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General
  1. What is Aspen?
  2. What is Aspen Cloud Storage?
  3. What is Box?
  4. What is Aspen Cloud Storage Namespace?
  5. What is Cloud Union?

Sales and Marketing
  1. What kinds of customers and applications are suitable for Aspen Cloud Storage?
  2. Can I be reseller for Aspen Cloud Storage?

Features and Technology
  1. Is PGFS a proprietary file system?
  2. Can Aspen Cloud Storage make use of PGFS? Or it can be linked to local hard drives / NAS / SAN / other cluster file systems?
  3. How Aspen Cloud Storage can be scaled in I/O performance?
  4. How Aspen Cloud Storage can be scaled in storage size?
  5. How is the data security stored in Aspen Cloud Storage?
  6. Will Aspen Cloud Storage replicates customer data to other locations as redundancy?
  7. Does Aspen Cloud Storage support video/audio streaming?
  8. Can Aspen Cloud Storage supports access control to user data?
  9. Can customer know where the data stored?
  10. How Aspen Cloud Storage provides redundancy of user data?
  11. How Aspen Cloud Storage provides high availability of service?
  12. I store data in one of your storage centers, how can I get data back if there is disaster in the location such as earthquake or fire?

Application Development
  1. How can I get start using Aspen Cloud Storage?
  2. What kind of programming languages are required on client side?
  3. What kind of OS platform is required on client side?
  4. Can I connect to Aspen Cloud Storage from desktop application?
  5. I don't know how to develop application, can I use Aspen Cloud Storage?
  6. I don't know how to start programming first line of code even read the developer guide. Any advice?
  7. How can I handle API authentication?
  8. I have created a new box, why it cannot be displayed in "listbox" API?
  9. I want to store data to a specified location or storage center, how can I do that?
  10. How can I copy or move data between storage centers?

Billing and Pricing
  1. What kind of billing method is used for Aspen Cloud Storage?
  2. What is the contract period using Aspen Cloud Storage?
  3. What service plan I can subscribe for Aspen Cloud Storage?
  4. Which resources in Aspen Cloud Storage will be charged?
  5. How can I recharge my prepaid balance?
  6. What is the mechanism to calculate storage used per day?
  7. When will Aspen Cloud Storage billing system deduct usage from prepaid balance?
  8. If prepaid balance not enough, how Aspen Cloud Storage billing system handle?
 

General
  1. What is Aspen?
    Aspen is a series of services provided by Power-All for global grid based processing functions. Aspen is a next generation of services Aspench is to replace traditional server products. Aspen customers only need to pay what they used, there is no hardware cost.

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  2. What is Aspen Cloud Storage?
    Aspen Cloud Storage is one of the Aspen services which offer unlimited online cloud storage to customers through standard APIs.

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  3. What is Box?
    It is just like a folder which includes all uploaded files. Each box should relate to one grid. No box can relate more than one grid. Once creation of box, it should specify the Grid belonged to. After assign, can't be changed.
    The aim of box is to decide the storage grid. i.e. the file storage location.

    For example:
    http://fruit.s.mygrid.asia/ (fruit is the box name)
    http://game.s.mygrid.asia/tvgame.jpg (game is the box name)

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  4. What is Aspen Cloud Storage Namespace?
    Aspen Cloud Storage Namespace is the domain name which links up all storage centers into single naming system. The exact namespace is:
    *.s.mygrid.asia
    Where the * is the box name

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  5. What is Cloud Union?
    Cloud Union is a heterogeneous global cloud platform which is built from multiple IDC partners. Each IDC partner can join as cloud member and contribute their IDC resources to the cloud. All customers on the cloud can choose to use IDC resources through Power-All's Cloud Platform through standard API.

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Sales and Marketing
  1. What kinds of customers and applications are suitable for Aspen Cloud Storage?
    Aspen Cloud Storage is suitable for customers requiring a low cost solution to backup/archive static data. Also it is suitable for website operator which requiring huge of bandwidth and CPU power to distribute user data. Below are possible vertical applications:

    - Personal Desktop Backup Software
    - Server Backup Software
    - Content Delivery Network service providers
    - Video Surveillance video archive
    - SaaS software providers
    - Websites for massive file upload or download
    - Websites for massive multimedia streaming such as video or audio

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  2. Can I be reseller for Aspen Cloud Storage?
    Currently there is no reseller program. It will be available soon.

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Features and Technology
  1. Is PGFS a proprietary file system?

    Yes, it is developed by Power-All Networks Ltd. For detail please check PGFS whitepaper from website.

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  2. Can Aspen Cloud Storage make use of PGFS? Or it can be linked to local hard drives / NAS / SAN / other cluster file systems?

    Power-All provides total solution on cloud storage. PGFS is part of the solution.

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  3. How Aspen Cloud Storage can be scaled in I/O performance?

    Aspen Cloud Storage is powered by PGFS. PGFS is a highly scalable file system which can be scaled horizontally at anytime. The I/O performance can be scaled directly proportional to storage size.

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  4. How Aspen Cloud Storage can be scaled in storage size?

    Aspen Cloud Storage is powered by PGFS. PGFS is a highly scalable file system which can be scaled horizontally at anytime. More storage nodes can be added to PGFS at anytime.

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  5. How is the data security stored in Aspen Cloud Storage?

    There are 3 types of security.

    First is data transfer over network. Aspen Cloud Storage supports 256-bit SSL encryption for data transfer as well as API call.

    Second is data storage. Power-All recommends two ways to secure your data:

    Method 1 : Encrypt your data at client side, and then transfer the encrypted data to Aspen Cloud Storage using SSL encryption. This is the most secured method as the encryption key is only known by data owner at client side, the key is never transferred by Aspen Cloud Storage system.

    Method 2 : Use Power-All's encryption API to encrypt your data. Un-encrypted data and encryption is transferred to cloud storage through SSL encryption. And then Aspen Cloud Storage system encrypts the data on server side. This method is less secure than method 1 but it is easier to use as all encryption work is done at cloud side.

    Third is about access control. Aspen Cloud Storage supports Access Control List (ACL). Customers modify the access rights per box or per file using API. The ACL can be public read/write, private read/write.

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  6. Will Aspen Cloud Storage replicates customer data to other locations as redundancy?

    No. Each file belongs to one box. Each box belongs to one storage center (one grid ID). Data is stored in single storage and will not replicate to other location. However, within single storage center, data is mirrored and each storage servers is equipped with hardware RAID5. This double redundancy design enables high reliability. If customer worries there is a disaster in a storage center and causes data lost. Easiest way is to create multiple boxes in different locations and upload your data to different location boxes. In future, Power-All will have new services of CDN and global backup service.

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  7. Does Aspen Cloud Storage support video/audio streaming?

    It depends what kind of streaming you require. Aspen Cloud Storage itself is a storage service, not a streaming service. It does not support true streaming such as RTSP, MMS, etc. Instead of true streaming, Aspen Cloud Storage supports HTTP progressive download, which is a method commonly used in many video sharing websites.

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  8. Can Aspen Cloud Storage supports access control to user data?

    Aspen Cloud Storage supports Access Control List (ACL). Customers modify the access rights per box or per file using API. The ACL can be public read/write, private read/write. For detail please refer to developer guide.

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  9. Can customer know where the data stored?

    Yes, there is API to query box attributes. One of the attributes includes location which show the storage center ID in XML format.
    Customer can also control where their data stored by specifying storage center ID when creating a new box.

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  10. How Aspen Cloud Storage provides redundancy of user data?

    There are two levels of redundancy provided by Aspen Cloud Storage. First PGFS provides a real time replication in same storage center. Secondly, each storage node is equipped with hardware RAID5.
    If customers require additional data redundancy in other location, they can simply upload the data to other centers using API.

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  11. How Aspen Cloud Storage provides high availability of service?

    Aspen Cloud Storage is designed without Single-Point-Of-Failure (SPOF). Each component inside the cloud has redundancy.

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  12. I store data in one of your storage centers, how can I get data back if there is disaster in the location such as earthquake or fire?

    By default, there is no redundancy of data across centers. If customer requires data redundancy in different locations. First method is to upload multiple copies using API. Second method is to use the "Copy" API to copy data between centers. Copy API will be available in Q1 2009.

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Application Development
  1. How can I get start using Aspen Cloud Storage?

    First is to sign up your account. Second is to generate Access ID and Secret Key through web portal. Finally visit developer zone, there are plenty of documents and samples guiding you how to develop your own software on top of Aspen Cloud Storage.

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  2. What kind of programming languages are required on client side?

    Basically Aspen Cloud Storage is independent of client side programming languages.

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  3. What kind of OS platform is required on client side?

    Aspen Cloud Storage is platform independent. Storage is accessed through standard RESTFul API

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  4. Can I connect to Aspen Cloud Storage from desktop application?

    Aspen Cloud Storage provides standard RESTFul APIs. It does not limit only on web application. Any application can make RESTFul HTTP call is supposed compatible with Aspen Cloud Storage.

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  5. I don't know how to develop application, can I use Aspen Cloud Storage?

    If you don't know how to develop application, there is a choice to use Power-all's ready-to-use application which can be downloaded in website.

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  6. I don't know how to start programming first line of code even read the developer guide. Any advice?

    You can download sample code from developer zone as reference.

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  7. How can I handle API authentication?

    Method 1 is to study Developer Guide, there is a section describing authentication mechanism. Method 2 is to use Power-All provided fast development library which can be downloaded from Developer Zone.

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  8. I have created a new box, why it cannot be displayed in "listbox" API?

    Create new box belongs to a global action. It requires modifying DNS as well as synchronizing database geographically.

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  9. I want to store data to a specified location or storage center, how can I do that?

    Aspen Cloud Storage API allows customer to select which storage center their data will be stored. To do that, customer needs to pass storage center ID to API call when create a new box. Each storage center has unique center ID. For the storage center list, it can be found in webpage pricing table page.
    Note that location must be specified to box, but not files. All files belong to same box must be in same location.

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  10. How can I copy or move data between storage centers?

    Currently Aspen Cloud Storage does not support copy function. To copy data between centers, customer needs to upload again in other centers. To move data between centers, customer needs to upload again in other center and then delete original one.
    In Q1 2009, API for copy will be available.

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Billing and Pricing
  1. What kind of billing method is used for Aspen Cloud Storage?

    Aspen Cloud Storage is a prepaid based service. Billing period is per 24 hours.

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  2. What is the contract period using Aspen Cloud Storage?

    Aspen Cloud Storage is a pay-as-you-go based service, there is no contract period required. Customers can stop using the service at any time you want. When the prepaid balance is used up, service will be stopped automatically.

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  3. What service plan I can subscribe for Aspen Cloud Storage?

    There is no service plan for Aspen Cloud Storage. Aspen Cloud Storage is a pay-as-you-go service, you only need to pay what you used, therefore no fixed commitment is required.

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  4. Which resources in Aspen Cloud Storage will be charged?

    Aspen Cloud Storage charges customers for 3 types of service.

    Storage Charge : It is the charge for amount of storage stored in the cloud per day. Unit is in GB-Day.

    Data Transfer Charge : It is the charge for data transferred into and out of storage centers.

    Request Charge : It is the charge processing user's requests

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  5. How can I recharge my prepaid balance?

    First login Aspen portal, click on "Recharge" button and it will guide you through payment method. Currently Paypal is supported. More payment methods will be added soon. If using RMB currency, currently only support bank transfer.

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  6. What is the mechanism to calculate storage used per day?

    Storage charge is counted in unit GB-Day which is the average amount of storage used per day. GB-Day is calculated by sampling method. Aspen Cloud Storage billing system takes sample of storage usage per 2 hours per customer. The exact sampling time interval is little bit different per customer account. Since there are 24 hours per day, 12 samples are taken everyday.

    For each sampling, the amount of storage usage (in byte) will be multiplied by 2 which means assuming next 2 hours after sampling will be same usage amount. The 2-hours storage amount accumulated to "Daily Byte-Hours".

    At the end of each day, "Daily Byte-Hours" is converted to GB and then divided by number of hours of that day. The calculated result is in "GB-Day".

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  7. When will Aspen Cloud Storage billing system deduct usage from prepaid balance?

    At midnight (Hong Kong Time) of every day, central billing system calculates all billable usage including GB-Day, Transfer and Requests of last day (period 00:00-23:59, Hong Kong time). The total billable amount of each user is deducted automatically from prepaid balance.

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  8. If prepaid balance not enough, how Aspen Cloud Storage billing system handle?

    Every day central billing system deducts the daily usage from prepaid balance. If current balance cannot settle the daily usage amount, all current amount is deducted automatically and system will send out alert email to customer asking to recharge the minimum (the outstanding amount after deduction from balance).

    In next day, if customer still does not recharge enough amount, central system will send another alert email with latest outstanding amount. Customer can ignore previous alert email, latest alert email reflects latest status of customer payment. It means customer only needs to settle latest alert email. Note that if system detects a 7 days continuous overdue alert, user account will be suspended.

    For suspended account, user data will be kept for 30 days, but cloud system will not handle any requests to related user data. During suspension period, storage charge will be still counted.

    If customer settled all outstanding payment during suspension period, account will be re-activated after 24 hours.

    If customer does not settle outstanding payment 30 days after suspension, all user data will be deleted without further notice.

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