Web 2.0 Infrastructure Foundations

Posted by Steve Cole on Tuesday, February 19, 2008  
Category: , ,

There are a lot of pieces to the proposal for Quixtar's implementation of Web 2.0.  In that design are several key infrastructure upgrades which need to come first to provide the foundation for new Web 2.0 applications.  What I am talking about is a complete refresh of our Telecom infrastructure that makes up our DMZ (Demilitarized Zone).

With so many people using the Internet today, most people are familiar with the concept of a DMZ.  For those who are not so familiar, there is a really good explanation on Wikipedia that you can check out, it even has some really nice pictures.  Our actual architecture is much more complicated, but the same basic principles apply.

So why replace all this equipment?  Hasn't it been doing a good job?  The answer is that it has served us very well over the years and could continue to serve us for many, many years to come.  So why do it?  Well, let's look at this a different way.  Let's consider our DMZ to be a lot like that old reliable TV that you have had for ages.  Personally, I do have one of those TVs and it does the job.  I can plug it into my DIRECTV receiver to get cable.  My kids can play all their favorite Wii games.  I can use a DVR to record all my favorite shows and play them back at my convenience.  Basically, it works for all the functionality I need today.  That may be true, but there are things my reliable TV can't do and will not be able to provide me down the road.

My TV does not support HD and when 2009 rolls around I may have to purchase an expensive converter.  Yes, I know...the coupon is in the mail.  Have you gotten yours yet?  No, neither have I.  It looks like the battle for HD video format may be coming to a close...the winner is...Blu-ray!  Now that the price will likely come down even further, I may even buy one, but even at a cheaper price I will never get the wonderful picture quality Blu-ray has to offer...right, my TV doesn't support HD.  There is always the 27 inches, which has served me well, but sometimes it would be nice to have more for that big picture effect from a movie or feel more like your actual there at the Daytona 500 with the COT rushing by at over 188mph!  Any 17 or 88 fans out there?  I digress...  Anyway, the point is that even though my TV could continue to serve me well for years to come (knock on wood), there are things it just will not be able to do or will require duct tape (converter) to allow it to continue functioning.

So the time is right for us to upgrade our DMZ equipment.  Upgrades to our switches, firewalls, load balancer or other devices, will allow us to take advantage of many great new features and useful functionality that have emerged in the past several years.  Ultimately, that investment means we can do more for our IBOs!  Even though most of this is under the covers, we know the infrastructure foundations are critical and will be an important step in providing the best possible Web 2.0 applications possible.


Comments

# sivaram said on February 19, 2008 at 5:30 PM:

Steve,

Great going !. At my work place they completed a similar DMZ project with Virtual Firewall (zoning) architecture mainly utilizing Cisco ASA & F5 systems . They created multiple zones serving different functionality. They ran into some challenges at the BGP route configurations & replication scenarios. This solution is being expanded to QA and DEV environments now. The solution was elegant in terms of scalability and management.

For Quixtar I think the DMZ refresh should be strategic and useful in terms of Better Security thru virtual zones, Scalability, bandwidth/throughput mgmt, Centralized Security events management (SIEM) to name a few. I am sure you are also looking into enhancing WEB/APPLICATION & Database SECURITY for this project as most of the attacks are web based. Thanks for being on the cutting edge. I am proud of my business !!. Kudos to your team.

# Candi Miller said on February 19, 2008 at 10:39 PM:

 Hello, I have just gotten started in the business in November. I am struggling to get going but I am confident I will do this. My ultimate goal is to reach Diamond. I know I must work hard and start with baby steps. I am writing to this seeking out all the advise, help and information I can get. I want to know what those baby steps are that will help me to succeed. I look forward to hearing from you.

                                                                       Thank you

                                                                     Candi MIller

Remember that name because you all will see me in Diamond someday! : )

# NormaConnolly said on February 20, 2008 at 7:01 AM:

Wow you must be a genuis!  How can a average computor person understand all this!  it took me 2 years to learn how to use my pc  I am jealous frankly!

# Steve Cole said on February 20, 2008 at 8:38 AM:

Sivaram,

We are very excited about the upgrades.  We use a lot of CISCO gear in our infrastructure and this upgrade will be no different, including ACE hardware for virtualization.  The security, scalability, segmentation, improved fail-over and reduced risk for change control were certainly some of the big points for the ROI on this project.  We will be working on the project for many months to come and we hope to be finished sometime in Q2 this year.

Thank you for being a part of the business and for reading\commenting on the blog!

# A Kline said on February 21, 2008 at 11:38 AM:
This is off-subject, but I would like a little more flexibility with our Personal Websites. Like being able to showcase the specific brands we are focusing on marketing, etc. Also, an easier way for customers to filter through products. Like by brands, etc. These (customers) are the least knowledgeable about our products, so the easier the better. Thanks.
# ibofightback said on February 22, 2008 at 2:18 PM:

Steve, you need to get out more. The majority of folk, even internet users, don't even know what a URL is, let a DMZ :-)

Indeed, I'd suggest most aren't even sure what Web 2.0 is! Given many internet "experts" can't decide, that's a fair enough place to be too :-) Best explanation I've found (though long) is from one of the originators of the concept at O'Reilly

Since we're talking Web 2.0, when are you going to fix the RSS feed as I've mentioned earlier? The english posts are still not standards complaint and causing me grief :-(

# TWS said on February 22, 2008 at 6:17 PM:

Candi-

Best place for a new IBO to get started would be quixtaruniversity.com.

You need to develop a balanced business and create immediate profit.

Hope this helps.

P.S.  Code Review may not be the best place to seek this type of advice. Your sponsor/upline should be the best source.

# Steve Cole said on February 23, 2008 at 12:46 PM:

ibofightback,

Thanks for the reference to O'Reilly's What is Web 2.0.  As that article points out, there is so much involved in what one might consider to be a part of the topic Web 2.0.  Even more, what Web 2.0 even is will always be constantly in debate...well that is until the debate turns to what is Web 3.0, or some other coined nickname.

Maybe we should blog on some of what Web 2.0 means to Quixtar?  There are really so many ways it could be interpreted, endless probably, though we could start to lay down what we think it means.  One thing is clear, how we look at Web 2.0, even at Quixtar, is constantly changing.  As a result, it is a constantly moving target and when ever we talk about it would be best described as our best interpretation at that slice in time.

I will push again on the RSS feeds.  It is my understanding they have pushed out some changes\fixes, although clearly it is not enough.  I hear you...standards compliant...although that isn't always as easy to do as one might hope.  In any case...I hear you and will talk with some people early next week.

One more thing....  We hope that IBOs enjoy the blogging we do on CodeReview, or at least find enough of it worth while that you would continue to visit and comment from time to time.  It is important to understand that this is the IT Blog and it is our intention for this subject matter to be a lot more 'geeky' than most of the other blogs.  We can't get into every acronym or technical blurb....but...you would be correct that we need to keep in mind our audience. ;)  So, I will see what we can to to be more conscious of that, such as more links to other information on technical 'geeky speak' matters.  Maybe we can even help our readers to embrace their geeky side too!  :)

TWS\Candi,

There has been some talk about starting some sort of community, be it a blog or forum on Learning about the business.  It think it is inevitable that this will happen and it would certainly end up being a great resource for IBOs.  It would also be true that CodeReview isn't the best place, for now I would suggest Sales Speak, Inside Quixtar or Ada-tudes.  I would also encourage you to comment on there blogs about having a blog\forum for Learning, if you have interest!

# Jeff Namnum said on February 27, 2008 at 2:25 AM:

OK, I like the sheer g33kiness of this blog!  I can't believe I'm reading about DMZ and web2.0 apps and Oreilly on a Quixtar blog. Awesome!

Geekasm aside, I feel like I've walked into the server room in the middle of the conversation.  What RSS feeds (is there one for products maybe), what web2.0 apps?  What are you guys talking about?  Can you please elaborate, because right now I can smell the hot dogs but I can't find the guy with the little cart... ;)

# Tom in Atlanta said on March 1, 2008 at 11:53 AM:

along with the long awaited community you mentioned above,  could there be one geared toward customer interaction with brand managers with product information?

# Dan said on May 13, 2008 at 2:55 PM:

So glad to hear about Quixtar's innovative thinking regarding web20.  I am not very "tech savvy" but totally appreciate the general benefits and future of web20 as a marketer.  One thing that would be amazing is if IBO's had facebook-esque profiles with the ability to post a variety of Q* approved videos, docs and audios...as well as shopping cart technology built right in so a visitor or community "friend" could place an order while they're there.  Also, for credibility power, it'd be nice to see logo's of the partner stores, like Circuit City, Nike, Bose, etc.   Keep up the great work and keeping us posted on things to come!   Keep on letting the company be influenced by new economy marketing greats like Seth Godin, Chris Anderson, O'Reilly, etc.

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