Personal Cloud Computer

I have taken the liberty of naming it Personal Cloud Computer and am working to popularize it (:-), but I suspect that many people , except working IT industry and those who have used it in their work , do not have a clue what I am talking about, and no idea about that terminology. This IT industry is very interesting for those who actively use it on their own, but I think the ability to explain it to those who don’t is an issue (:-)).
A Personal Cloud Computer is defined as a computer that can be used just like a personal computer using services on the Internet. Of course, if you don’t have a computer at home, it would be difficult to use it, so it would be for a second or later computer, but in some cases, it can also be used from a smartphone. A good analogy might be to imagine that you place a computer in a rental warehouse and pay a monthly rental fee.
Then, if it is in a rental warehouse, how do you turn the power on and off first? The Cloud service provider you have signed up with will provide you with what is generally called a Control Canel (different from the control panel in Windows).
Next, how do we connect to the computers at the warehouse? Nowadays, a tool called ssh will do the job. To use another analogy, just like bluetooth, which allows you to use a mouse, headphones, and other devices.

1. Cloud Computer is like a computer in a rental warehouse.
2. Power on/off is done via the control panel.
3. All cables are connected via ssh.

If you can visualize this kind of analogy, I think anyone will be able to use Cloud Computer (I just hope (:-)).
By the way, the reason ssh doesn’t appear in AWS Workspaces is because it’s a dedicated application packed into a package to use without worrying about such things, that means a proprietary cable so to speak. So it’s convenient, quick to get started, and high quality, but it’s a bit expensive service (:-).

WebARENA Indigo

I had been using AWS Workspaces as part of a project to promote the use of Personal Cloud Computer (lol), but I immediately stumbled on Sikulix, an RPA tool (;-o). I was thinking of various workarounds, but since AWS Workspaces was originally a complete package in a sense, there is not much room to tinker with it, and while it is not impossible, I do not think it should be so. In addition I would like to do various things (:0) on it, I would like to choose something from a different service.
There are a lot of Cloud providers offering various services nowadays, and among them, there are a lot of free slots for individuals, which is very appealing. The AWS Workspaces I mentioned last time is also what I am using. However, the competition for free space is naturally fierce, and it seems to happen frequently that the service is still available but there are no more spaces available at the moment.
After much consideration, I decided to try WebARENA Indigo for my next Cloud Computer. This service seems to be mostly local to Japan, but since it is run by an NTT group, which is Japan big tel-communication company liks AT&T , I decided to sign up for it right away. Thanks to the proliferation of video services such as Netflix over the past few years, and the fact that I have done a lot of free viewing myself (lol), I am not so reluctant to register a credit card and create an account. Once you have an account, the next step is to create an instance (that’s what they call it). Here, as with AWS, the number of CPUs and the size of memory are selected. Since the purpose of use is Linux, minimum option like 1 CPU with 700M of memory is OK for my purpose, but since I will be using a desktop, I selected 2 CPUs and 2G of memory. The monthly cost is about $5 at the maximum. Windows OS is also available, which is a little more expensive than Linux, but not too expensive, I personally feel (:-).

RPA on Cloud Computer

I’ve been playing around with Linux with dynabook N40 that my kids used to use. That in itself is also a hobby (:-), but I want to try RPA with a purpose. I think that many who think of RPA personally are for stock or investment purposes, but I don’t do such things at all, but I still regularly gather online information and so on. I have been playing with Sikulix on my dynabook N40, and now I try it on my Cloud Computer, so called ( only by me ) AWS Workspaces.
Sikulix is distributed in java, so there is no need to install it, and AWS Workspaces comes with java as standard, so all you have to do is download and run the jar file.

$ java -jar sikulixide-2.0.5.jar

The integrated editor was started without any problems. However, when I run a simple sample, I get an unfamiliar error.

Hmmm, something about a glib version mismatch? I’m honestly not very good at this (lol), and AWS Workspaces is a somewhat complete package system, so I don’t feel like recompiling the glib system, and I think it should be used as it is. I am now investigating and considering other workarounds. AWS Workspaces , of course, are regularly updated with security measures and version upgrades. I wonder if it will work after a while without doing anything? I am just hoping it (:-o).

Audacity on Cloud Computer

I have a hobby, apart from computers, of extracting sound from various Video objects and listening to it, but I have not heard of other people doing this (:-o), so it might be a minor hobby. However, it seems that our brains process images and sounds at the same time, but actually they are biased toward visual information (I just heard a brain scientist told this), so if you listen to even familiar images with only the sound extracted, you will feel sounds you never noticed before, and you will “see” a different world. (I hope, probably).
I am playing with AWS Workspaces, which I have named Cloud Personal Computer for personal cloud use, and I will try using Audacity there. Audacity is so wonderful audio editing application that can be used on both Linux and Windows, so it can easily be installed on AWS Workspaces . In addition, I’ll install pavucontrol, which works well with Audacity, and since it’s RedHat-based, it looks something like this

$ sudo yum install audacity pavucontrol

With Audacity running and recording started (or paused), simply start pavucontrol and change Audacity’s input in the Recording tab to fit your environment. Of course, for those who want to listen with higher accuracy and sound quality, this may be a little insufficient, but for my hobby level, it is so good. Since it picks up all the sounds of the computer, even operating system error sound are recorded, but since it is a Cloud Computer, it will continue to record even if the physical computer application is closed and left alone (:-).
Also, one of the biggest advantages of the Cloud Computer is that the Cloud Computer is physically located in a data center somewhere, and the network distance from the sound source you want to record is often closer than at home, so the quality is often better. Although the quality of home networks has improved recently, there are still times on weekends when I get what is called “Circling…” and have to pause while watching videos, but I have not yet experienced this with the Cloud Computer. I have the impression that the quality is quite good (of course, it depends on the situation and environment). However, as I wrote a bit about this before , this method can also be used to record various video and music services that are popular nowadays if you try to, so you need to pay attention carefully to the laws and copyrights of each country.

AWS Workpaces Desktop

I purchased AWS Workspaces as my home Cloud computer (although it is free for a while) and started using it. The OS I chose this time is called AWS Linux, but if you usually use Windows OS and choose Windows for Workspaces, you can use it as a normal computer without much discomfort. AWS Linux seems to be based on RedHat, and the desktop is GNOME2-based MATE. However, it seems to be almost complete, and for the original purpose of using Workspaces, it would be best to use it as it is.
The only major applications installed from the start are the open source LiberOffice and Firefox, but of course necessary applications can be easily added with yum. However, there seems to be some AWS etiquette in yum.
When I tried to play youtube on Firefox, the picture quality was very good rather tham my expectation, with just a little bit of choppiness if you don’t set it to full screen. And the sound played without any problems without any additional settings. This was a surprise to me, a Linux geek until about 10 years ago. I remember that back then, it was normal to not be able to play sound when connecting by VNC, and even if you forced playback of video, it was useless in terms of computer resource and network quality. The combination of the AWS Workspaces server and the client application must have been perfected.
However, this time I only confirmed that I could play Youtube and other videos on Cloud PC, and I will not use it because the FireTV connected to my TV is for everyday use, as it is still better quality in terms of picture and sound (:-).

AWS Workspaces App

I’ve just completed the application for my second home computer, which is a cloud computer as AWS Workspaces. It is now time to turn on the power (as we call it here). Generally, the power operation of a cloud computer is done from a menu called Control Panel. However, AWS seems to call it just Service.
Simply select Workspace from the AWS Service and choose Start Workspaces from the Action menu for the home computer you signed up for. Now it is powered on.
Next, I installed the Workspaces app on my real (lol) home computer, a dynabook N40, started it up, and entered the registration code. Wow, that’s really very thoughtful.
However, there is one thing that is a sticking point: by default, Linux PCs are not allowed to connect to Workspaces. (;-p.) Well, that’s how popular Linux is among attackers in the world, I guess. I went to the Workspaces directory settings and checked “Linux” in the “Other Platforms” checkbox, and my second home computer was up and running NOW!

AWS Workspaces

I would like to purchase Cloud PC as my second computer because it is inconvenient to use only the Dynabook N40. I decided to try so called AWS Workspaces, which I found on Preliminary Research.
I went to the AWS website and registered as a member. First, I entered my personal information such as name, address, and credit card information, but I still feel a little uncomfortable entering my credit card information online. However, there is no fee for membership registration, so you don’t have to worry about it (I believe :-). If you think of it as the same as the recent video services such as Netfilix and U-NEXT that require credit card information just to watch a trial video, you may feel less resistance. Incidentally, I have also tried a whole major video subscriptions for free, but I am not using any of them now (:-o).
After completing the membership registration in the same manner as video services, the next step is to apply for the service. From this point on, you need to pay attention to the fees that may be incurred depending on the contents of your application. However, it is unlikely to be a large amount of money, so there is no need to worry more than necessary (I hope :-).
When searching for services, there are many that even I, as a system engineer, cannot even imagine, and when I try to read the explanation, I suddenly jump to an another language page, so I feel that the hurdle is still high for those who are not in the IT field. I wish AWS would try harder in this area (l:-o).
Still, I managed to find Workspaces, and selected CPU, memory, storage size, and OS. First of all, it is OK for me the minimum amount of Linux, but I found that 1 CPU, 2G memory, and 50G of user volume were “free” , so I chose this. I heard that it would be free for at least 3 months, but the original fee is $34 for a fixed monthly fee or $10 + $0.25 for an hourly fee, so it is a fairly high fee for a subscription. Also, it seems that the price and free slots vary a lot depending on the region (where the cloud computer is located) and the time of year.
I’d like to get a laptop with a good performance for about $1000 as a home computer, and I’d like to get it to arround $30 per month for a subscription, so it seems a bit out of my price range. Well, it’s the first time and it looks like it’s free, at least for a while, so I’ll have a little fun with it for a moment.

AWS

I was considering purchasing a mini-computer such as Beelink or Minisforum after a series of unfortunate freezes with the dynabook N40 and Linux. But suddenly I realized that the second computer would be a

• Cloud PC

The industry calls them many different names, including VDI, DaaS, AVD…etc, but I think it is important to define the term in a way that is a little easier to visualize for those who have not used such things before.
　Ten years ago, when I was still an active computer geek (:-), this type of service was still in its infancy, slow, expensive, and impractical. In the past 10 years, technology and services have advanced dramatically, and among them, AWS becomes the Cloud giant that is trying to stand apart from the rest in this highly competitive world, where major companies are investing nearly $10b every year. The services are so variety and many that even as a systems engineer may lose their way. But at last I found for my “Home Cloud computer” in personal use, so called AWS Workspaces service seems to fit the purpose, so I will try it so immediately.

Internet Searching

It’s been about 10 years since I started my computer geek hobby, and I’ve been enjoying myself while marveling at the technological advances in various industries during the blank period. Now, The core actvity of this hobby is Internet Searching, and it is the biggest change area from 10 yeas ago. At that time, already there were enough good sites to teach us HOW-TO for linux geek I think. Now there are too many search results, of cource they are so useful in their own way, and I have nothing but respect for those who are providing such information. But it frequently happens that if the information is even a little bit old, it has already completely changed from the previous version and is totally different from the practice.
　My conclusion is :

• Always search with specifying a updated time period one year

This way, I think I can avoid getting confused with information that is for old / previous software version for such a linux geek (-:)

Paper Notebook

I am now playing Linux , and next I try Cloud from dynabook N40. I always forget what I have tried and done very quickly, and it is difficult to remember even if I want to write about it later on my blog (:-). So I try to take notes whenever possible, and usually use a paper notebook and a fountain pen.

Of course, I also use various note applications, which is normal for software engineers, but in my case, I often switch operating systems and use various cloud note applications on a trial basis, so I lose track of what I wrote and where I wrote it. After a lot of roundabouts, I finally settled on the paper and fountain pen I use now.
I have never liked writing and my handwriting is not very good, so it was difficult to keep going at first, but I made a conscious effort to be a little particular about the tools I use. The fountain pen was given to me a long time ago, and I didn’t use it for a long time. But recentrly once I started using it, it has been getting more and more interesting. And then, now I want to new notebook that seemed to go well with my fountain pen, so I bought it.

Even though my handwriting is not very good , a new notebook makes me feel a good writer , even if only for a little while (:-).