For the last several months, I have been using and suggesting my readers to use open drive to host their files online, which also allows them to hotlink their files; An important requirement if you want to host and embed MP3 players in to your blogs.
While using this service I got a chance to use their cloud computing based open drive desktop too. Here, in this article, I am not going to tell you the technical basics of Cloud Computing, viz. IaaS, PaaS, SaaS etc. but just the basics - how can a person with a PC and an Internet connection get the benefits of it. Before I explain "how to use OD-Desktop", have a look on the basics...
So, what exactly is Cloud Computing?
In cloud computing all your data is stored in clouds (okay, it's not actually "clouds", but these are "servers" installed in several countries across the world). The data is updated in real-time when you update the files on your PC (provided you have an active Internetconnection). And finally, you can access these up-to-date files from anywhere & anytime.
I already have a back up on an external HDD, Why should I again upload this data to other servers?
You might be having your data on your external HDD, but that data is usually old and doesn't always get updated when you edit your present files. Moreover you do not carry this hard-disk always with you and neither can it be accessed by mobile devices (mobile phones).
I have stored all my important files on other file-hosting sites, like Rapidshare,4shared, ADrive etc. Isn't that enough?
Sure, you have your files stored on various online sites. But again, the files uploaded here on these sites may not the be latest versions of your edited files.
You might want to have access to your latest résumé (CV) or a copy of your internet browser's bookmarks etc., everywhere you go. So, for these types of files, every time you edit them, you will have to log in and re-upload the new files yourself at these file-hosting sites.
Now using cloud computing, whenever you create or edit a file on your PC/Laptop, these files are automatically added/updated in the cloud (the distant server) too (provided you have an active Internet connection). So now, you can download these new/edited files from any computer/mobile device, using a login-ID and password, of course.
To start using Cloud Computing for your dynamic files, first of all you need (1) a cloud - a company that provides a server to you where you can store a copy of your files and (2) a software (again provided by the same company) to regularly send the new & updated files to their server.
So, I would suggest you to register at OpenDrive and use their software OpenDrive-Desktop.
Once registered, download their OpenDrive-Desktop and install it on your PC.
It will be displayed in your "My Computer" area, as an additional drive. Within this drive, you can create folders and sub-folders in the same way as you do it in your PC and store files in them. Whenever you add or edit files in this drive (or in any folder within the drive), the files will be updated in your OpenDrive account too. So, next time while using a different PC/Laptop or a mobile phone, you can log-in at OpenDrive.com to access your latest up-to-date files. Moreover you have an option at OD to make the files "private" or "public" - to share selected files with your friends or colleagues.
While using this service I got a chance to use their cloud computing based open drive desktop too. Here, in this article, I am not going to tell you the technical basics of Cloud Computing, viz. IaaS, PaaS, SaaS etc. but just the basics - how can a person with a PC and an Internet connection get the benefits of it. Before I explain "how to use OD-Desktop", have a look on the basics...
So, what exactly is Cloud Computing?
In cloud computing all your data is stored in clouds (okay, it's not actually "clouds", but these are "servers" installed in several countries across the world). The data is updated in real-time when you update the files on your PC (provided you have an active Internetconnection). And finally, you can access these up-to-date files from anywhere & anytime.
You might be having your data on your external HDD, but that data is usually old and doesn't always get updated when you edit your present files. Moreover you do not carry this hard-disk always with you and neither can it be accessed by mobile devices (mobile phones).
I have stored all my important files on other file-hosting sites, like Rapidshare,4shared, ADrive etc. Isn't that enough?
Sure, you have your files stored on various online sites. But again, the files uploaded here on these sites may not the be latest versions of your edited files.
You might want to have access to your latest résumé (CV) or a copy of your internet browser's bookmarks etc., everywhere you go. So, for these types of files, every time you edit them, you will have to log in and re-upload the new files yourself at these file-hosting sites.
To start using Cloud Computing for your dynamic files, first of all you need (1) a cloud - a company that provides a server to you where you can store a copy of your files and (2) a software (again provided by the same company) to regularly send the new & updated files to their server.
So, I would suggest you to register at OpenDrive and use their software OpenDrive-Desktop.
Once registered, download their OpenDrive-Desktop and install it on your PC.
It will be displayed in your "My Computer" area, as an additional drive. Within this drive, you can create folders and sub-folders in the same way as you do it in your PC and store files in them. Whenever you add or edit files in this drive (or in any folder within the drive), the files will be updated in your OpenDrive account too. So, next time while using a different PC/Laptop or a mobile phone, you can log-in at OpenDrive.com to access your latest up-to-date files. Moreover you have an option at OD to make the files "private" or "public" - to share selected files with your friends or colleagues.
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