diff --git a/content/blog/africa_regen_summit_ii/index.md b/content/blog/africa_regen_summit_ii/index.md index 92df52968..0f659d6b3 100644 --- a/content/blog/africa_regen_summit_ii/index.md +++ b/content/blog/africa_regen_summit_ii/index.md @@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ extra: imgPath: africa_regen_summit_ii.png --- -In 2023, we had the pleasure of hosting two summits in Zanzibar – one in [July](https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=246&si=KYEExcPFHUCU7HKY&v=GIBlmID7g5o&feature=youtu.be) and another in [November](https://www.threefold.io/newsroom/africa-regen-ii/), named the Africa Regenerative Future Summit. These events brought together leading innovators and investors committed to advancing human flourishing, with a specific emphasis on science and technology shaping the trajectory of Africa's future. +In 2023, we had the pleasure of hosting two summits in Zanzibar – one in July and another in [November](https://www.threefold.io/newsroom/africa-regen-ii/), named the Africa Regenerative Future Summit. These events brought together leading innovators and investors committed to advancing human flourishing, with a specific emphasis on science and technology shaping the trajectory of Africa's future.
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ Looking ahead to 2024, our vision includes a continued series of gatherings focu
More information: +
- **Summit I:** Read [Zanzibar Seeks to Become a Digital FreeZone](https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/zanzibar/zanzibar-seeks-to-become-digital-freezone--4316150) (via The Citizen) and [Mwinyi Commits to Improvement of Digital Spaces](https://dailynews.co.tz/mwinyi-commits-to-improvement-of-digital-spaces/) (via Daily News Tanzania) for further details. diff --git a/content/blog/data_leaks/index.md b/content/blog/data_leaks/index.md index 7ad2aa832..a3b897996 100644 --- a/content/blog/data_leaks/index.md +++ b/content/blog/data_leaks/index.md @@ -13,39 +13,47 @@ extra: --- Do a quick search for "data leak" on your search engine of choice, and you'll likely see headlines like this: -
-
+ +
- Personal Details of Over 3.3M Volkswagen Customers Exposed in Data Leak - Billions of emails and passwords appear in largest data leak ever - Here's How the IRS Could Have Prevented the Tax Data Leak - Time to Change Your Password: Tips on Protecting Yourself from Online Scams -
-
+ +
Week after week, month after month, year after year, companies are being hacked, private consumer data is being compromised and released, and we somehow begin to think that this is the reality of our world, something we just have to deal with. -
-
+ +
+ Internet security, cyber attacks, and data leaks are a global threat – and increasingly so as the world moves more digital, and smart people with malicious intent try to take advantage. But this is not normal, nor should it be. As consumers, we should be able to trust that our data is truly safe and secure. And today, we cannot. It's time we stand up for what is ours. -
-
+ +
+ That's where ThreeFold comes in. -
-
+ +
+ Many of today's issues around cyber security and data privacy come from the lack of innovation in the IT industry over the last decades and the reliance on centralized hyper-scale data centers. ThreeFold has disrupted this model in a few ways: -
-
+ +
+ First, we started from the ground up. Some ThreeFold co-founders have been working in the cloud & storage space for over two decades, having built components of the cloud and Internet still used today. They knew that the only way to have a truly secure and data sovereign Internet was to rebuild the architecture and the technology components from scratch. So they did. A few years down the line, we've created a new operating system, a smart contract for IT, and a peer-to-peer network that can be scaled to anywhere by anyone. -
-
+ +
+ Second, we removed people from the equation. IT has become so overly-complex that people are required in order to maintain it. Because of this, "backdoors" are needed to allow these gateholders to enter the systems and make necessary fixes. But this can lead to human error, and also allows people with malicious intent to make their way in as well. With Autonomous IT powering the ThreeFold Grid, the technology runs and heals itself, and drastically reduces the opportunity for humans to interfere. -
-
+ +
+ And lastly, your data is owned by you. Rather than relying on centralized data centers, the ThreeFold Grid is an Internet grid made up by independent ThreeFold "Farmers" from around the world who plug in capacity from their home or office. While they own the hardware, they do not own the data inside. User data is stored across multiple devices, and proprietary data storage algorithms ensure that the data cannot be retrieved by anyone besides the user – not the farmer, and not even us. -
-
+ +
+ As Einstein said, "We can't solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them." -
-
-We have a lot more information in [our wikis](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/) about the technology, but what we want to emphasize here with you is that we don't have to accept data leaks and hacking. There is an answer to the cybersecurity issues the world is facing. And that answer is ThreeFold. +
+ + +We have a lot more information in [our manual](https://manual.grid.tf/knowledge_base/technology/technology_toc.html) about the technology, but what we want to emphasize here with you is that we don't have to accept data leaks and hacking. There is an answer to the cybersecurity issues the world is facing. And that answer is ThreeFold. diff --git a/content/blog/decentralizing_the_internet/decentralizing_the_internet.png b/content/blog/decentralizing_the_internet/decentralizing_the_internet.png index 7a5360913..730453c9d 100644 Binary files a/content/blog/decentralizing_the_internet/decentralizing_the_internet.png and b/content/blog/decentralizing_the_internet/decentralizing_the_internet.png differ diff --git a/content/blog/decentralizing_the_internet/index.md b/content/blog/decentralizing_the_internet/index.md index 97f63c60b..cf540cd9c 100644 --- a/content/blog/decentralizing_the_internet/index.md +++ b/content/blog/decentralizing_the_internet/index.md @@ -12,41 +12,41 @@ extra: imgPath: decentralizing_the_internet.png --- -*"This article was originally published by Roel Van Sabben, a former member of ThreeFold Foundation."* +*This article was originally published by Roel Van Sabben, a former member of the ThreeFold team.* ## Decentralization In 1989, the Internet changed the world as we know it with the introduction of the World Wide Web. With time the Internet empowered people to share information in a decentralized way. Shortly after, big companies like Facebook, Google, and Apple emerged, providing many solutions that revolutionized the way we live. The “sharing economy” has grown exponentially over the last 5-10 years. This is thanks to a more simplified information flow and well-developed technology, which: -
-
+ +
- Enables a much easier integration of independent players into the sharing economy. - Eliminates the need for extensive management and structure of marketplace operators. -
-
- We are entering a flat-structure economy. An economy where fewer managerial levels are needed for the system to function. New technologies such as blockchain and the Internet of Things facilitate this ongoing trend. Participants can now interact on a peer-to-peer basis, forming marketplaces and organizations according to pre-agreed, programmed contracts. + +
+ +We are entering a flat-structure economy. An economy where fewer managerial levels are needed for the system to function. New technologies such as blockchain and the Internet of Things facilitate this ongoing trend. Participants can now interact on a peer-to-peer basis, forming marketplaces and organizations according to pre-agreed, programmed contracts. ## The current Internet is centralized Despite the growth in popularity for decentralized systems, organizations, and currencies, the Internet remains centralized. The centralization within the Internet industry brought many barriers to entry. Indeed, to compete in the highly competitive market of Internet capacity dominated by big IT companies, massive investment, and IT development are needed. -
-
+ +
+ But what is really scary is that the current industry exploits the market tremendously. Data is officially the most valuable asset on earth for a few years, and about 20 companies rule over more than 80% of the cloud industry. In other words - these companies together have more than 80% of the world's information. In recent years, we noticed the dangers that can arise with the wrong intentions within the data industry with the 'Cambridge Analytica Scandal', also highlighted in the movie ['The Great Hack'.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX8GxLP1FHo) -
-
+ +
+ ThreeFold has been developing technology that allows the decentralization of the Internet infrastructure - removing the need for data centers, and allowing anyone to take part in the Internet capacity market. Adding capacity to the ThreeFold Grid (TF Grid) makes you a ThreeFold Farmer (TF Farmer). The more decentralized the Internet gets, the more secure and effective it will become. The already is the largest grid of compute and storage in the world. ## How To Participate The process of becoming a ThreeFold Farmer is very straightforward. Anyone can join the ThreeFold Grid by downloading the ThreeFold Zero-OS onto their nodes and connecting them to the ThreeFold Grid. -
-
+ +
+ By doing this you will become an operator of a "micro data center" and with that earn ThreeFold Tokens. With or without experience in the field, anyone can become a ThreeFold Farmer. By becoming a ThreeFold Farmer, you empower a new neutral Internet that belongs to humanity - not corporations. -
-
-You can build your server (3node) and configure it, but also options for people with less technical knowledge are available. Please see [pre-register.threefold.io](https://pre-register.threefold.io) to see how easy it is for anyone to become a ThreeFold Farmer. -
-
+ +
+ _Blog written in 2019, updated January 2021._ -
-
diff --git a/content/blog/edge_computing/index.md b/content/blog/edge_computing/index.md index c40f1f6f0..87498b08c 100644 --- a/content/blog/edge_computing/index.md +++ b/content/blog/edge_computing/index.md @@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ extra: isFeatured: true --- +*This article was originally published by Emilie Ouwerx, a former member of the ThreeFold team.* + +
+ Today, technological advancements are accelerating at unprecedented rates and the demand for cloud resources has boomed, with the global cloud services market estimated to reach [$2.5tn by 2031](https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2023/04/03/2639822/0/en/Cloud-Services-Market-is-Expected-to-Reach-2-5-Trillion-by-2031-Allied-Market-Research.html). This is due to a range of factors, including accelerating technological adoption in emerging markets, the rapid digitization of business, the soaring volume of data generated by loT devices, the adoption of Al and machine learning technologies, and the increasing reliance on real-time data processing. ### **The Dilemma of Centralized Cloud Infrastructure** diff --git a/content/blog/energy_efficiency_explained/index.md b/content/blog/energy_efficiency_explained/index.md index 6b784a60e..3421b261a 100644 --- a/content/blog/energy_efficiency_explained/index.md +++ b/content/blog/energy_efficiency_explained/index.md @@ -14,26 +14,26 @@ extra: At ThreeFold, we [believe](/mission) that everything we do should benefit people and our planet. The emergence of a decentralized Internet grid not only reshapes the digital landscape but helps to pioneer a more sustainable future. At the core of this evolution lies a series of innovative strategies poised to revolutionize the way we perceive and utilize digital infrastructure. -### **Zero OS** +## Zero OS Traditionally, operating systems have been laden with an array of features, consuming substantial hardware resources. However, with Zero OS, our paradigm shifts towards a lightweight, autonomous design. By getting rid of unnecessary complexities, this design not only optimizes hardware space but also fosters an environment conducive to enhanced IT workloads. -### **Quantum-Safe Storage** +## Quantum-Safe Storage One of the most staggering inefficiencies within the industry has been the substantial overhead of storage systems. Our quantum-safe storage system marks a monumental departure from the norm, slashing the overhead from a staggering 400% to a mere fraction, 20%. This unprecedented leap in efficiency heralds a new era of streamlined storage practices, ensuring optimal utilization of resources. -### **Efficient Node Management** +## Efficient Node Management Energy conservation takes center stage with our node management tool, Farmerbot. Embracing the principle of 'on-demand' functionality, nodes remain dormant when idle, conserving energy resources. Through the implementation of Farmerbot, these nodes seamlessly power on and off as required, minimizing unnecessary consumption without compromising accessibility. -### **Automated Autonomy** +## Automated Autonomy We're saying goodbye to human intermediaries and centralized control centers. Our system operates autonomously, governed by smart contracts that orchestrate every facet of its functionality. This automated ecosystem not only eradicates the need for constant human intervention but also ensures streamlined operations, optimizing efficiency at every turn. -### **Peer-to-Peer Advancement** +## Peer-to-Peer Advancement The conventional route from sender to recipient often travels extensive distances, bouncing through data centers and intermediaries. Our peer-to-peer network revolutionizes this process by forging direct connections, seeking the shortest path between sender and recipient. By circumventing unnecessary detours, this approach minimizes energy expenditure and data latency, elevating both speed and efficiency. -### **Final Thoughts** +## Final Thoughts The dawn of ThreeFold's decentralized Internet grid beckons a transformative era in digital infrastructure. Through the combination of a lightweight operating system, quantum-safe storage, energy-conscious node management, automated autonomy, and a peer-to-peer network, the paradigm of efficiency in the digital realm has been redefined. The aggregated result is up-to 90% energy savings depending on workloads. This evolution not only champions sustainability but also propels us towards a future where connectivity thrives in harmony with resource conservation. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/blog/escape_great_hack/escape_great_hack.png b/content/blog/escape_great_hack/escape_great_hack.png index e6f70b4d5..f8a088d6e 100644 Binary files a/content/blog/escape_great_hack/escape_great_hack.png and b/content/blog/escape_great_hack/escape_great_hack.png differ diff --git a/content/blog/farming_pools/index.md b/content/blog/farming_pools/index.md index 8594904fd..2d5f4f979 100644 --- a/content/blog/farming_pools/index.md +++ b/content/blog/farming_pools/index.md @@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ extra: imgPath: farming_pools.png --- -With version 4.0 upcoming, and a move towards commercialization, we are embracing several new strategies to ensure more reliability and trust. Farming Pools are an innovative mechanism designed to foster better governance and equitable participation within our network. +With a long-term focus on version 4.0, and a move towards commercialization, we are embracing several new strategies to ensure more reliability and trust. Farming Pools are an innovative mechanism designed to foster better governance and equitable participation within our network.
@@ -32,8 +32,4 @@ Central to the Farming Pools is a regulated approach. It provides a centralized
-Farming Pools, therefore, mark a significant step towards ensuring reliability, fairness, and robust governance within our ecosystem. By uniting Farmers under stringent agreements, empowering them to set prices, and introducing accountability through token staking, we fortify the foundation of a network built upon trust, integrity, and collective responsibility. - -
- -*Learn more about [our next phase](/next).* \ No newline at end of file +Farming Pools, therefore, mark a significant step towards ensuring reliability, fairness, and robust governance within our ecosystem. By uniting Farmers under stringent agreements, empowering them to set prices, and introducing accountability through token staking, we fortify the foundation of a network built upon trust, integrity, and collective responsibility. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/blog/in_search_of_a_better_internet/index.md b/content/blog/in_search_of_a_better_internet/index.md index 7854b3af3..b9fcf5f8e 100644 --- a/content/blog/in_search_of_a_better_internet/index.md +++ b/content/blog/in_search_of_a_better_internet/index.md @@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ extra: imgPath: in_search_of_a_better_internet.png --- -*"This article was originally published by Hannah Cordes, a former member of ThreeFold Foundation."* +*This article was originally published by Hannah Cordes, a former member of the ThreeFold team.*
@@ -45,14 +45,8 @@ The Internet has become our digital home. It’s impacting our lives in many way
-The Internet used to be a free movement of culture and the Web. It started with an open-source and peer-to-peer vision to connect people. And while Web 3.0 projects are looking to liberalize the Internet as we know it, most of them still rely on centralized Web 2.0 infrastructure to some degree. The world needs better, holistic solutions. ThreeFold is [realizing the initial vision and promise](https://threefold.io/blog/realizing_the_promise/) of the Internet as an open-source, peer-to-peer planetary mesh network of nodes owned by humanity. It’s a 100% open-source and community-driven project that builds the critical, neutral infrastructure for a decentralized world – one that is built and owned by the people. With ThreeFold, individuals and organizations are empowered to store their data and run their applications on a peer-to-peer network of nodes in a way that ensures their data will not be manipulated, hacked or lost.  +The Internet used to be a free movement of culture and the Web. It started with an open-source and peer-to-peer vision to connect people. And while Web 3.0 projects are looking to liberalize the Internet as we know it, most of them still rely on centralized Web 2.0 infrastructure to some degree. The world needs better, holistic solutions. ThreeFold is realizing the initial vision and promise of the Internet as an open-source, peer-to-peer planetary mesh network of nodes owned by humanity. It’s a 100% open-source and community-driven project that builds the critical, neutral infrastructure for a decentralized world – one that is built and owned by the people. With ThreeFold, individuals and organizations are empowered to store their data and run their applications on a peer-to-peer network of nodes in a way that ensures their data will not be manipulated, hacked or lost. 
-Powered by a global community, ThreeFold is the world’s largest peer-to-peer Internet infrastructure with a few thousand 3Nodes connected from 74 countries and the neutral foundation for [any current and future IT workload](https://medium.com/authority-magazine/the-future-is-now-kristoff-de-spiegeleer-of-threefold-on-how-their-technological-innovation-will-7acc0e51c365). ThreeFold is now on the verge of opening up a new Internet era free from censorship, user tracking and privacy breaches. And anyone can participate in ThreeFold’s model by building or buying a 3Node, and connecting Internet capacity from their home or office – creating a fully [decentralized Internet](https://coincheckup.com/blog/threefold-is-the-decentralized-web-the-future-of-the-internet/).  - -
- -* Join the ThreeFold [movement](https://t.me/threefold) today and drive a new Internet era. -* Break free from big tech and [be the Internet](https://threefold.io/blog/what_is_farming/) by setting up a 3Node at your home. -* Help us [connect the dots](https://threefold.io/blog/connecting_the_dots/). +Powered by a global community, ThreeFold is the world’s largest peer-to-peer Internet infrastructure with a few thousand 3Nodes connected globally and the neutral foundation for [any current and future IT workload](https://medium.com/authority-magazine/the-future-is-now-kristoff-de-spiegeleer-of-threefold-on-how-their-technological-innovation-will-7acc0e51c365). ThreeFold is now on the verge of opening up a new Internet era free from censorship, user tracking and privacy breaches. And anyone can participate in ThreeFold’s model by building or buying a 3Node, and connecting Internet capacity from their home or office – creating a fully decentralized Internet.  diff --git a/content/blog/introducing_mycelium/index.md b/content/blog/introducing_mycelium/index.md index b4d22720a..57a1f26a3 100644 --- a/content/blog/introducing_mycelium/index.md +++ b/content/blog/introducing_mycelium/index.md @@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ As part of the grid, ThreeFold is also implementing a planetary network. This pe Over time, some problems have been noticed. We have since spent time looking into these issues, and performed an analysis of the root cause(s). -### Yggdrasil’s Limitations +## Yggdrasil’s Limitations To start, it should be noted that Yggdrasil is an experimental routing protocol (based on DHT’s), which is currently still in an alpha stage. We very much admire the fact that they have been able to create a standalone network with worldwide participants from scratch. Over time, the network has grown, in part due to the grid, but also because a lot of individual participants joined and started running a node. @@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ To start, it should be noted that Yggdrasil is an experimental routing protocol After investigating, we reached the conclusion that the current architecture has some scalability issues. While we have no doubt that these will eventually be solved, the importance of the planetary network in the grid is unfortunately too big to be able to wait for this. Additionally, Yggdrasil uses a technique called crypto key routing, and uses a tree structure for its routing info. This means data follows the “shortest path” in the tree, rather than the physical shortest path, which might deviate from this. As such, we have decided to implement our own Ipv6 overlay network, Mycelium. -### Implementing Mycelium +## Implementing Mycelium As previously pointed out, the main goal of our network is to be efficient, and end-to-end encrypted. Every node in the network is identified by a key pair. The address of a node is derived from this key pair, and data traffic between 2 nodes is encrypted using a secret derived from the key pair of both these nodes. As a result, every 2 nodes in the system use a different secret for encryption, and we can verify that the address used by a node is indeed owned by it (i.e. it has the corresponding private key). We have based our initial implementation (loosely) on the babel routing protocol. @@ -40,8 +40,4 @@ Therefore, sending data to a remote node will follow the shortest path in terms
-We are also considering implementing more advanced use cases in the future, though this remains to be seen at this stage. We are gearing up for some larger scale testing on the grid in the near future (after all, we do have multiple thousand nodes at our disposal to verify scalability), and will adjust as needed once these are done. - -
- -*If you'd like to dive deeper, take a look at the Mycelium manual [here](https://threefoldfoundation.github.io/info_cloud_production/tfcloud/mycelium/mycelium.html). \ No newline at end of file +We are also considering implementing more advanced use cases in the future, though this remains to be seen at this stage. We are gearing up for some larger scale testing on the grid in the near future (after all, we do have multiple thousand nodes at our disposal to verify scalability), and will adjust as needed once these are done. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/blog/p2p_web3/index.md b/content/blog/p2p_web3/index.md index 517609602..084ff20d7 100644 --- a/content/blog/p2p_web3/index.md +++ b/content/blog/p2p_web3/index.md @@ -48,14 +48,4 @@ With the rise of emerging technologies, a new technological foundation is needed
-By applying blockchain and peer-to-peer technology to the cloud, ThreeFold solves the security and autonomy issues of the Internet and realizes the initial promise of the Internet as an open-source, peer-to-peer, planetary mesh network of nodes owned by the people. - -
- -Support the realization of a peer-to-peer Internet owned by the people today: - -
- -- [Get TFT](https://manual.grid.tf/threefold_token/buy_sell_tft/buy_sell_tft.html), the currency of the peer-to-peer Internet. -- [Connect a computer](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold#/tfgrid/farming/threefold__farming_intro) to the peer-to-peer Internet and earn monthly rewards. -- [Build applications](https://library.threefold.me/info/manual/#//manual__manual3_home_new) on the peer-to-peer Internet. \ No newline at end of file +By applying blockchain and peer-to-peer technology to the cloud, ThreeFold solves the security and autonomy issues of the Internet and realizes the initial promise of the Internet as an open-source, peer-to-peer, planetary mesh network of nodes owned by the people. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/blog/p2p_web3/p2p_web3.png b/content/blog/p2p_web3/p2p_web3.png index 8fc4e7957..5274c9432 100644 Binary files a/content/blog/p2p_web3/p2p_web3.png and b/content/blog/p2p_web3/p2p_web3.png differ diff --git a/content/blog/power_saving/index.md b/content/blog/power_saving/index.md index ec4eb9d8b..b65a94aa0 100644 --- a/content/blog/power_saving/index.md +++ b/content/blog/power_saving/index.md @@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ id: power_saving title: "A Power-Saving Feature on the Grid – For Our People and Our Planet" image_caption: A Power-Saving Feature on the Grid – For Our People and Our Planet -description: At the heart of ThreeFold’s mission is the benefit of the people & our planet. We aim to have a positive impact in the space of technology while keeping our ecological footprint low. Saving a maximum of energy has always been on our agenda. Now, with the rising bills of our farmers making it harder for them to keep on supporting the project, it became an even greater priority. +description: Saving a maximum of energy has always been on our agenda. Now, with the rising bills of our farmers making it harder for them to keep on supporting the project, it became an even greater priority. date: 2023-02-27 taxonomies: people: [sam_taggart] @@ -12,15 +12,12 @@ extra: imgPath: power_saving.png --- -*"This article was originally published by Victoria Obeegadoo, a former member of ThreeFold Foundation."* +*This article was originally published by Victoria Obeegadoo, a former member of the ThreeFold team.*
- At the heart of ThreeFold’s mission is the benefit of the people & our planet. We aim to have a positive impact in the space of technology while keeping our ecological footprint low. Saving a maximum of energy has always been on our agenda. Now, with the rising bills of our farmers making it harder for them to keep on supporting the project, it became an even greater priority. -
- ## Rising Energy Prices Energy prices have been on steady rise globally because of increasing costs of energy production, high demand, and the depletion of traditional energy sources such as oil and natural gas as primary drivers. However, the Russian-Western standoff due to the invasion of Ukraine has produced an [unprecedented increase in energy prices](https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/impact-war-ukraine-energy-prices-consequences-firms-financial-performance), especially in Europe. @@ -28,6 +25,9 @@ Energy prices have been on steady rise globally because of increasing costs of e
Some statistics: + +
+ * UK - Household energy bills [increased by 54% in April 2022](https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9491/), and a further increase of 20% is expected in April 2023. * USA - Consumers paid [14.3% more for electricity](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjHt5D4t-_8AhUxUKQEHcUxCXcQFnoECA8QAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.utilitydive.com%2Fnews%2Felectricity-prices-inflation-consumer-price-index%2F640656%2F&usg=AOvVaw1dL-3vVXBjEqA0wklxlmUt) last year on average. * France - As of February 2023, [electricity prices may rise by 15%](https://www.thelocal.fr/20220914/french-pm-to-present-measures-to-limit-energy-bills-in-2023/). @@ -36,8 +36,6 @@ Some statistics: These rising energy costs have a significant impact on the economy, affecting inflation and driving up the cost of goods and services. -
- ## Reducing Our Bills & Our Impact on the Environment Given the increasing cost of energy, it is more important than ever to adopt responsible energy use practices. Simple measures like turning off lights and electronics when not in use, using energy-efficient appliances, and properly insulating homes can make a big difference in reducing energy consumption and lowering bills. @@ -67,8 +65,6 @@ Saving energy is important for the planet as it can have a positive impact on th While it has been known for a long time that [consuming less energy meant a smaller ecological footprint](https://www.saveonenergy.com/green-energy/save-energy-go-green/), most people weren’t very motivated to do so. However, once their wallets started feeling the price increase, people became increasingly aware & careful of their energy consumption. So, in a way, while it is not a great thing for our economies, the rising energy prices are doing a good thing for the planet. -
- ## Energy Usage of Nodes The energy usage of a node in a network depends on various factors such as the type of node, its hardware specifications, and the workload it is handling. Generally, nodes that perform more intensive computations and have more advanced hardware specifications will consume more energy compared to basic nodes. @@ -81,8 +77,6 @@ For example, nodes used in cryptocurrency mining operations are known to consume It is important to note that the energy consumption of a node can also be influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, network congestion, and power supply efficiency. By optimizing these factors, it is possible to reduce the energy consumption of a node and minimize its environmental impact. -
- ## ThreeFold 3Node Servers ThreeFold is a decentralized internet infrastructure that utilizes a network of nodes (referred to 3Nodes on our grid) to provide computing resources and data storage. Farmers can farm capacity for the ThreeFold Grid by building their own server and hosting Zero-OS on it, or by buying and running a preconfigured device. @@ -91,8 +85,6 @@ ThreeFold is a decentralized internet infrastructure that utilizes a network of In general, a 3Node cluster is expected to consume less energy compared to traditional server clusters, due to its focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. However, the exact energy usage will depend on the hardware specifications of the nodes, the workload they are handling, and the energy-saving measures implemented. It’s important to note that even a machine with nothing running on top of it consumes energy and brings a cost to farmers. -
- ## ThreeFold WOL Feature Comes as Part of Our Farmerbot Wake-on-LAN (WOL) is a feature in computer hardware that allows a network administrator to power on a computer remotely. The feature works by sending a special "magic packet" to the target computer, which contains the Media Access Control (MAC) address of the network adapter. The network adapter is programmed to recognize the magic packet and use it to initiate the power-on process. @@ -117,28 +109,10 @@ We had been working on a WOL feature for power-saving set up directly on the cha Farmers will be able to define their configuration in an easy markdown format. The Farmerbot will check which nodes can be turned off or not. Farmers will be able to personalize this feature according to their farm’s own needs and preferences. -
- ## Conclusion Saving energy is crucial for the planet and has numerous positive impacts on the environment, economy, and society. By taking steps to conserve energy, we can help to reduce our environmental impact, lower energy costs, improve energy security, and create jobs in the clean energy sector.
-Having a power-saving feature for ThreeFold nodes is one of our priorities. Together with the community, we agree that this is a pressing issue we need to solve. Our main incentive is to respect our engagement to be a sustainable network that puts the planet first. Supporting our farmers to get through difficult times financially is an extra one. - -
- -If you’d like to contribute to making this a reality, there are several options: - -
- -* [Become a farmer](https://threefold.io/farm/) and run your own [3Nodes](https://marketplace.3node.global/index.php). -* Test the Farmerbot feature by signing up [here](https://forum.threefold.io/t/tfgrid-power-management-feature-for-3-8-1/3721/2). -* Join our [community chat](https://t.me/threefold) and [forum](https://forum.threefold.io/) to participate in discussions. -* [Deploy workloads on the Grid](https://www.threefold.io/build/) to make good use of our Grid. -* [Spread the word](https://forum.threefold.io/t/threefold-content-creation-and-outreach-handbook/3686) about ThreeFold! - -
- -Together, let’s build a sustainable and profitable network! \ No newline at end of file +Having a power-saving feature for ThreeFold nodes is one of our priorities. Together with the community, we agree that this is a pressing issue we need to solve. Our main incentive is to respect our engagement to be a sustainable network that puts the planet first. Supporting our farmers to get through difficult times financially is an extra one. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/blog/resolving_problems/index.md b/content/blog/resolving_problems/index.md index dcd39fc49..11e108d64 100644 --- a/content/blog/resolving_problems/index.md +++ b/content/blog/resolving_problems/index.md @@ -14,30 +14,34 @@ extra: Imagine this: two friends in East Africa trying to connect via a video call. Instead of a direct link, their data embarks on a round trip to far-off data centers, consuming resources and adding costs. It's a snippet of a larger issue—how centralized infrastructure is holding back progress in connectivity. -### **Breaking the Distance Barrier** +## Breaking the Distance Barrier In many regions, the internet economy remains anchored in distant lands due to reliance on long cables to Europe, North America, or China, where colossal data centers reside. This scenario keeps data, jobs, and economic benefits outside developing regions. But what if connectivity was local, decentralized, and efficient? -### **The East Africa Example** +## The East Africa Example Picture our technology in action. Instead of relying on data centers thousands of miles away, our decentralized infrastructure brings the connection closer. Those friends in East Africa can communicate peer-to-peer, reducing bandwidth needs by up to 10 times while boosting security. This isn't just about video calls; it's about revolutionizing every digital interaction. -### **Streamlining Complexity** +## Streamlining Complexity The tech world often gets tangled in layers of abstraction, favoring integration over innovation. While layers aid compatibility and incremental progress, they hinder true change. Excessive abstraction results in inefficiencies, performance lags, increased costs, and scalability woes. -### **The Education Gap** +## The Education Gap Innovation takes a back seat when education leans heavily on commercial technologies. The push for quick-fix solutions neglects long-term innovation. It's like opting for a painkiller instead of addressing the root cause of the problem. -### **Local, Secure, Reliable** +## Local, Secure, Reliable Our vision? A decentralized internet where compute, storage, and network are local, sovereign, and secure. Storage becomes more reliable with less overhead, doubling up as a global content delivery network. The network stays resilient, routes around issues, encrypts end-to-end, and knows precisely where data originates and ends. -### **Tackling the Root Issues** +## Tackling the Root Issues By constructing a decentralized, autonomous internet infrastructure from scratch, we're tackling these issues head-on. Minimizing complexity while solving problems at their core is our mantra. It's not just about a tech revolution; it's about reshaping connectivity to be inclusive, efficient, and empowering for everyone, everywhere. +
+ The digital world stands at a crossroads. We can either perpetuate the status quo, or we can pave a new path—one that's decentralized, efficient, and equitable. The time for a decentralized internet that solves problems at their roots is now. It's time for connectivity that knows no boundaries. +
+ The power to transform connectivity is in our hands. Let's reimagine the internet not as a distant entity but as a network that thrives locally, serves globally, and empowers universally. Together, let's build a decentralized internet that propels us into a future where connectivity is a right, not a privilege. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/blog/solar_comparison/index.md b/content/blog/solar_comparison/index.md index b7d332ddb..c3312fdf3 100644 --- a/content/blog/solar_comparison/index.md +++ b/content/blog/solar_comparison/index.md @@ -5,13 +5,17 @@ image_caption: Solar and ThreeFold description: Read how the decentralization of the energy and internet industries are empowering individuals and communities. date: 2024-03-01 taxonomies: - people: [emilie_ouwerx] + people: [sam_taggart] tags: [community, decentralization, farming, grid, cloud] categories: [community, decentralization, farming, grid, cloud] extra: imgPath: solar_comparison.png --- +*This article was originally published by Emilie Ouwerx, a former member of the ThreeFold team.*\ + +
+ In recent years, we've witnessed a transformation in how energy is generated and distributed, marking a shift towards a more sustainable and democratic system. This change has been most notable in the transition from centralized energy production, particularly nuclear power, to decentralized solar energy. The latter empowers individuals and communities to produce their energy locally, an alternative to the traditional approach to power generation.
diff --git a/content/blog/tech_as_a_tool_for_humanity/index.md b/content/blog/tech_as_a_tool_for_humanity/index.md index a2e970b2b..02c6418f3 100644 --- a/content/blog/tech_as_a_tool_for_humanity/index.md +++ b/content/blog/tech_as_a_tool_for_humanity/index.md @@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ id: tech_as_a_tool_for_humanity title: "Technology as a Tool for Humanity" image_caption: "Technology as a Tool for Humanity" -description: While technology has had an important role in the creation of today’s societies, it might have an even greater role for our future. Two opposite pictures could be painted - a utopia or a dystopia. Technology should not be a tool to extort humanity, but one at the service of humanity. +description: While technology has had an important role in the creation of today’s societies, it might have an even greater role for our future. Two opposite pictures could be painted - a utopia or a dystopia. date: 2022-10-28 taxonomies: people: [sam_taggart] @@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ extra: imgPath: tech_as_a_tool_for_humanity.png --- -*"This article was originally published by Victoria Obeegadoo, a former member of ThreeFold Foundation."* +*This article was originally published by Victoria Obeegadoo, a former member of the ThreeFold team.* ## Technology as a tool for humanity diff --git a/content/blog/tf_grid_peoples_internet/index.md b/content/blog/tf_grid_peoples_internet/index.md index ed778a475..7d3536cb2 100644 --- a/content/blog/tf_grid_peoples_internet/index.md +++ b/content/blog/tf_grid_peoples_internet/index.md @@ -13,25 +13,29 @@ extra: --- What do you think of when you hear the word Internet? For many, it's the websites and applications we consume online as end users. But the Internet is much more than this. And ultimately, every action we take online goes through a complex set of automated processes and protocols to store, run, and transmit data (e.g. photos, videos, messages, other files) across the global Internet infrastructure. -
-
+ +
+ Today, this infrastructure consists of massive, power-hungry data centers, and is largely privatized and owned by tech giants such as Facebook, Google and Amazon – who also happen to own the biggest online "free" platforms. But there's a catch. By owning both the infrastructure and the digital experiences we consume for free, we were actually turned into products of their business models. Our data is being collected and isn't owned by us anymore. While data has become the most valuable commodity on earth, don't you think it's wrong that we don't own the value of our data today?  -
-
-***"Today, every individual is worth between US $1,000 and $20,000 online, per year. The Internet and Cloud Industry is worth trillions, yet all this value is centralized to a handful of companies. This has to change."*** -
-
+
+ +*Today, every individual (through their online data) is worth between hundreds and thousands of dollars, per year. The Internet and Cloud Industry is worth trillions, yet all this value is centralized to a handful of companies. This has to change.* + +
+ ThreeFold's open source technology powers the peer-to-peer Internet revolution that holds the premise to disrupt the global Internet in many ways. ## An Internet By the People The ThreeFold Grid is formed by people from all around the world that connect Internet capacity to a peer-to-peer Infrastructure owned by humanity. Together, we expand a data-sovereign and planet-positive Internet infrastructure that puts people back in control of their data, and their digital lives. ThreeFold's infrastructure can store all of humanity's data – from personal data to public datasets and security archives – and can run all emerging technologies such as blockchain, IoT, and Big Data – with more efficiency and security. -
-
+ +
+ ThreeFold flips the current data center model upside-down, and allows people around the globe to connect Internet capacity in the form of hardware, and earn income for it. This decentralized approach means that anyone can take part in the world's largest and fastest growing economy – the Internet and Cloud.  -
-
+ +
+ You can see now how this new Internet is by the people, but how about the latter? What does the ThreeFold Grid enable? ## An Internet For the People @@ -45,8 +49,9 @@ Today, all of the data we create online sits inside of centralized data centers ### We Exchange Value Without Intermediaries The "People's Internet" is peer-to-peer. This means connections between senders and recipients are completely end-to-end, eliminating the need for any form of intermediaries from the model. Can you imagine what the world would look like without intermediaries? Let's take an example like Airbnb. -
-
+ +
+ Today, if you are looking for a place to stay on vacation, you will probably end up using the services of Airbnb. But did you know that Airbnb charges both consumers and property owners for using their service? In a peer-to-peer world, this wouldn't be necessary. You'd simply access a database of property owners (possibly through a peer-to-peer marketplace) and be able to complete the transaction yourselves. No hidden fees, just a direct exchange of value! ### Applications Run on the Edge @@ -56,15 +61,19 @@ In its essence, edge computing brings compute and storage closer to people (and ## But what about the planet? If you've been following us, you must already know that the Internet is responsible for 10% or more of the world's energy consumption. And with decades of experience in the Internet and Cloud industry, ThreeFold co-founders knew how to turn this around. We developed a lightweight operating system and infrastructure, removing unnecessary layers of complexity from the traditional and Web3 models (actually, blockchains are making it even more complex). The ThreeFold technology is always geared towards maximum efficiency while maintaing performance. And with these advancements, we can already save up-to 90% energy on storage workloads. -
-
+ +
+ Additionally, the distributed nature of the Grid uses less bandwidth (see above re: edge computing). It's been reported that Netflix alone takes up 15% of the Internet's bandwidth. What if Netflix were to leverage the ThreeFold Grid? If stored closer to watchers, we could reduce network usage considerably. -
-
+ +
+ Our commitment to the planet goes beyond the technology. Through a partnership with Take Action Global (TAG), we aim to take three times more CO2 out of the air compared to what we put in. Imagine regenerating the earth while using the Internet? -
-
+ +
+ At ThreeFold, we believe that it's time for us to take back control. As the world turns more and more digital due to the pandemic and even just the natural progression of technology, it's time that we not just realize the problems of today's Internet, but that we do something about it. -
-
+ +
+ This will happen! So join in, and spread the word!  diff --git a/content/blog/tf_grid_peoples_internet/tf_grid_peoples_internet.png b/content/blog/tf_grid_peoples_internet/tf_grid_peoples_internet.png index 9384ff668..f214d9172 100644 Binary files a/content/blog/tf_grid_peoples_internet/tf_grid_peoples_internet.png and b/content/blog/tf_grid_peoples_internet/tf_grid_peoples_internet.png differ diff --git a/content/blog/three_layers/index.md b/content/blog/three_layers/index.md index 26e29609e..28efb7e21 100644 --- a/content/blog/three_layers/index.md +++ b/content/blog/three_layers/index.md @@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ image_caption: The Building Blocks of the Internet description: Learn about the layers of the Internet to understand how digital information is processed, stored, and accessed. date: 2024-03-04 taxonomies: - people: [emilie_ouwerx] + people: [sam_taggart] tags: [decentralization, grid, cloud, tech] categories: [decentralization, grid, cloud, tech] extra: @@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ extra: isFeatured: true --- +*This article was originally published by Emilie Ouwerx, a former member of the ThreeFold team.* + +
+ Just as the Earth is made up of layers—from the crust to the core — so too is the Internet, with three key layers: compute & storage, network, and applications. Distinguishing these layers helps us to understand how digital information is currently processed, stored, and accessed across the globe and how ThreeFold technology can transform this model. ThreeFold can be likened to tectonic forces, reshaping the digital landscape by introducing improved ways for these layers to interact. Let’s break down these three layers, their current challenges, and ThreeFold’s approach to each of them. ### **Compute & Storage** diff --git a/content/blog/threefold_cooperative/index.md b/content/blog/threefold_cooperative/index.md index 70bce574c..ee4a06610 100644 --- a/content/blog/threefold_cooperative/index.md +++ b/content/blog/threefold_cooperative/index.md @@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ Cooperatives operate under a set of shared principles—voluntary and open membe ### **The ThreeFold Cooperative** -ThreeFold will establish a 100% owned subsidiary of the Cooperative within a chosen jurisdiction to open the doors to innovative mechanisms. Through this subsidiary, the creation of Farming Pools becomes feasible, providing a controlled environment for token transactions aligned with defined governance protocols unique to each Farming Pool. +In the future, ThreeFold will establish a 100% owned subsidiary of the Cooperative within a chosen jurisdiction to open the doors to innovative mechanisms. Through this subsidiary, the creation of Farming Pools becomes feasible, providing a controlled environment for token transactions aligned with defined governance protocols unique to each Farming Pool.
@@ -45,8 +45,4 @@ Embracing a cooperative model introduces a well-established framework for decent
-As we navigate the complex landscape of decentralized technologies, cooperatives stand as a beacon of collaborative and democratic governance, offering a robust foundation for a truly decentralized future. - -
- -*Learn more about [our next phase](/next).* \ No newline at end of file +As we navigate the complex landscape of decentralized technologies, cooperatives stand as a beacon of collaborative and democratic governance, offering a robust foundation for a truly decentralized future. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/blog/threefold_data_sovereignty/index.md b/content/blog/threefold_data_sovereignty/index.md index 3f38bf2dc..e24e49aa9 100644 --- a/content/blog/threefold_data_sovereignty/index.md +++ b/content/blog/threefold_data_sovereignty/index.md @@ -13,18 +13,23 @@ extra: --- If you’ve seen [The Social Dilemma](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaaC57tcci0), you know all too well that today, people are being turned into products. Everything we do online – all of the data we upload and all of our digital activities – is tracked and oftentimes used against us. Targeted advertising is just the beginning. -
-
+ +
+ Personal data is used by algorithms to make incredible important decisions, like whether someone should receive financial or health support or benefits. In China, people are now even receiving “scores” for their behaviors. It sounds like Black Mirror, but it’s real life. -
-
+ +
+ That’s the scary part. The good news is that things don’t have to be this way. ThreeFold is building the engine for an Internet where people can finally be data sovereign. -
-
-With [today’s Internet](https://threefold.io/info/threefold#/threefold__why_intro?id=everyone-should-be-autonomous), infrastructure is centralized. Companies provide services in exchange for your personal data, which is stored on servers in hyper-scale data centers owned by private companies. -
-
-In ThreeFold’s model, those servers are called [3Nodes](https://threefold.io/info/threefold#/threefold__3node), and rather than sitting inside centralized data centers, they sit inside the homes or offices (or small data centers) owned by independent people and organizations called [Farmers](https://threefold.io/info/threefold#/threefold__farming_intro?id=what-is-3node). But the data inside is owned by the person or persons who put it there. They maintain access right as well. From a technical standpoint, data is dispersed across 3Nodes by [an algorithm](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold/#/threefold__part5_ultra_efficient_storage?id=the-space-algorithm-of-storage) that makes it such that nobody can access it. In addition, connections are peer-to-peer, meaning data goes directly between sender and recipient rather than passing through intermediaries as it does today – bringing further levels of security. -
-
+ +
+ +With today’s Internet, infrastructure is centralized. Companies provide services in exchange for your personal data, which is stored on servers in hyper-scale data centers owned by private companies. + +
+ +In ThreeFold’s model, those servers are called 3Nodes, and rather than sitting inside centralized data centers, they sit inside the homes or offices (or small data centers) owned by independent people and organizations called Farmers. But the data inside is owned by the person or persons who put it there. They maintain access right as well. From a technical standpoint, data is dispersed across 3Nodes by [an algorithm](https://manual.grid.tf/knowledge_base/technology/qsss/qsss_home.html) that makes it such that nobody can access it. In addition, connections are peer-to-peer, meaning data goes directly between sender and recipient rather than passing through intermediaries as it does today – bringing further levels of security. + +
+ Thus, people can finally be data sovereign, knowing their data is safe, and truly theirs. diff --git a/content/blog/what_is_peer_to_peer/index.md b/content/blog/what_is_peer_to_peer/index.md index c327abab5..c6a8e67a0 100644 --- a/content/blog/what_is_peer_to_peer/index.md +++ b/content/blog/what_is_peer_to_peer/index.md @@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ P2P systems are network, not linear or 'pyramidal' hierarchies (though they ma ## How does ThreeFold relate to peer-to-peer? -ThreeFold's Peer-to-Peer (P2P) computing network is a distributed architecture that splits tasks and workloads between its peers, [ThreeFold Farmers](https://library.threefold.me/info/tfgrid/#/what_is_farming). Farmers are equal participants in the network and together they form a peer-to-peer network of nodes, the ThreeFold Grid. +ThreeFold's Peer-to-Peer (P2P) computing network is a distributed architecture that splits tasks and workloads between its peers, ThreeFold Farmers. Farmers are equal participants in the network and together they form a peer-to-peer network of nodes, the ThreeFold Grid.

Farmers make their resources, such as processing power, disk storage or network bandwidth, directly available to other network participants, without the need for central coordination by servers or stable hosts. Farmers are both suppliers and consumers of resources, in contrast to the traditional [client-server](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Client-server) model in which the consumption and supply of resources is divided. @@ -39,13 +39,14 @@ Everything starts (or should start) from the why, and the ThreeFold story starte ## Why does the world needs peer-to-peer?  By developing the technology, the conviction that peer-to-peer was the best solution for humanity and the planet strengthened itself. Why? Well, put simply, a peer-to-peer system removes all forms of intermediaries, unnecessary steps and complexity from the picture. Therefore, it simplifies the architecture in an incredible way. The benefits are many but here are the most popular benefits: -
+ +
- *Privacy*: Our peer-to-peer environment means no middlemen or intermediaries, meaning data travels directly between peers and stored on the nodes of their choice rather than being sent through and stored by a third party. - *Security*: Data stored in data centers is susceptible to security breaches. In bypassing data centers and exchanging data directly between peers, we can achieve much greater security as it reduces code and back doors significantly.  - *Scalability*: In a many-to-many system, scale is essentially unlimited. There is simply no bottleneck. And hardware (nodes) can be added at ease compared to current data center model. - *Cost-efficiency & Sustainability*: End-to-end (direct) connection between peers means a more efficient path for data and less energy is needed. Less energy means less cost, and less harm to our planet. -## In 2021 the world is going peer-to-peer!  +
-We're now in 4 years into the project, and it is clear that ThreeFold holds the most advanced technology and is probably the only tech company in the world that can achieve a peer-to-peer network & digital world as envisioned by the concept authors. The ThreeFold Grid is running and already at it's 2.4 version and 2021 will bring various commercial opportunities for the public to partake in the peer-to-peer network, from hosting IT workloads to experiencing P2P end-user solutions. In other words, in 2021, the world will be able to go peer-to-peer. +Peer-to-peer systems, like ThreeFold's decentralized network, represent a transformative step towards a more efficient, secure, and equitable digital world. By removing intermediaries and relying on distributed resources, P2P networks offer unmatched privacy, scalability, and sustainability. As the world continues to evolve, embracing peer-to-peer solutions will be essential for building a fairer, more resilient digital infrastructure—one that empowers individuals and communities to thrive without relying on traditional centralized models. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/blog/what_is_peer_to_peer/peer_to_peer.png b/content/blog/what_is_peer_to_peer/peer_to_peer.png index cea244db1..83bc196e5 100644 Binary files a/content/blog/what_is_peer_to_peer/peer_to_peer.png and b/content/blog/what_is_peer_to_peer/peer_to_peer.png differ diff --git a/content/blog/zero_os_blog/index.md b/content/blog/zero_os_blog/index.md index ba3b9d8a0..c221f1b21 100644 --- a/content/blog/zero_os_blog/index.md +++ b/content/blog/zero_os_blog/index.md @@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ Given stateless systems separate the OS configuration and user data, Zero OS sim Conclusively, Zero OS is ultra secure, perfect to develop current and future technologies, and enables anyone to take part in the planet positive and data sovereign Internet brought by ThreeFold.

-Learn more about Zero OS and the grid primitives [here](https://library.threefold.me/info/threefold/#/internet4__tfgrid_primitives). +Learn more about Zero OS and the grid primitives [here](https://manual.grid.tf/knowledge_base/technology/concepts/zos.html). diff --git a/content/blog/blockchain_dilemma/blockchain_dilemma.png b/content/blogarchive/blockchain_dilemma/blockchain_dilemma.png similarity index 100% rename from content/blog/blockchain_dilemma/blockchain_dilemma.png rename to content/blogarchive/blockchain_dilemma/blockchain_dilemma.png diff --git a/content/blog/blockchain_dilemma/index.md b/content/blogarchive/blockchain_dilemma/index.md similarity index 100% rename from content/blog/blockchain_dilemma/index.md rename to content/blogarchive/blockchain_dilemma/index.md diff --git a/content/blog/edge_cloud_not_grid_cloud/edge_cloud.png b/content/blogarchive/edge_cloud_not_grid_cloud/edge_cloud.png similarity index 100% rename from content/blog/edge_cloud_not_grid_cloud/edge_cloud.png rename to content/blogarchive/edge_cloud_not_grid_cloud/edge_cloud.png diff --git a/content/blog/edge_cloud_not_grid_cloud/index.md b/content/blogarchive/edge_cloud_not_grid_cloud/index.md similarity index 99% rename from content/blog/edge_cloud_not_grid_cloud/index.md rename to content/blogarchive/edge_cloud_not_grid_cloud/index.md index 2171873b7..4b7c8413d 100644 --- a/content/blog/edge_cloud_not_grid_cloud/index.md +++ b/content/blogarchive/edge_cloud_not_grid_cloud/index.md @@ -15,28 +15,31 @@ extra: ## Edge Cloud, not Grid Cloud? -The term Edge Cloud or, to be more precise, Edge Computing is one of the most exciting technology terms of these days. +The term Edge Cloud or, to be more precise, Edge Computing is one of the most exciting technology terms of these days. + +
## Edge Computing Definition According to Wikipedia, "**Edge computing** is a distributed computing paradigm in which computation is largely or entirely performed on distributed device nodes known as smart devices or edge devices as opposed to primarily taking place in a centralized cloud environment. -
-
+ +
+ In summary, this means that the cloud is divided into smaller pieces and distributed to the edge of the network. ## Drivers for Edge Computing Some latency-sensitive applications require fast response times to work correctly. A good example is self-driving cars. A lot of decisions in autonomous vehicles have to be made instantaneously; the decision to react to the unexpected while driving at high speed cannot afford to be slowed down by data traveling long distances to be processed. To improve the system's reliability, additional hops, and any further points of failure must be eliminated. Moving to compute as far out as possible to the Edge is the logical choice. -
-
+ +
+ More generically, real-world situations are increasingly relying on an IT component to be involved in some form of decision making where time is of the essence. The current IT setup is that we have highly concentrated IT setups in data centers connected by fast networks to the rest of the world. This setup is rapidly becoming obsolete as we need to have the fastest possible response for everyday activities, which cannot sustain the time delay caused by (extended) network connections. Having actual data processing and storage facilities close to these real-world situations is the next IT capacity evolution. -
-
+ +
+ These thousands of situations are mostly in the IoT area. Still, other killer applications like streaming would greatly benefit from being served from the Edge rather than a distant central location. -
-
## Edge Computing Market Facts diff --git a/content/blog/for_our_planet/better_solution.png b/content/blogarchive/for_our_planet/better_solution.png similarity index 100% rename from content/blog/for_our_planet/better_solution.png rename to content/blogarchive/for_our_planet/better_solution.png diff --git a/content/blog/for_our_planet/index.md b/content/blogarchive/for_our_planet/index.md similarity index 94% rename from content/blog/for_our_planet/index.md rename to content/blogarchive/for_our_planet/index.md index 5f8f77c7b..cdcc51715 100644 --- a/content/blog/for_our_planet/index.md +++ b/content/blogarchive/for_our_planet/index.md @@ -5,57 +5,63 @@ image_caption: sustainability description: We believe IT can be sustainable. Actually, it should be! That's why energy efficiency has always been a key focus of ours.. date: 2020-12-02 taxonomies: - people: [weynand_kuijpers] + people: [sam_taggart] tags: [why, tech] categories: [why, tech] extra: imgPath: better_solution.png --- -
-
+ Today, the global Internet and IT infrastructure requires enormous amounts of energy, responsible for about 10% of annual global energy consumption. This makes the IT industry amongst the most pollutive industries in the world (along with the often-discussed airline industry, for comparison). -
-
+ +
+ We believe IT can be sustainable. Actually, it should be! That's why energy efficiency has always been a key focus of ours. With climate change and sustainability as some of the most pressing issues of our times, new green solutions need to be our priority. It has been key to ThreeFold since the very beginning of its story to enable a technological infrastructure that can reduce the Internet’s carbon footprint drastically. ## Simplicity is the key to unlock a better future Over time, integration suites, middleware solutions, and enterprise service busses have been invented and implemented to cover integration challenges within the current internet. This has further complicated IT architectures, resulting in a loss of actual end user workload performance. -
-
+ +
+ ThreeFold reworked the whole approach to IT architectures and eliminated the layers of complexity. The result is a cloud stack that presents minimal overhead and that requires less hardware – reducing heat generation and eventually cooling requirements. By reducing the need for power, the net result is an energy-efficient Internet grid. ## Improving resilience and efficiency through Self-Healing IT Keeping systems up and running is a major requirement in modern day IT. Leading vendors earn most of their margin by selling maintenance contracts, performance guarantees, and professional services. Their business models bring no incentive to make things simple and efficient for consumers. -
-
+ +
+ Creating a self-healing environment requires only minimal manual intervention to replace broken hardware components. Broken hardware components are inevitable, and the Zero-OS distributed node architecture deals with such failures by turning off broken components and provisioning unused capacity. By removing the need to ship broken parts back and forth, and linking to the corresponding installation knowledge (engineers), a lower carbon footprint can be achieved. ## “No painkiller” approach. We tackle the root issue If a specific piece of software or hardware is not delivering the required performance or reliability, we should analyze the core design/algorithm and its usage of soft/hard components to determine the root causes of persistent issues to be solved. -
-
+ +
+ Currently, most storage vendors follow the path of least resistance when trying to improve on performance. Their solution for meeting performance targets is to use faster components (CPU, memory, network card, proprietary acceleration) rather than looking at the core algorithms that drive the utilization of those components. Swapping components for faster ones perpetuates a cycle of cutting corners and focuses reliance on innovation from hardware component providers rather than solving the more fundamental and underlying issues. That's a "painkiller" approach. -
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+ +
+ Zero-OS was designed to solve root problem issues by design. While still using high-performance hardware components on the ThreeFold Grid, the algorithm of Zero-OS maximizes utilization possibilities. This enables greater performance and sustainability. Some key examples how this is achieved: -## Eliminating unnecessary elements from standard architectures +### Eliminating unnecessary elements from standard architectures Virtualization adds a layer of software between the actual end-user workload and physical hardware. It also allows for multiple workloads to run on the same hardware by using excess capacity. There is definitely merit in building a virtualization solution. Building an effective virtualization solution that does not require abundant context switching is key and this is why Zero-OS has been developed. Zero-OS uses a minimal Linux kernel that allows for a number of user spaces to co-exist. In these user spaces, containerized versions of software can be run, eliminating the need for hypervisors, virtual OS to fuel the virtual machines, and guest operating systems. This also minimizes the required overhead for the host OS. -## Minimizing network connections usage +### Minimizing network connections usage Supercomputing delivered many new technologies. But, not all of them are usable solutions for everyday workloads. One technology invented to make supercomputers performant is the use of Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA). RDMA allowed physical CPU boards (containing both CPUs and memory) to access other CPU boards in memory stored data over a dedicated channel. This eliminated the need to transport data between CPU nodes over network connections (or other mainstream means to exchange data). The result was a considerable reduction in overhead created when allowing distributed end user workloads to operate over multiple physical cores. The leading server and storage solutions brands have never considered nor implemented such mechanisms. This resulted in an increased need for faster networks - increasing complexity, costs, efforts and resources needed to operate solutions. -
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-RDMA is only used in certified farms and requires involvement of TFTech. -## Minimizing disk usage +
+ +RDMA is only used in certified farms and requires involvement of TF9. + +### Minimizing disk usage The storage solution uses slow and big (the bigger the better) HDD disks which drive in rack density. As they spin slower they consume less power and need less cooling. But then, how can you deal with read/write intensive workloads? The storage algorithm uses a SSD cache to acknowledge Inputs/Outputs coming from the applications, fills the erasure coded data blocks in large (up to 64MB) storage containers and writes the big chunks of data on the big and slow HHDs. If you are familiar with HDD disks, you know they like to be streamed on instead of having a lot of small bits written in a scratchy way. -
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-**Continuous innovation in all of these areas are leading to an efficient technology stack.** + +
+ +Continuous innovation in all of these areas are leading to an efficient technology stack. diff --git a/content/blog/internet_energy_consumption/index.md b/content/blogarchive/internet_energy_consumption/index.md similarity index 100% rename from content/blog/internet_energy_consumption/index.md rename to content/blogarchive/internet_energy_consumption/index.md diff --git a/content/blog/internet_energy_consumption/internet_energy_consumption.png b/content/blogarchive/internet_energy_consumption/internet_energy_consumption.png similarity index 100% rename from content/blog/internet_energy_consumption/internet_energy_consumption.png rename to content/blogarchive/internet_energy_consumption/internet_energy_consumption.png diff --git a/content/blog/internet_is_growing_wild/index.md b/content/blogarchive/internet_is_growing_wild/index.md similarity index 98% rename from content/blog/internet_is_growing_wild/index.md rename to content/blogarchive/internet_is_growing_wild/index.md index d6ca4ed75..422ff6b05 100644 --- a/content/blog/internet_is_growing_wild/index.md +++ b/content/blogarchive/internet_is_growing_wild/index.md @@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ extra: imgPath: internet_is_growing_wild.png --- -*"This article was originally published by Andreas Hartl, a former member of ThreeFold Foundation."* +*This article was originally published by Andreas Hartl, a former member of the ThreeFold team.*
diff --git a/content/blog/internet_is_growing_wild/internet_is_growing_wild.png b/content/blogarchive/internet_is_growing_wild/internet_is_growing_wild.png similarity index 100% rename from content/blog/internet_is_growing_wild/internet_is_growing_wild.png rename to content/blogarchive/internet_is_growing_wild/internet_is_growing_wild.png diff --git a/content/blog/journey_into_threefold/index.md b/content/blogarchive/journey_into_threefold/index.md similarity index 100% rename from content/blog/journey_into_threefold/index.md rename to content/blogarchive/journey_into_threefold/index.md diff --git a/content/blog/journey_into_threefold/journey_into_threefold.png b/content/blogarchive/journey_into_threefold/journey_into_threefold.png similarity index 100% rename from content/blog/journey_into_threefold/journey_into_threefold.png rename to content/blogarchive/journey_into_threefold/journey_into_threefold.png diff --git a/content/blog/more_inclusive_internet/index.md b/content/blogarchive/more_inclusive_internet/index.md similarity index 97% rename from content/blog/more_inclusive_internet/index.md rename to content/blogarchive/more_inclusive_internet/index.md index 75ca4a599..b671fe4d3 100644 --- a/content/blog/more_inclusive_internet/index.md +++ b/content/blogarchive/more_inclusive_internet/index.md @@ -11,39 +11,45 @@ taxonomies: extra: imgPath: more_inclusive_internet.png --- -
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+ Today, more than 40% of the world is without access to the internet, a tool which brings incredible access to knowledge (education) and important information, communication tools that keep loved ones connected and are crucial for emergencies, and economic opportunities. And over the last year, as the world is spending more time at home, digital economies are booming and education is going remote. With an uncertain future, we need to fix the digital divide or we risk leaving billions of people even further behind. ## The Data Center Problem: Cost & Proximity The centralized data centers that power today's Internet are located "strategically" mainly in North America, Europe, and select parts of Asia. For populations living in these regions, Internet is accessible and generally relatively affordable. But the further you travel from these data centers, the less available and more expensive the internet becomes. Internet access is mostly an issue Sub-saharan Africa, throughout Asia, and some parts of South America. -
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+ Of course some data centers can be and are being built in and near developing and remote regions, but for reasons including cost and audience, this hasn't been a huge priority to date. Beyond that, the data center model as a whole simply cannot scale to meet the future demands of the internet nor is it sustainable for our planet, so this is not the right option. ## The Internet Shutdown Problem: Control & Manipulation Lack of internet access isn't always just an availability or affordability problem. Today's internet can be limited or even shut down at any point, by the right people. Take a quick look at [NetBlocks.org](https://netblocks.org/reports), an organization that reports on global internet disruptions or outages. Typically governments are enacting these measures during times of unrest or protest or  important political moments. Even in the United States, the Executive Branch of the government has [the power to shut down the internet](https://www.klemchuk.com/ip-law-trends/government-power-to-shut-down-the-internet) in a case of a national emergency. -
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+ Cutting the internet or restricting certain services based on region (a common practice as well) is not only not right, it's dangerous. People rely on the internet for information and communication and no government or entity should have the ability to shut the internet down at their discretion. ## The ThreeFold Solution: Fair & Neutral Internet for All In 2016, the United Nations declared internet access to be a human right, yet today if you are reading this post, you are privileged. All humans deserve access to the internet and ThreeFold has the solution. -
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+ With the ThreeFold model, nodes can be set up anywhere in the world where an existing internet connection and electricity are present. By putting physical infrastructure at the edge (close to users), greater levels of access can be reached. -
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+ Further, the ThreeFold Grid cannot be shut down or manipulated. It is a neutral internet owned by the people, where autonomous technology heals and runs itself and requires minimal human intervention. -
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+ Today we are working with partners in the clean energy and network / connectivity to build the solutions that are needed to provide fair and uninterrupted internet access with all corners of the world. -
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+ Of course we will need new safe, secure, and private solutions for people to collaborate online. Many of these are already live and deployable via ThreeFold Now Community Solutions. We are working with partners in the education space as well to build toolsets for students to enrich their lives. -
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