Traceroute

In Traceroute’s Season 2 finale, we explore the Herculean efforts to back up the entire internet and save all human knowledge for future generations. But if information becomes commoditized, then who will own history?As season 2 of Traceroute comes to a close, we take an in-depth look at one of the most important issues in tech today: the intersection between information, access, and ownership. In part one, we’re introduced to Alexis Rossi, the Director of Collections at the Internet Archive, a different kind of librarian (at a different kind of library) that’s attempting to back up the entire internet, as well as the breadth of human knowledge. But undertaking this mammoth tasks forces Alexis—and indeed all of us—to ask some critical questions: who or what decides what gets preserved…and why. But even as we made huge technical strides in preserving our history, more questions arise: as our analog history turns to dust, is the digital representation we replace it with actually history? Is history lost when all the artifacts are replicas, or do we qualify it somehow as an approximation of history?Additional ResourcesConnect with Grace Andrews: LinkedIn or Twitter.Connect with Amy Tobey on Twitter.Connect with Fen Aldrich on Twitter.Connect with John Taylor on LinkedIn.Connect with the NEDCC.Visit Origins.dev for more informationEnjoyed This Episode?If you did, be sure to follow and share it with your friends!Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then leave us a review. You can also share this with your friends and colleagues! Introduce them to the people and organizations who played a role in inventing the internet. ---Traceroute is a podcast from Equinix, and is a production Stories Bureau. This episode was produced by John Taylor, with help from Tim Balint and Cat Bagsic. It was edited by Joshua Ramsey and mixed by Jeremy Tuttle, with additional editing and sound design by Mathr de Leon. Our theme song was composed by Ty Gibbons.

When we peel back the layers of the stack, there’s one human characteristic we’re sure to find: errors. Mistakes, mishaps, and miscalculations are fundamental to being human, and as such, error is built into every piece of infrastructure and code we create. Of course, learning from our errors is critical in our effort to create functional, reliable tech. But could our mistakes be as important to technological development as our ideas? And what happens when we try to change our attitude towards errors…or remove them entirely? In this fascinating episode of Traceroute, we start back in 1968, when “The Mother of All Demos“ was supposed to change the face of personal computing…before the errors started. We’re then joined by Andrew Clay Shafer, a DevOps pioneer who has seen the evolution of “errors” to “incidents” through practices like Scrum, Agile, and Chaos Engineering. We also speak with Courtney Nash, a Cognitive Neuroscientist and Researcher whose Verica Open Incident Directory (VOID) has changed the way we look at incident reporting. Additional ResourcesConnect with Amy Tobey:  LinkedIn or TwitterConnect with Fen Aldrich: LinkedIn or TwitterConnect with John Taylor on LinkedInConnect With Courtney Nash on TwitterConnect with Andrew Clay Shafter on TwitterVisit Origins.dev for more informationEnjoyed This Episode?If you did, be sure to follow and share it with your friends! We’d also appreciate a five-star review on Apple Podcasts - it really helps people find the show!Traceroute is a podcast from Equinix and is a production of Stories Bureau. This episode was produced by John Taylor with help from Tim Balint and Cat Bagsic. It was edited by Joshua Ramsey and mixed by Jeremy Tuttle, with additional editing and sound design by Mathr de Leon. Our theme song was composed by Ty Gibbons.

Grace Ewura-Esi returns from a trip to Ghana, West Africa, with a new perspective on how technology helps us not only make new discoveries but gives old discoveries a new perspective. In this special episode featuring all four hosts in a fascinating discussion, Grace presents examples like Adinkra, the symbol-based language of the Ghana Empire which is a form of communication based on various observations of and associations between humans and the objects they use, not entirely dissimilar to block code that software engineers use today.In addition, with the assistance of machine learning and artificial intelligence, ancient cultures are creating new visual representations of ancient gods for whom there were no depictions that lasted over the centuries. This same AI may even be used to help other nations, cultures, and tribes reconstruct missing portions of ancient languages and lost artifacts. It’s an episode that’s part mystery, part paradigm shift, and part digital archeology. As Grace puts it, “it’s the ancient as modern, again.” Additional ResourcesConnect with Shweta Saraf:  LinkedIn or Twitter.Connect with Grace Andrews: LinkedIn or Twitter.Connect with Amy Tobey:  LinkedIn or TwitterConnect with Fen Aldrich: LinkedIn or Twitter.Visit Origins.dev for more informationEnjoyed This Episode?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then please leave us a review. We’d also appreciate it if you would share the podcast with your friends and colleagues, as you get to know the people and technologies at the center of our digital world.Traceroute is a podcast from Equinix, produced by Stories Bureau. This episode was produced by Grace Ewura-Esi, with help from John Taylor and Mathr de Leon. It was edited by Joshua Ramsey and mixed by Jeremy Tuttle and Tim Balint, with additional editing and sound design by Mathr de Leon. Our theme song was composed by Ty Gibbons.

How do we prepare our kids for jobs that don’t exist? Studies show that technology is progressing at such a rapid pace that up to 85% of the jobs that will be available in 2040 have not been created yet. Will AI, ML, and hardware advancements create a society where careers we take for granted today won’t exist in the future? In this episode featuring hosts Grace Ewura-Esi and Amy Tobey, Producer John Taylor puts a personal face on this idea through his 13-year-old daughter, Ella, who wants to be a chef when she grows up. Together, they explore this issue with Executive Chef-turned-Dell Computer Advocate Tim Banks, as well as employment attorney Michael Lotito, whose Emma Coalition seeks solutions to TIDE, the technologically induced displacement of Employment. Between trips to fully-automated restaurants and the latest advancements in 3D food replication, we discover that Gen Z’s humanity may be their biggest asset in tomorrow’s job market.Additional ResourcesConnect with Amy Tobey:  LinkedIn or TwitterConnect with Grace Andrews: LinkedIn or Twitter.Connect with John Taylor: LinkedInConnect with Alexander Kolchinsky: LinkedInConnect with Michael Lotito: LinkedInConnect With Tim Banks: LinkedInVisit Origins.dev for more informationEnjoyed This Episode?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then please leave us a review. We’d also appreciate it if you would share the podcast with your friends and colleagues, as you get to know the people and technologies at the center of our digital world.Traceroute is a podcast from Equinix and is a production of Stories Bureau. This episode was produced by John Taylor with help from Tim Balint and Cat Bagsic. It was edited by Joshua Ramsey and mixed by Jeremy Tuttle, with additional editing and sound design by Mathr de Leon. Our theme song was composed by Ty Gibbons.

How do we make technology that lasts? In this episode, Grace Ewura-Esi and Shweta Saraf join Producer John Taylor as he talks with two cutting-edge technologists who are trying to extend the life of the hardware infrastructure around us. From a cell phone tower that can be installed on your roof (and repaired just as easily), to a clock that is built to last ten thousand years, we uncover the common threads that run through technology that’s built to last. Woven in this framework is the story of Sandra Rodríguez Cotto, who worked tirelessly to restore civilization—as well as hope itself—to the island of Puerto Rico with the help of the only piece of hardware infrastructure that withstood the powerful forces of Hurricane Maria in 2017.Additional ResourcesConnect with Shweta Saraf: LinkedIn or Twitter.Connect with Grace Ewura-Esi : LinkedIn or Twitter.Connect with Alexander Rose of The Long Now Foundation: LinkedIn.Connect with Dr. Matt Johnson: LinkedIn.Connect with Sandra Rodríguez Cotto: TwitterVisit Origins.dev for more informationEnjoyed This Episode?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then leave us a review. You can also share this with your friends and colleagues!  Traceroute is a podcast from Equinix and is a production of Stories Bureau. This episode was produced by John Taylor with help from Tim Balint and Cat Bagsic. It was edited by Joshua Ramsey and mixed by Jeremy Tuttle, with additional editing and sound design by Mathr de Leon. Our theme song was composed by Ty Gibbons.

In our minisode finale, Equinix Technical Storyteller Grace Ewura-Esi introduces our third new co-host for Season 2, Fen Aldrich, Developer Advocate for Equinix. In a compelling conversation, the two hosts reveal their passion for “digital anthropology,” and the topics they want to cover in the new season of Traceroute.  Additional ResourcesConnect with Fen Aldrich: LinkedIn or Twitter.Connect with Grace Ewura-Esi: LinkedIn or Twitter.Visit Origins.dev for more informationEnjoyed This Episode?If you did, be sure to Follow and share it with your friends!Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then leave us a review. You can also share this with your friends and colleagues! Introduce them to the people and organizations who played a role in inventing the internet. For more episode updates, tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

In the second of three Traceroute minisodes, Technical Storyteller Grace Ewura-Esi introduces a new co-host for Season 2, Shweta Saraf, Director of Platform Networking at Netflix. In a brief but compelling conversation, the two hosts reveal more about themselves, their roles, and their unique perspectives on the central theme of Season 2: the humanity behind the hardware.  Additional ResourcesConnect with Shweta Saraf: LinkedIn or Twitter.Connect with Grace Ewura-Esi: LinkedIn or Twitter.Visit Origins.dev for more informationEnjoyed This Episode?If you did, be sure to subscribe and share it with your friends!Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then leave us a review. You can also share this with your friends and colleagues! Introduce them to the people and organizations who played a role in inventing the internet. For more episode updates, tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

In the first of three Traceroute minisodes, Technical Storyteller Grace Ewura-Esi introduces a new co-host for Season 2, Amy Tobey, Senior Principal Engineer at Equinix. In an insightful conversation, the two hosts reveal more about themselves, their roles, and the stories they’re looking forward to telling on the new season of Traceroute.  Additional ResourcesConnect with Amy Tobey: LinkedIn or Twitter.Connect with Grace Ewura-Esi: LinkedIn or Twitter.Visit Origins.dev for more informationEnjoyed This Episode?If you did, be sure to follow and share it with your friends!Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then leave us a review. You can also share this with your friends and colleagues! Introduce them to the people and organizations who played a role in inventing the internet. For more episode updates, tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

The invisible bones holding up the Internet are its hardware. One of the most prominent benefits we are reaping from hardware innovations is cloud services. And as you may have guessed, the cloud isn’t actually just somewhere up in space: physical data centers services are necessary to keep them up and running. In this episode of Traceroute, we take a closer look at hardware and why its advancement is crucial to the development of the internet. We discuss the importance and benefits of optimization for hardware to suit the needs of software. Joined by our guests Amir Michael, Rose Schooler, and Ken Patchett, we explore the synergy of software and hardware in data center services and its effects on the connected world. Episode HighlightsThe important Relationship Between Hardware and SoftwareEfficiency depends on understanding how software uses hardware and vice versaSoftware consumes every just like hardware depending on the way it’s writtenPeople want software and hardware “out of sight/out of mind,” but hardware is increasing in visibility due to data centers and the cloudAs the internet increases, so does the need for better hardwareAmir Michael: “There are thousands of people at large companies that are driving not only the design of the hardware, but the supply chains behind them as well. And if you just look at the financial reporting from these companies, they spend billions and billions of dollars on infrastructure.”The Building Blocks Of Getting OnlineIntel started in 1968, specializing in bulky but efficient memory chips. Now they lay transistors on top of atoms.Microprocessors are in every device now, from cell phones to servers to routers, making foundational microprocessor capability criticalThe biggest breakthrough came when Intel was able to use their infrastructure to support networking, and could then scale up to data centers and cloud architectureThis began the transformation of networking, with storage moving from big fixed function hardware over to software-definedMore growth in hardware is on the horizon with things like Artificial Intelligence, 5G, and edge computing The Birth Of The CloudThe “Metal Rush” of the early 2000s saw companies like Google and Yahoo building their own data centersFor smaller companies, this infrastructure development didn’t make senseSmall business turned to companies like Amazon, which had server resources to spare, and the cloud was bornData centers have scaled in size, but now the need is to optimize efficiency More and more, hardware is now tailored for specific software applicationsUnlike software, developing hardware requires a longer production schedule and a more consistent supply chain, which can be difficultThe next step is density, where more computing power is packed into less space but with greater efficiencies.Amir Michael: “You know, no one really goes into a bank anymore. Everything's just done over the network over these cloud resources today. It's how we've become accustomed to getting a lot of work done today. And so you need all that infrastructure to drive that. And I think it's just going to become more and more so in the future as well.The Nuts & Bolts Of Data CentersThe cloud is simply a combination of data centers of various sizes across the globe that are all connected through a networkThe first data centers relied on redundancy and stability, so they were built like bomb shelters with backup systemsData centers started redesigning hardware to optimize it for different uses,  depending on who’s renting the server spaceOpen compute is the next phase for data centers, where engineers figure out how to get bigger, better, faster and more resilient with existing servers and componentsKen Patchett: “Data and the usage of data has become much like a microwave in a home,  it is simply required, is expected. Most people don't look for it, they don't need it, and they don't really think about it that much until it doesn't work.”What’s NextIn the past, a low barrier to entry—in both cost and technology—allowed companies to do their own manufacturing. Those days are gone.But hardware advancements are fundamentally responsible for developments in AI, edge computing, and 5GWhat was once a supercomputer is now a smartphone, thanks to hardwareKeeping hardware inexpensive and efficient will open more of the world to its benefitsThree reasons why you should listen to this episode:Discover the background of the cloud and how it started.Find out how advances in software and hardware influence each other.Understand the importance of optimization for data center services. About Our GuestsAmir Michael began his career at Google, building and designing server and data center infrastructure. As Facebook's first hardware engineer, he led the team that came up with the first Open Compute server designs. He was also VP of Infrastructure at Salesforce, and now heads up Lightbits Labs, which builds a high-performance NVMe/TCP storage system.Connect with Amir through LinkedIn for more information.Rose Schooler is the Corporate VP of Data Center Sales at Intel Corporation and has worked in that company for over 30 years. She has previously served as the VP of the Internet of Things, Strategy, and Information Office, and the VP / General Manager of the Comms and Storage Group.Connect with Rose through LinkedIn for more information on her work.Ken Patchett has over 25 years of experience working in data centers. He has worked with Microsoft, Facebook, Google, and Oracle. His initial job as an ironworker led to his work in the Canyon Park Data Center in Bothell, Washington. He also cites experience working in the 2004 Olympics. Currently, he is the CEO at ServerDomes. For more information about Ken’s work, connect with him through LinkedIn.Additional ResourcesThe Open Compute Project FoundationEquinix Enjoyed this Episode?If you did, be sure to subscribe and share it with your friends!Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then leave us a review. You can also share this with your friends and colleagues! Help them learn more about hardware, software, and data center services so that they learn how these affect their Internet access.Want to learn more? Head on over to Metal Equinix.    Have any questions? You can contact us through our website. Need another way to share? Check out this episode on YouTube.For more episode updates, listen & subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Captivate.fm, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Technology is a staple part of our lives. Its continuous growth has improved the world in countless ways. But what most people don’t know is the environmental impact of something as mundane as streaming a video.In this episode, we discuss the impacts of data storage, technology, and the Internet on our world. Ali Fenn, David Mytton, and Jonathan Koomey share their insights on investing in sustainability and transitioning to more efficient energy sources. The key to global sustainability lies in the hands of data storage and technology industries. They need to find greener, more sustainable alternatives.If you want to learn about the Internet’s environmental impacts and know how you can contribute to investing in sustainability, then this episode of the Traceroute podcast is for you.Episode Highlights [01:23] Areas For Infrastructure SustainabilityThe demand for increased data storage grows globally and daily. Data centers need more compact and more efficient transistors to decrease their harmful effects on the environment while still providing good service.Ali Fenn, the president of ITRenew, says we should focus on energy, materials, and the manufacturing process for infrastructure sustainability.Spewing a ton of waste on the back end is also alarming.It's vital to consider environmental sustainability for the future of the Internet infrastructure industry.Ali Fenn: “The manufacturing process has this huge carbon impact. So let’s think about a less wasteful, less linear stream, and let's at least maximize the value we can get out of all that stuff.”[04:53] Investing in Sustainability by Reusing MaterialsAli didn’t think much about the environmental impact of technology infrastructure until she worked at ITRenew, which promotes the reuse of data center hardware.The demand for infrastructure is spurred by hyperscalers, like Google and Facebook.Open hardware is becoming the norm, maximizing the value and longevity of hardware through repurposing and reusing.Open hardware allows ITRenew to grow, buyers to get quality equipment, and hyperscalers to improve their sustainability.A circular economy is about deferring new manufacturing from a carbon perspective without sacrificing quality. Tune in to the full episode to hear Ali’s analogy about reusing materials using second-hand cars.[10:23] Data Center Energy ConsumptionOther concerns for investing in sustainability include electricity, materials, and water consumption.The primary resource for Internet usage is electricity.The rapid growth of technology and the Internet leads to colossal consumption of our natural resources and poses a significant threat to the environment.The total amount of data center energy consumption ranges from 200 terawatt-hours to 500 terawatts-hours.Data centers are more efficient now, and the world is transitioning to cloud computing.[14:48] Three Steps for Greener Data CentersWhile data centers have made impressive steps in reducing their carbon impact, there are three steps they can take to become greener. The first step is to offset all the carbon they emit through electricity generation.Next, match all electricity usage with 100% renewables. Although this is a good step, it may not be sufficient, as data centers still require a local electricity grid.Lastly, use 100% clean energy through power-purchase agreements to gain renewable electricity sources.Governments can encourage companies to move in this direction. [16:33] Switching to Efficient InfrastructuresDavid Mytton: “Improvements in their facilities mean that they are able to invest in efficiencies.”Many companies are moving in this direction to save money and commit to social and corporate responsibility. Scale still matters in this situation.With sustainability in mind, these companies benefit from their scale and can invest in new programs.Investing in efficient infrastructure may not be affordable for smaller companies.The general public doesn’t see the internet's sustainability issues. Renewables also don’t match consumption.With increasing consumer demand, we should consider how energy consumption affects sustainability measures and carbon footprint reduction.David: “Until consumers truly understand the impact of their online habits, they won’t be able to make decisions about where they’re buying things or which companies they’re going to host their email with.”[21:36] End-User Energy ConsumptionStreaming videos using 4G is more intensive than in Wi-Fi. 4G makes use of radio signals, which require more energy.With the development of 5G, energy consumption will increase initially up to 20 times. But with more improvements on the way, the industry expects less energy consumption.The efficiency of older technologies is offset by the increased use of newer, more power-hungry technologies.5G is rolling out gradually. This will allow better latency and increased speed, while also being more energy efficient in the long run.It is now in everyone's interest to reduce carbon footprint as climate change damages physical infrastructure.[23:51] Electricity Usage in Data CentersAccording to Jonathan Koomey, the Internet is a significant sustainability bargain. The 1% of the world’s electricity that data centers take up is a good use of that 1%. IT technologies help make the other 99% more efficient.Despite inflation in computer instances, the growth in electricity usage by data centers has remained basically flat throughout the years.It shows that data center efficiency has increased along with the rapid increase in output.[25:56] Efficiency and InnovationJonathan Koomey: “The higher efficiency allows them to deliver more services more cheaply. So you’re getting the higher efficiency, but you’re also getting a better business outcome.” Shifting users to empty computer capacity also benefits bigger companies in ways beyond the economies of scale.The increase in demand for computing services vs. the increase in efficiency will affect whether data centers will increase their power consumption.While the growth of Internet infrastructure leads to increased energy use, innovations will help us meet goals in investing in sustainability.Substituting smarts for parts and dematerialization are other ways to make less stuff and reduce carbon footprints.Grace: “Once again, innovation helps drive scale… and scale fuels innovation.”[30:19] Building a Sustainable SocietyJonathan: “I’m hopeful that the industry will use its influence to help the rest of the economy become more efficient because those are the two big levers... to transform the global society to become, ultimately, zero emissions.”We’re making significant progress. But there’s still a lot to be done through innovation, regulation, and measured changes in social behavior.Silicon Valley can start investing in sustainability through efficient materials, hardware recycling, reduction in water usage, and greener energy sources.Investing in sustainability goes beyond climate change. We need to actively seek to create a sustainable society.An inclusive economy with equity and global prosperity is key to sustainability.Bringing everybody online sustainably creates a positive societal impact and benefits community development.Ali: “I think there’s a huge opportunity to harness the powerful potential [of the technology industry to drive inclusion and access]. There is no industry that’s more capable of innovation.”Three reasons why you should listen to this episode:Learn about the areas of focus in infrastructure sustainability. Find out how companies can switch to more efficient energy sources and infrastructures. Discover the critical roles that consumers and innovations play in investing in sustainability.About Our GuestsAli Fenn is the president at ITRenew. For two decades now, she has been building tech companies, shifting focus on infrastructure sustainability. With an economics degree from Yale and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics, she has raised capital, managed operations, and led business initiatives in various teams worldwide.Ali is an executor driven by technology innovation, open source, circular economy, creating new markets, delivering financial returns, and social impact.You can reach Ali through her LinkedIn and Twitter.David Mytton is a former tech entrepreneur and co-founder of console.dev, the best tool for developers. Currently, he is studying sustainable computing at the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London. He specifically studies how much energy, produced by burning fossil fuels, the computing industry uses.With his expertise in tech, startups, and environmental technology, David has appeared on various podcasts and speaking engagements and published several academic papers.Interested in David’s work? Check out his blog, and reach out to his LinkedIn or Email.Jonathan Koomey is a researcher, author, and entrepreneur. His work spans climate solutions, critical thinking skills, and the environmental effects of information technology. He is known for describing a long-term trend in computing and energy efficiency called “Koomey’s Law.”Jonathan regularly holds a short course called “Data Center Essentials for Executives: A Beginner's Guide.” With his work, he has been named as 1 of 10 innovators changing the game for Internet infrastructure by GigaOm, and as 1 of 15 superstars of sustainable IT by CIO Magazine/Infoworld. Find out more about Jonathan on his website, and contact him through LinkedIn, Email, Twitter, or Phone at 650-517-3456.Additional ResourcesConnect with Ali Fenn: ITRenew Website I LinkedIn | TwitterConnect with David Mytton: David’s Website I LinkedIn I EmailConnect with Jonathan Koomey: Jonathan’s Website | LinkedIn | Email | TwitterEnjoyed this Episode?If you did, be sure to subscribe and share it with your friends!Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then leave us a review. You can also share this with your friends and colleagues! Make them aware of the environmental impacts of the Internet and how they can contribute to global sustainability.Want to learn more? Head on over to Metal Equinix.    Have any questions? You can contact us through our website. Need another way to share? Check out this episode on YouTube.For more episode updates, tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.