Cross-Cluster Image Promotion Techniques

Many organizations decide to have multiple container clusters to segregate different environments. This leads to the problem of how to move container images created in one cluster to another cluster. The need to move images across cluster typically arises when one needs to implement a promotion process where the next environment for the given app is not in the same cluster as the current environment. This situation is common regardless of the container cluster manager and delivery pipeline being used. In this article, I will assume using OpenShift as the container cluster manager and Jenkins as the delivery pipeline tool.
Quelle: OpenShift

Design Azure infrastructure services to host a multi-tier LOB application

Deploying multi-tier line of business (LOB) applications as virtual machines in Azure is a combination of:

What you already know, which is how to configure the servers and the overall application in your local datacenter.

What you might not already know, which is how to adapt and design the application for the networking, storage, and compute elements of Azure infrastructure services.

To help with what you might not already know, you can step through a design methodology that incorporates the following:

Resource groups
Connectivity
Storage
Identity
Security
Virtual machines

To understand this design methodology and use it for your own LOB application, see the Design and Build an LOB application in Azure IaaS video and slide deck of the November 2016 webinar for the Cloud Adoption Advisory Board (CAAB).

The webinar video has the following sections:

Definitions and assumptions (starts at 3:12)
Design process (starts at 8:05)
Design example (starts at 38:50)
Build with Azure PowerShell (starts at 50:30)

The result of the design process, which incorporates Azure Patterns and Practices recommendations and best practices, is a table of virtual machines and their Azure infrastructure-specific settings. Here is an example:

After you have determined the table entries, it’s much easier to build out the elements and get all the Azure infrastructure settings correct. For example, here is how you might use the table and a PowerShell command block to create a virtual network and its subnets:

Additionally, here is how you might use the table and a PowerShell command block to create a virtual machine:

The slide deck has the following appendices that were not covered in the webinar:

PowerShell command blocks  Each slide is a fill-in-the-blanks set of Azure PowerShell commands to build an element of Azure infrastructure services.
Design your naming conventions  Tips for determining how to name your Azure infrastructure elements.

Use this design methodology for accelerated and successful deployments of LOB applications hosted in Azure infrastructure services.

 
Quelle: Azure

Streaming your next all-hands meeting? Prep execs for their video debut

A CEO may be a great strategist and leader in the office, perhaps even a great public speaker. Yet many executives find it challenging to communicate their passion and charisma when speaking in front of a video camera. Too often, the result is a bland performance that doesn&;t inspire employees&8217; confidence. That’s a problem, since video is becoming an essential way for executives to communicate with their global workforces.
Brian Burkhart, President at presentation development firm SquarePlanet and an instructor at Northwestern University&8217;s Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, says bad on-screen performances happen because a live audience provides a palpable energy that the mechanical lens of a camera can&8217;t provide.
“There is something about live human interaction that you simply can&8217;t recreate with a camera,&; Burkhart says.
He says that business leaders can avoid a dud performance by following a few tips:
Don’t just prepare between meetings
Burkhart says that the best way to ensure a great performance is by spending the necessary time preparing. “I see many CEOs walk into the room where the camera is set up with their email buzzing, phones vibrating and a very full calendar. They ask, ‘Now, what is it that I&8217;m supposed to talk about?’ right before the camera is turned on.&8221; That tells Burkhart that the CEO is not fully present.
It&8217;s all about having the right mindset, he says. The trick is to view the speaking engagement as an opportunity to connect with an audience by sharing the most important messages.
“It&8217;s a little bit like making a soup. Yes, you can prepare the dish in 30 minutes, but if you let it simmer for six hours, then it&8217;s going to be way better,&8221; says Burkhart. “When CEOs spend time marinating on the message, it becomes fully authentic instead of just reading a script.&8221;
Bring energy and excitement on camera
The presenter must compensate for the lower excitement and energy levels of video compared to those of a live event. To pull it off, Burkhart offers three tips:

Bring the energy: If a CEO gives 50 percent of her energy in a live speech, then they should give 100 percent on camera. Small changes, such as standing up instead of sitting behind a desk, can make a big difference in the energy the audience perceives.
Talk loudly: Presenters often assume that since they are wearing a microphone, they can use their normal voice. This isn&8217;t true. Speaking louder translates into a higher energy level.
Be animated:Use voice inflection, facial expressions and body language to convey energy and excitement. Smile bigger than you think you should. If a CEO has a look of dread, terror or pain as she presents, audiences will notice.

Video, even live video streams, rarely disappear. Those video streams are often recorded for reuse later, or shared on YouTube or the company&8217;s website. But with the right mindset and energy, busy executives can ensure the energy translates into an effective, engaging presentation.

“The bottom line is really truly understanding who you are trying to connect to on the other side of the cameras,&8221; says Burkhart. &;It&8217;s not just a lens and metal, but an audience of human beings.&8221;
Learn more about IBM Cloud video solutions.
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Quelle: Thoughts on Cloud