Please note that in addition to our international (+1) number and US toll-free (+1 800) numbers, we can now accept Skype-to-Skype calls to SkypeID "grokthisnet".   Skype-to-Skype calls forward directly into our standard telephone and answering systems, providing an inexpensive option for international customers to contact us by voice without expensive international calling rates.

Please note that due to forwarding delays, Skype calls may require up to 8-10 rings before receiving an answer.  If no one is available to take your call, you will (eventually) be forwarded to our answering system.

We frequently get asked how to upgrade kernels, how to upgrade modules, etc.  This is actually in our knowledge-base, but I thought it would be useful to toss this onto the blog since we just pushed out a very important kernel upgrade, and want to make sure that this information is as accessible as possible!

1. Simply shutdown your VPS.  You must do a full shutdown and not a "reboot". 

2. Then, boot the machine from the management console.  IMPORTANT: If you have a 32-bit OS, you must use the command "boot32", this will be unnecessary in a future update.

3. Update your modules:

     wget -O - http://ftp.grokthis.net/pub/linux/modules/install_modules.sh | /bin/bash

4. You're done!  You might want to reboot if you depend on specific modules being available during boot.

I just wanted to share with everyone the great work (I hope) we're doing with Cloud::Infrastructure, and to announce here the change of name that occurred last week (from Annelidous)!   Anyone looking to help can email eric at grokthis dot net, or join #cloud::infrastructure on irc.freenode.org.

Annelidous becomes Cloud::Infrastructure

The cloud client library and server framework has a new name!

PHILADELPHIA-August 4, 2009-The Annelidous project is now known as Cloud::Infrastructure. This change has been made to increase the visibility of the project which aims to provide a standard client library for cloud computing infrastructure for Perl applications, and to provide a framework for the creation of unique infrastructure services. Additionally, Cloud::Infrastructure is now represented at a new web address: www.cloud-framework.org.

The new name was approved by CPAN on Saturday, August 1st. CPAN provides a repository of Perl modules and maintains a list of approved namespaces. Annelidous has already, unofficially, entered CPAN. As the renaming process is completed in August, it will be officially uploaded into CPAN under the new name.

Use cases for Cloud::Infrastructure include the development of end-user or web applications build directly against infrastructure services through a standard client library, the creation of unique infrastructure services, to layer billing, accounting, and localized AAA features onto other cloud infrastructure platforms.

Press Contact:
Eric Windisch