China's Qihoo Powers New Data Center with Juniper's QFabric

Qihoo 360, a leading Chinese Internet and mobile solution provider, is powering its new data center using Juniper Networks' QFabric architecture. Specifically, the company has deployed a QFX3000-G QFabric System -- designed for large enterprises, service providers and cloud data center environments -- to support its expansion into new web-based services including search and cloud offerings.

Qihoo 360 Technology currently supports more that 435 million users with its PC-based security solutions, 120 million mobile security users and 272 million users of its secure web browser -- almost all of whom are in China.

Juniper's QFabric solution can support up to 6,144 10GbE ports within a single data center network fabric.

The company confirmed that Qihoo 360 is the first site in China to deploy the Juniper Networks QFabric architecture. Qihoo 360 has also deployed Juniper Networks EX3300 Ethernet Switches as a 1GbE access layer to connect its servers.

In addition, Juniper Networks EX4200 Ethernet Switches with Virtual Chassis technology have been deployed to provide control plane access to the network and support connections to multiple Internet service providers. Virtual Chassis technology enables up to 10 interconnected switches to operate as a single, logical device. As part of the same network upgrade project, Qihoo 360 Technology has also deployed Juniper Networks MX960 3D Universal Edge Routers to support high-performance content synchronization between its new and existing data centers.

http://www.juniper.net

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European Commission Sees Opportunity in Cloud Computing

The European Commission outlined its ambition to drive European business and government productivity via cloud computing.  The EC believes cloud computing could deliver a net gain of 2.5 million new European jobs, and an annual boost of EUR 160 billion to EU GDP (around 1%), by 2020.

Key points of the strategy include:

• Cutting through the jungle of technical standards so that cloud users get interoperability, data portability and reversibility; necessary standards should be identified by 2013;
• Support for EU-wide certification schemes for trustworthy cloud providers;
• Development of model 'safe and fair' contract terms for cloud computing contracts including Service Level Agreements;
• A European Cloud Partnership with Member States and industry to harness the public sector's buying power (20% of all IT spending) to shape the European cloud market, boost the chances for European cloud providers to grow to achieve a competitive scale, and deliver cheaper and better eGovernment.

"Cloud computing is a game-changer for our economy. Without EU action, we will stay stuck in national fortresses and miss out on billions in economic gains. We must achieve critical mass and a single set of rules across Europe. We must tackle the perceived risks of cloud computing head-on," stated EC Vice-President Neelie Kroes.

http://www.europa.eu

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