Working for Joyent, I continue to create lots of technical video (~32 hours of edited material to date). Most recent examples, here, are the start of a series I’m doing with Brendan Gregg (author of the DTrace book). In the course of his research to make these videos, Brendan even made some surprising discoveries about tools that everyone thought they knew all about.
Above: Brendan Gregg discusses vmstat, a performance tool used in Solaris-based operating systems, including Solaris 10, SmartOS, IllumOS, that shows the health of the entire system. Part 2 covers all the fields in detail. Part 3 talks about how vmstat works in Joyent’s SmartOS.
^ Brendan talks about the 1, 5 and 15 minute load averages as reported by tools such as uptime and prstat, and then explains in details how they work on Solaris-based Operating Systems including SmartOS, and reveals why they aren’t really 1, 5 and 15 minute averages.
Below: Brendan discusses the key fields of mpstat, another performance tool used in Solaris-based operating systems, including Solaris 10, SmartOS, Illumos, to shows the health of the CPUs on multi-processor systems. Part 2 covers all the fields in detail. Part 3 is a deeper dive into the fields using other tools.
billblum @DeirdreS Seriously, I’ve wound up using it so often, it’s as if #Dtrace provides all the insight I never knew I always needed. #
nmar @deirdres ottimo, grazie! #
hdibani RT @DeirdreS Seriously, I’ve wound up using it so often, it’s as if #Dtrace provides all the insight I never knew I always needed. #
DeirdreS video itself is evolving from a passive entertainment medium to a powerful, global teaching tool http://huff.to/gucmiC #
DeirdreS Whoever coded this wiki software: if you were here now, you’d be sharing my pain – AND THEN SOME. #
fitzage @DeirdreS Isn’t that true of all wiki software? #
DeirdreS RT @fitzage: @DeirdreS Isn’t that true of all wiki software? – YES. Maybe someday there will be a truly usable wiki. Not holding my breath. #
The DTrace Book
DeirdreS Guess what we’ve got? Watch for an opportunity to win a rare, pre-print copy of the DTrace book! Â #
openpoesia @DeirdreS already bought it ,thanks indeed for the opportunities #
DeirdreS Anyone at Joyent care to comment on Linux has strace… http://bit.ly/ebB8va @brendangregg@bcantrill – Unleash the hounds! #
ben @DeirdreS@brendangregg@bcantrill D comes before S, so Dtrace has got to be better… #
DeirdreS 3/9 SFOSUG @brendangregg DTracing File Systems  – Join us for your chance to win a pre-print copy of the DTrace book! #
DeirdreS @creationix start grabbing some good screenshots – you’re about to want them! #
DeirdreS Running cloud analytics on no.de? Start grabbing screenshots – I’ll tell you why shortly. Or can you already guess? 😉 #
pborenstein @DeirdreS Uhm…. You’re redoing your living room wall paper? #
DeirdreS @pborenstein No, the color scheme would be all worng for that. My living room is red and black, mostly. #
creationix @DeirdreS Sadly it’s died down at the moment. The lifespan of data on that page is pretty short. I’ll check it throughout the day. #
creationix @DeirdreS Now what would be really cool is if the page beeped when there was data and the volume was proportional to the log() of traffic. #
befreax RT @DeirdreS Running cloud analytics on no.de? Start grabbing screenshots – I’ll tell you why shortly. Or can you already guess? 😉 #
DeirdreS @monaeltahawy I’ve had men tell me how I /should/ be happy. Somehow that usually involved doing what /they/ wanted. <wry smile> #
notmatt @DeirdreS oh man, they went there? #
DeirdreS @notmatt So far they’re not taking the bait. 😉 #
DeirdreS New: screencast of @brendangregg ‘s demo added, so you can get up close and personal with cloud analytics#
DeirdreS statues a metaphor for the condition of Italys archaeological heritage: An immense treasure w no one looking after it  #
DeirdreS International Women’s Day and Mardi Gras are tomorrow. The universe may implode. #
jdcasa RT @DeirdreS: International Women’s Day and Mardi Gras are tomorrow. The universe may implode. #
whygocanada Pasties and protests? 😉 RT @jdcasa: RT @DeirdreS: International Women’s Day and Mardi Gras are tomorrow. The universe may implode. #
niltiac @jdcasa@deirdres@citytravelbug And Pancake Day too. But I guess that’s just Mardi Gras for Anglos. #
DeirdreS @cairobabble@monaeltahawy AND it’s Mardi Gras. I think that explains everything. #
DeirdreS Forbes  Walker would have done well to take yes for an answer when the unions agreed to his financial proposals. #
DeirdreS Strangely appropriate : there’s a bartender in Bombay whose last name is @joyent – I’ll have to have a drink there. #
DeirdreS 4 years ago I began translating Aggiungi un Posto a Tavola An Italian Musical (and haven’t quite finished yet) Â #
DeirdreS @saraford spitting, but don’t ask me why #
hiddentrack @DeirdreS finding other uses of @joyent in the wild reminds me of this ad that I think @mamash found a few years back  #
DeirdreS RT @hiddentrack: reminds me of this ad that @mamash found a few years back – Wow, we really do everything! #
DeirdreS Brendan’s blog DTrace book talk SFOSUG#
DeirdreS @monaeltahawy Since I don’t believe in any entity that listens to prayers, I suppose it’s ok that idiots waste their time praying against u #
DeirdreS Urge to Own That Clapton Guitar Is Contagious – reading this out of interest, find a familiar name (schoolmate Karen) #
DeirdreS @trine Catholcism? #lent #
trine @DeirdreS ha! If i was, i would 🙂 #
DeirdreS @paulmwatson Getting some screenshots for us? There’s a contest in the wind… #
DeirdreS Goodbye, Discovery NASA – NASA TV Â #
paulmwatson @DeirdreS soon as I get more than one user on my node! 🙂 #
DeirdreS @paulmwatson Let us know where and what it is -may be able to help you get traffic #
DeirdreS .@daveweigel Funding one of the best educational TV programs ever, emulated worldwide, in a country where basic ed sucks? TOTALLY WORTH IT. #
DeirdreS get up close & personal with cloud analytics: hi-res screencast of Brendan’s preso at node.js Community Event Mar 1 – Â #
Brendan Gregg, author of the DTrace book
DeirdreS At last! #
billblum RT @deirdres: Tonight’s SFOSUG meeting live on USTREAM from 6 pm PT: http://bit.ly/f6diBt – Join for a chance to win a pre-print copy of… #
brendangregg pre-print copies: RT @DeirdreS: At last! http://yfrog.com/h6e8yodj #
morphs That is one BIG book.. cannot wait to carry that round to and from work : ) (@DeirdreS)http://yfrog.com/h6e8yodj #
DeirdreS @morphs E-versions avaliable from http://bit.ly/gZPR5O and http://bit.ly/i83hqc , I imagine in other formats as well (checking w publisher) #
craigmorgan @DeirdreS hurrah, tell him to stop reading it and starting packing/shipping them 😉 gonna kill the postie tho! #
DeirdreS .@mmcallen Be nice if we could grow past thinknig that it’s an F bomb in this day and age. #transparacyworks #
DeirdreS RT @montemagno: Salman Khan: Let’s use video to reinvent education  – YES! #
NomdeB > @DeirdreS Agree. Khan Academy is a great example of information that works well as Audio/Visual. #
DeirdreS @bloatedlesbian We have all (Dems and R.pubs) been trained not to question the fundamental tenets of capitalism. #
DeirdreS if you’re at #sxsw, you must experience the awesomeness of Italy’s most geek-friendly comestible. And of @sararosso#
DeirdreS RT @bdha: @jasonh@brendangregg Comprehensive is what those books look like. Waiting! – Yes, even exhaustive. #
DeirdreS I wonder if they’ll migrate blogs.sun.com/video/ – I’ve got one hell of a portfolio there #
trochej @DeirdreS Time to download them, just in case. #
webmink @DeirdreS As if. #
DeirdreS I understand the urge to pray when you can’t do anything else, but… why would a loving, caring god pull this shit in the first place? #
jacques @DeirdreS can’t you host your old blog content on your smartmachine? Let me know if you need some wget love. #
DeirdreS @trochej Yes, if only I could remember whcih ones I already stashed somewhere… #
DeirdreS @tamrmint uncertain. His last tweet was shit several hours ago. Sure hope he and his are ok #
tamrmint @DeirdreS Okay, thank you. Ben said he was more inland, so he should be okay. #
myinnervoice @DeirdreS why? Because otherwise we will forget there is Gd #
miglsd @DeirdreS so you don’t belive in God, but think he is cruel anyway :)? #
shawnferry @DeirdreS I keep seeing noise to that effect but I’m guessing it will be a wreck #
DeirdreS @miglsd For those who do belive in god, I don’t see the point n praying to a manifestly cruel being in hopes of mercy. #
DeirdreS humans are adept at social learning, so a large social network is effective at spreading and accumulating knowledge. Â #
DeirdreS @ibannieto so am I, and many others. No word in 10+ hours #
DeirdreS @Schlomo hugs #
DeirdreS @BrookeJarvis Maybe they’re hoping some left coast liberals will drown 😉 #
DeirdreS @Zee Ohhhkay… #sxsw has just officially jumped the shark [this was about a “Where the Girls Are” app]Â #
DeirdreS @mtuckerb Hatten down the batches! #
DeirdreS For those asking about @jimgris, FB message from his dad says they’re all ok. Phew! #
lowbit @DeirdreS Great to hear! #
DeirdreS Very tired. Lack of sleep will do that to me. #
jimgris @chris_mahan@Joanmarie@lskrocki@lowbit@alanc@jamesdwi@benr@DeirdreS@hcsaltiel Thanks, guys. 🙂 #
DeirdreS @comay our leaders are the finest men, and we elect ’em again and again, that’s what I learned in school today… #
DeirdreS this time 5 years ago: La Buona Educazione (Good Manners) Â #
DeirdreS My middle-of-night anxieties, in the scale of world events, are so very petty – and I know it. But they keep me awake anyway. #
DeirdreS I tell the chorus, the orchestra to keep up their work, but their salaries don’t even let them pay their bills#
riccardo_iommi @DeirdreS how envious I am… you escaped from this shame in time #
riccardo_iommi RT @DeirdreS: I tell the orchestra to keep up their work, but salaries don’t even let them pay their bills http://apne.ws/eVOA9w << SHAME #
DeirdreS .@riccardo_iommi Living 17 years in Italy cost me a huge amount in taxes to a corrupt system, and lost wages. Should’ve left sooner. #
riccardo_iommi RT @DeirdreS: Living 17 years in Italy cost me a huge amount in taxes to a corrupt system […] Should’ve left sooner. << I have to RT this! #
DeirdreS .@monaeltahawy@Hragy Holy words written by tribal men saying women should submit to men. How surprising. #
DeirdreS @bloatedlesbian Looks that way to me #dreamhost #
DeirdreS no.de users, remember: you’ve got a chance to win just for sending us pretty pictures! Brendan Greggs Book Giveaway  #
DeirdreS Ok, that’s it for post-lunch marketing, time to put the training hat back on. #
DeirdreS Geoff gets his Italian on  #
DeirdreS @deeharvey I had hoped not, but… #
DeirdreS This is more kinds of beautiful than I can describe… colorapi#
DeirdreS http://amzn.com/k/2DJTIR8B63IJV #Kindle #
DeirdreS @hudsonette Reminds me chillingly of a Heinlein story from the Cold War era. #
DeirdreS .@onfaith Beck is utterly predictable, what’s worrying is the people who actually believe his crap. A merciful god would strike HIM down. #
DeirdreS Sun.com and its subdomains eg blogs.sun.com was one of the greatest repositories of technical knowledge on the web. I’ll mourn it. #
DeirdreS @ryancnelson weird cat behavior: if in isn’t on YouTube, it didn’t happen. #
DeirdreS @nonstick And the Oracle classic people by their envious stares at the Macs? 😉 #
stewarttownsend RT @DeirdreS: Sun.com and its subdomains eg blogs.sun.com was one of the greatest repositories of technical knowledge on the web. < sad day #
DeirdreS Happy I’m going to see my kid today. #
nonstick @DeirdreS There’s one guy here with an Apple sticker over the Dell logo on his laptop. Gave him a hard time about it. #
DeirdreS @planspark it will be worth the wait #
DeirdreS @monkchipsDr Melvyn Bert – I recommend him heartily. #
TomRaftery Hey @DeirdreS@monkchips asked me to say thanks very much – he just left to go to the doctor you recommended #
DeirdreS @TomRaftery Cool. I adore Dr Bert, great with patients, worldwide#
bubbva @DeirdreS blogs.sun.com is migrating, all content. Old urls will probably be busted 🙁 #
NomdeB @DeirdreS – Silly me. Forgot to @ you on that last tweet. #
DeirdreS I don’t know why the sound of people chewing and crunching food irritates me extremely. Unless I’m also eating, I guess. #
riccardo_iommi @DeirdreS no no, it irritates me even while I’m eating. It’s something you cannot bear. #
mentalmosaic @DeirdreS I like watching animals eat, though. My own species – not so much. #
DeirdreS http://t.co/QKRGgjx #
pborenstein @DeirdreS Pretty. But I still don’t get cupcakes. #
DeirdreS @NomdeB Heh. I’d already sent her a link about that. #
DeirdreS @pborenstein To me, it’s a devil’s food cake without the commitment #
pborenstein @DeirdreS I think it’s because I don’t like frosting. So much of it on cupcakes. #
DeirdreS If AT&T is going to cut me off at 150 Gb / month, would be helpful to know how much I’m using now. Anyone know if there’s a way to see? #
lowbit @DeirdreS They are apparently going to be adding tools to monitor usage once the change is official. #
DeirdreS @NomdeB That’s wireless, talking about home internet #
billblum @deirdres AT&T is supposedly going to have a tool available for DSL customers— I’ve got a Netgear router with usage stats built in. #
DeirdreS @billblum good point – I may be able to find that out on my own router #
NomdeB @DeirdreS Can see data use on Cox Communications website too. Think our limit is 200GB/month, but we can bump up to bigger if needed. #
billblum @deirdres We’re being force upgraded to UVerse, so that gives me some headroom on the bandwidth cap. #
DeirdreS Baby cruising around the arrivals area on all fours. I remember when airports were exciting #
DeirdreS It is no longer possible to guess where anyone embarked based on ethnicity, language, dress… #
bubbva @DeirdreS I think our parents drilled ‘silent eating’ into us; therefor, others are annoying 🙂 #
bubbva @DeirdreS I think ther’s am app for that? #
pborenstein @DeirdreS Hitchens et al strike me not as atheists but as a(specifictheism)ists. They worry a lot about the afterlife they don’t believe in. #
DeirdreS @pborenstein Seems to me they worry about others’ belief in that afterlife, and how that affects their behavior in this world #
pborenstein @DeirdreS True. I wasn’t fond of James Watts’ idea that conservation wasn’t necessary because the rapture was just around the corner. #
DeirdreS Enter to win 1 of 2 Canon 60D camera bodies & 1 yr @SmugMug Pro membership. Please RT. Info at: http://bit.ly/hDiOdy #
pborenstein @DeirdreS Prof atheists tend to be specific about the god they don’t believe in. Like sec. Jews: The synagogue they don’t go to is orthodox. #
johnnysunshine @pborenstein@DeirdreS I don’t think that’s entirely true, I’ve met plenty that equally point out Hindu bullshit as JudeoChristian bullshit #
pborenstein @johnnysunshine Maybe I just keep hearing and reading the same Hitchens, Pullman, Dawkin clips 🙂@deirdres#
mentalmosaic @DeirdreS Good point, although on my last flight to NYC, the New Yorkers wore much more black, I noticed, than the tourists. #
DeirdreS Had to come to the AT&T store to reactivate ross’ phone. Been here 40 mins. This is absurd. #
DeirdreS The AT&T people on the phone are holding us up over process with their own store people. Hello, you work for the same company! #
DeirdreS Capturing minds [Mark Cavage and Aaron Slettehaugh of Joyent] Â #
DeirdreS @edsai get a white noise appfor your iphone. Works wonders #
edsai @DeirdreS you are my hero. I had no idea there was an app for that. #
DeirdreS @edsai I used to travel with a separaet white noise machine, now no longer necessary #
edsai @DeirdreS will my alarm still go off? What app do you use? #
DeirdreS @edsai Yes, AFAIK. I use WhiteNoise by TMSoft, I think it was free #
jhk24 @edsai@DeirdreS love whitenoise! sleep tight! #
shawnferry @DeirdreS@edsai I use the same. I don’t recall any alarm issues #
scriptavolant The Fabio Masetti Daily is out! http://bit.ly/b2hwKX Top stories today via @stefanomizzella@deirdres#
edsai @shawnferry@deirdres my heroes. was able to get some sleep but running on fumes from yesterday #
DeirdreS RT @bleepster: hallelujiah! http://bit.ly/gAWeMC – wait til you see the new ones coming out with the book! #
DeirdreS @TomRaftery Realpolitik is often ugly. <sigh> #Libya #
johnkt09 @DeirdreS Funny how often realpolitik turns out to be geldpolitik, isn’t it? #
DeirdreS @johnkt09 Yup. After all, what’s realer than money? (Don’t answer that!) #
DeirdreS Argh. Sneezy, Dopey, Grumpy, Sleepy… also Headachy and Runny. Damn cold everyone else has had finally caught up with me. #
DeirdreS <sigh> I would really, really prefer not to be on the phone with AT&T right now over yet another screw up. #
mentalmosaic @DeirdreS You, too? This is the 3rd month in a row for me with the same AT&T billing screw up. Love my phone, though. #
DeirdreS 12 mins on phone with rep only to be told I have to pass you to customer care, this line only deals with customers <30 days old WTF? #
dltq @DeirdreS hahaha, sounds like that service rep needs a spanking #
a_random_claire @DeirdreS Did you explain you were well over 30 days old? 😉 #
DeirdreS @a_random_claire I’m not a human being here, just an account. Gah! #
DeirdreS I would gladly pay more money to any company that doesn’t put me through billing hell, for whatever service. Does such a thing exist? #
fitzage @DeirdreS Doubtful. #
fitzage @DeirdreS Actually, when it comes to cell phone companies, T-Mobile was always top notch at customer service. #
DeirdreS Dear corporations: get customer service right. The company that accomplishes this – in any sector – will rule the world. #
NomdeB @DeirdreS Isn’t this day 2 of your AT&T saga? Ouch. 🙁 We’re Verizon. Know people have complaints, but we’ve always had great service. #
riccardo_iommi @DeirdreS they won’t understand this simple thing #
DeirdreS ps I did front-line customer service for years, and I did it well. I KNOW it ain’t rocket science. #
riccardo_iommi @DeirdreS you are ranting like a machine gun, sorry to hear that 😉 #
DeirdreS @riccardo_iommi I’m supposed to be resting at home with a nasty cold. Phone hell is not making me feel any better. #
riccardo_iommi @DeirdreS u have my simpathy, I understand #
DeirdreS ok, unlimited data plan for iphone restored – I had specifically asked at the store y’day not to touch that, hence went spare when they did #
urbanturbanguy @DeirdreS that unlimited plan is useless. I have had it for 3 years now. #
urbanturbanguy @DeirdreS Wanted to get the personal Hotspot activated – They said not with the unlimited plan. They were happy to milk us till now. #
pborenstein @DeirdreS You might try @FancyHands for that kind of thing. #
riccardo_iommi @DeirdreS glad to hear that #
DeirdreS @pborenstein I don’t think they’re allowed to take personal data such as they wd need to manage an account #
DeirdreS This was sent to me in response to my rants earlier today: Saturday Night Live: Ernestine http://bit.ly/gNS2SX #
TopTv_Shows RT @DeirdreS – This was sent to me in response to my rants earlier today: Saturday Night Live: Ernestine http://bit.ly/gNS2SX #
socialtagger RT @DeirdreS – This was sent to me in response to my rants earlier today: Saturday Night Live: Ernestine http://bit.ly/gNS2SX #
DeirdreS companies subscribing to statistical insignificance in customer care will become companies that used to exist. http://bit.ly/eSlbMk #
DeirdreS ‘hipster’ (e.g., people who call themselves ‘nerds’) – Huh? Is that the definition? Or is it just rolled-up jeans and ‘tude? #
DeirdreS WTF? there is nothing to prove that students are allegedly influenced by the presence of the crucifix in classrooms#
DeirdreS @rob_ellis Sure you’re not in marketing? 😉 #joyent #
DeirdreS Some days your colleagues are a lot better off NOT seeing you at the office. For me, this is one of those days. #
riccardo_iommi @DeirdreS a healthy #FF to you #
DeirdreS American protesters should ponder the fact that the government they propose 2nd amendment resistance to is not in fact shooting at them. #
willbldrco @DeirdreS Re hipsters: I thought his was funny: RT @petapixel Hipster traps in NYC use Holgas as bait: http://j.mp/fv6fjG #
DeirdreS @willbldrco I’m dismayed that smoking is hip again. I had to live through that the first time. #
DeirdreS @bcantrill tornado warning for areas including… Redwood City… – moving in on the Emerald City? Surrender, Dorothy! #
willbldrco @DeirdreS +1! After enjoying the heavy-handed anti-smoking laws at home in CO, I was shocked every time I bellied up to the bar in FL! Ugh! #
DeirdreS .@slashdot@pbeyssac Sun.com is worth more than 1 million, if its Google karma transfers. It has huge SEO weight. #
DeirdreS At the same time, like all parents, sometimes I just want a pause button. Â #
NomdeB Don’t have children (by choice), but still found this parenting piece utterly delightful: http://bit.ly/fNRSIa HT @DeirdreS#
DeirdreS @acarvin Sigh. No one is meant to die easily. But somehow many do. Condolences. #
DeirdreS How can you make love stay? Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won’t adhere to any rules…#
DeirdreS R tried out Bikram yoga yesterday. Said it was smelly. #
DeirdreS @acarvin In which aspects of it do you think training is needed? For the A/V – tech, lots of info/tutorials out there. #
DeirdreS There’s never been truth-telling that I know of that had that kind of immediate effect#
DeirdreS most bloggers have no institutional credibility, so must build it by linking transparently#
DeirdreS @lskrocki We will not be seeing it from here – rain, rain and more rain! #
DeirdreS I rarely get the common cold/flu – had forgotten how miserable it is. #
edsai @DeirdreS argh. hope you feel better… #
DeirdreS @natashabadhwar I’m told that Nehru’s nieces ended up at Woodstock School because all of the older generation of the family were in jail. #
DeirdreS @edsai Thanks. It’s the fault of all our colleagues. That’s what I get for working in an office. 😉 #
natashabadhwar @DeirdreS I just read your bio. It is incredible, so much love, loss, moving on. Sending you love and the warmth of Delhi on the eve of Holi #
DeirdreS A Brazilian asking for info on the origins of his Italian family names – can anyone help? Â #
jasonh @aaronheckmann@bigfleet yes ping me. We have @sh1mmer and @DeirdreS working on such things @joyent#
DeirdreS .@jasonh@aaronheckmann@bigfleet Yes, @sh1mmer has training ready to go, don’t know of specific plans for Portland. #
DeirdreS Another trove of material I’d sorta forgotten about, must move to new blog… India Vlog 2005#
DeirdreS added a few updates and a new photo to my Autobiography#
DeirdreS 7 years ago today: Holiday Treats Italian Seasonal Goodies#
DeirdreS not much has changed since this post ~5 years ago: Talking Back to Politicians: A Lesson in Modern Italian#
edsai @DeirdreS uhm. why do you not have the pink hair anymore. it r0cked. #
DeirdreS 3 yrs ago: I’ve tried for 17 years to achieve this in Italy. made progress on my chosen road but it’s getting harder#
DeirdreS @edsai I liked it, but I’ve been scared off with stories of conservative Asian customers. Plus hard to get it done well. #
DeirdreS The DTrace book final version is now available for download purchase, with a different free sample chapter #
lskrocki @DeirdreS Bummer. Going to try snapping some pics — may be cloudy here too. #
DeirdreS Losing my voice. Which doesn’t matter on Twitter. #
DeirdreS Hmm, intriguing. Now just need to get all my friends to use it. Voxer#
DeirdreS Deja vu. Didn’t we bomb Tripoli a while back? Like, 1986? #
ryancnelson RT @DeirdreS: Deja vu. Didn’t we bomb Tripoli a while back? Like, 1986? //whoever lives in the Halls of Montezuma is nervous right now. #
DeirdreS Dear new followers: I am not likely ever to own real estate again in my life. What made you think otherwise? #
DeirdreS Enter to win 1 of 2 Canon 60D camera bodies & 1 yr @SmugMug Pro membership. Please RT. Info at: http://bit.ly/hDiOdy #
DeirdreS Dislike what I just did. But could really use a new camera… #
DeirdreS Either Mucinex works really fast, or I had already coughed out everything I was gonna. Still feel like the top of my head came off. #
webmink @DeirdreS That’s what one has a second account for 😉 #
bdha @ryancnelson@deirdres Nice. #
DeirdreS memoir: The (Previous) Bombing of Tripoli#
PCOWandre @DeirdreS You should check his 5D Mk. II giveaway thing too. Far more fun lurking in a 5D2! #
DeirdreS @PCOWandre Thanks, I think I signed up for both. #
PCOWandre @DeirdreS Well, hope you win! #
DeirdreS Woke up to a patch of blue sky. Will it last? #
DeirdreS A lot can be said with a little the mundane and the extraordinary. Philosophers were kings of the aphorism. Â #
DeirdreS @arekdreyer I’d never seen it – I like the song better than the store! #
DeirdreS Brief bout of sunshine definitively over. #
rattay @DeirdreS Somehow I knew we would have to some payback for that 80 degree stint in January. #
DeirdreS Hmm, I lied. Blue sky is back, at least temporarily. #
DeirdreS R: Does this look stupid? Do I look like a Canadian? (multiple patterned sweaters) #
DeirdreS @rattay Yeah, I wish we had that good weather now while my daughter is visiting #
DeirdreS Rather than waiting to help financial consumers, Warren has been trying to help them now. Can you believe the nerve?#
Joyent hosted a node.js community event at our San Francisco offices the other evening, in which Ryan Dahl announced a new version of node.js, and Brendan Gregg showed some amazing stuff you can do with Joyent Cloud Analytics on your no.de hosted site to understand what’s going on in your node.js app.
Technical difficulties with UStream meant I didn’t have a stream recorded to their servers that night, technical difficulties with everything else meant I couldn’t get these rough cuts hosted anywhere til now. This is exactly what you would have seen on the stream (and more), including the bad camera angle which was forced by… oh never mind. A better view of cloud analytics will be forthcoming.
(NB: These videos disappeared from Joyent some time ago. Sorry.)
^ top: Ben Rockwood, Deirdré Straughan, Brendan Gregg
I received email from a concerned reader saying: “when a writer stops writing, one of two things is happening:
— you’re blissfully happy, too happy to attempt to put it into words
— you’re utterly miserable, too miserable to find the energy to put it into words”
As I told him, it’s been both. Between health problems and a job/company that were (increasingly clearly) not a good fit for me, I was not in a happy place for quite a while. I returned to work at Oracle in early November after ~5 weeks’ medical leave, but desperately wanted a change.
That change came on December 1st: I began a new job with Joyent, a company which several Sun luminaries (far more luminous than myself) had joined over the previous months. I’m not an engineer, but when big names in Solaris engineering such as Bryan Cantrill, Jerry Jelinek, and Brendan Gregg all head to the same company, it’s time to take a look at what that company might be up to. There were other companies worth looking at for the same reason (and I did), but Joyent won out.
What Joyent does is cloud computing, a buzzword that I suspect even the non-technies among my readers have heard by now. Wikipedia describes it thus: “Cloud computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared servers provide resources, software, and data to computers and other devices on demand, as with the electricity grid. Cloud computing is a natural evolution of the widespread adoption of virtualization, Service-oriented architecture and utility computing“.
Joyent has been offering cloud computing as a service for over five years: some of your favorite Facebook games run on Joyent infrastructure. But recently Joyent has begun partnering with companies such as Dell to sell our cloud software with their hardware to third parties who want to run data centers and/or sell their own cloud services.
Where do I fit into this? As the new Director of Technical Education, it’s my job to help customers at every level – from end users to service providers to systems integrator partners – learn how to use our stuff. Which means getting highly technical information out of my colleagues and putting it into a format that can be shared with other people: a familiar theme in my working life.
I’ll still be using video, but in this job I will also be designing and likely even personally delivering technical courses, in the classroom as well as via video. This is a return to the early days of my high-tech career, when I designed and taught custom courses in desktop publishing, then installed and trained people to use desktop publishing systems for the World Bank in Cameroon and Tanzania.
As a working environment, Joyent is as different from Oracle as you can get. It’s grown from 22 to 100 employees this year (thanks to some investment, in particular from Intel) and there’s still way too much work for everyone to do. The attitude is very much that things need to get done, and “it’s better to seek forgiveness than ask permission” – which, as old Sun hands know, was once Sun head Scott McNealy‘s mantra. Those who have worked with me or observed me working know that I thrive in this kind of environment, though I’m having to unlearn some Oracle conditioning (amazing what a company can do to you in only nine months).
I was sad to leave my Sun colleagues (those who hadn’t already left themselves), though of course I was rejoining some. I spent Thanksgiving weekend editing The Faces of Sun, a video tribute to some (though nowhere near all) of the amazing people I got to work with and film at Sun.
Since I started at Joyent I’ve been extremely busy (startup hours), and expect that to continue and increase, including some travel. I probably won’t have a lot of time for my site/blog; the best way to keep up with my daily doings will be Twitter @deirdres
Warmest wishes for whatever holiday you celebrate and for a wonderful 2011!
, and 
