'Cloud computing' is the latest buzz phrase, but what does it mean?
The internet is represented in technical diagrams as a cloud, and cloud computing usually refers to a network of servers running 'in the cloud' (on the internet), by which users can access applications and store and synchronise data across multiple systems.
Live Mesh is Microsoft's implementation of cloud computing for the masses, and interest in it has been growing since chief software architect Ray Ozzie first described the concept back in 2005. The service was introduced to private beta testers last April, and now a technical preview has been made available to the public. It can be tried out on the Live Mesh Tech Preview site.
In this article, the answers are provided to 10 questions aimed at explaining what Live Mesh is (and what it isn't), what it does now, what it's expected to do in the future, and how to get the most out of the 'cloud' experience.
1. What is a mesh?
Your mesh consists of a group of devices (currently PCs, but later to include Macs and Windows Mobile devices) that you designate, across which you can synchronise folders and connect through Remote Desktop.
This means both data and programs from any of those devices are available to you regardless of where you are — as long as you have an internet connection — even if you're not connecting from one of the devices in the mesh.
Your mesh can also contain people and even applications, as we'll discuss later.
2. What is the Live Desktop?
Your mesh also includes your Live Desktop, which resides not on one of your mesh-connected devices but in the cloud, on Microsoft servers.
You can access the Live Desktop and your other devices from the Live Mesh website. You can use the Live Desktop even if you don't have any other devices joined to the mesh. You can create folders on your Live Desktop, which are stored on the Microsoft servers and can be accessed from any web browser.
The Live Desktop shows up as another device in your mesh. Any devices that aren't currently available (computers that are turned off or not connected to the internet) will be shown with a red X, as shown in Figure A.
Figure A: The Live Desktop appears as a device in your mesh
3. How much storage space do I get in the cloud?
During this technical preview period, Microsoft gives 5GB of free storage space. That means you can create folders and store files on Microsoft's servers, which you can access from anywhere.
4. Do I have to install any software?
Yes and no. To get the full benefits of Live Mesh, you need to install the Live Mesh client on the devices you join to the mesh. This is the Mesh Operating Environment (MOE).
Currently it's available for XP and Vista; later, versions will be available for Mac OS X and Windows Mobile.
The Live Mesh software interface is shown in Figure B.
You don't have to install software to set up a Live Mesh account and use the Live Desktop, but you won't be able to join any other devices to your mesh.
Figure B: The Live Mesh software interface shows the devices in your mesh
5. Can I synch folders on my other devices without copying them to the Live Desktop?
Yes. The latest version of the Live Mesh software allows you to synch Live Mesh folders on a peer-to-peer basis without using up your allocated storage space on the Live Desktop. Some metadata is stored in the cloud, but not the content of the folders.
6. Can I share my Live Mesh folders with others?
Yes. You can invite other Live Mesh users to share your folders.
Files in the shared folders are automatically synchronised across both your devices and their devices, so that everyone has the same, latest version of each file. You can update documents, add comments, and even send instant messages from within a shared folder.
You can add users to a folder via the Live Mesh bar, which appears in the right pane when you double-click a Live Mesh folder, as shown in Figure C. The bar can also be accessed from the Live Mesh icon in the system tray.
Figure C: You can add other users, post comments, and send instant messages via the Live Mesh bar
7. Does Live Mesh include 'presence' technology?
Yes. The Live Mesh bar shows you whether the other people who share your folders are online or offline by integrating status information…
