

Assuming good staff then Id have no worries.  However, Ive seen my fair share of cowboys in my time.

Nigel

]]> By: Nigel Poulton http://blog.nigelpoulton.com/manage-infrastructure-via-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-674 Nigel Poulton Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:03:12 +0000 http://blog.nigelpoulton.com/iphone-apps-for-the-enterprise/#comment-674 Hi Jim, Actually I agree with you. But putting on my customer-facing hat I have to wonder how many banks, telcos, gvt contracts and the likes are going to be in love with the idea - these customers, in my experience, are risk averse and generally like to be a little behind the curve when it comes to new stuff like this (oh and a lot of these guys still prefer to have their kit managed locally). If I were to mention it to a lot of my customers Im sure they would grin but not expect me to bring it up again. As for monitoring and analytics..... thats a different ball game. But making config changes to production kit via an iPhone with clunky thumbs like mine might well be a step too far at the moment. Nigel Hi Jim,

Actually I agree with you.

But putting on my customer-facing hat I have to wonder how many banks, telcos, gvt contracts and the likes are going to be in love with the idea – these customers, in my experience, are risk averse and generally like to be a little behind the curve when it comes to new stuff like this (oh and a lot of these guys still prefer to have their kit managed locally).

If I were to mention it to a lot of my customers Im sure they would grin but not expect me to bring it up again.

As for monitoring and analytics….. thats a different ball game. But making config changes to production kit via an iPhone with clunky thumbs like mine might well be a step too far at the moment.

Nigel

]]> By: Techmute http://blog.nigelpoulton.com/manage-infrastructure-via-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-672 Techmute Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:38:22 +0000 http://blog.nigelpoulton.com/iphone-apps-for-the-enterprise/#comment-672 I posted a response at my blog since if I ever need to look for a job, the last thing I need is to look like a reckless cowboy sysop :-). <a href="http://www.techmute.com/2010/01/ssh-over-vpn-on-iphone-why-not.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.techmute.com/2010/01/ssh-over-vpn-on-iphone-why-not.html</a> In short: 1. I was very aware of where the possible issues could be and had implemented workarounds. 2. I have heavily automated most common tasks with an easy backout option. 3.  I knew what I was doing :-). I posted a response at my blog since if I ever need to look for a job, the last thing I need is to look like a reckless cowboy sysop :-) .
http://www.techmute.com/2010/01/ssh-over-vpn-on-iphone-why-not.html
In short:
1. I was very aware of where the possible issues could be and had implemented workarounds.
2. I have heavily automated most common tasks with an easy backout option.
3.  I knew what I was doing :-) .

]]> By: Jim Ensign http://blog.nigelpoulton.com/manage-infrastructure-via-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-671 Jim Ensign Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:03:10 +0000 http://blog.nigelpoulton.com/iphone-apps-for-the-enterprise/#comment-671 Hmm...let me think about this -- managing an enterprise network while sitting at a desk and in front of a large screen is OK, but doing the same from a secure VPN and a small(er) screen is not or considered risky.  All the while we are stating that "things are moving to the Cloud" and compute/networking/storage resources are fungible. We need to live it too!! It is all a mind-set - 10 years back one might nor have completed banking transactions with a handheld device like the iPhone - today it is routine. Let us stretch our minds a bit here folks - physical boundaries no longer matter. This stuff can be managed from the other side of the planet . This app is COOL - no apologies required!!! Hmm…let me think about this — managing an enterprise network while sitting at a desk and in front of a large screen is OK, but doing the same from a secure VPN and a small(er) screen is not or considered risky. 
All the while we are stating that "things are moving to the Cloud" and compute/networking/storage resources are fungible. We need to live it too!!
It is all a mind-set – 10 years back one might nor have completed banking transactions with a handheld device like the iPhone – today it is routine. Let us stretch our minds a bit here folks – physical boundaries no longer matter. This stuff can be managed from the other side of the planet .
This app is COOL – no apologies required!!!

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