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The Open Data Center Alliance launched today with the goal of making the modern data center more open, efficient and simpler to use.

The group is developing a steering committee and a number of working groups to create requirements that will server as the basis for open, industry standards. These requirements would form the basis for how data centers operate.

The alliance says the data center has become so complicated that it needs a radical overhaul. Only with such an overhaul will it be possible to realize the potential for cloud computing.

A group of companies have formed an alliance to encourage cloud computing by making the data center radically different than it is today.

The Open Data Center Alliance (ODCA) consists of about 70 companies that want data centers to be more efficient, simpler and open. The goal is to develop industry standards developed by a cross section of vendors with usage models that cover the details of running what they see as the modern data center.

It's always a question when alliances come upon the scene. They tend to come and go, often existing to serve as marketing platforms for vendors more than anything else.

We are always looking for unique ways that people explain cloud computing.

So, this example caught our attention this week. The instructor used a pizzas a a metaphor for how to make a mashup of cloud-based learning tool.

Stephen Best made the presentation at the Teaching and Learning in the Cloud Conference in Holland, Michigan this past week.

Analyst firm Gartner has released its 2010 Hype Cycle Report, identifying those technologies it thinks have reached the "Peak of Inflated Expectations" as well as those languishing in the "Trough of Disillusionment."

Activity streams, cloud computing, and 3D flat-panel TVs and displays are among those at that peak. Gartner defines this as a "phrase of overenthusiasm and unrealistic projections." And although according to Gartner's map, it means these technologies may be on their way to mainstream, the next stop is one of disillusionment because those technologies failed to live up to expectations.

Apple is building a massive data center in North Carolina for its iTunes Cloud. But, recently they faced a problem. To really get onto the cloud, Apple needed more land.

In particular a one-acre parcel owned by Donnie and Kathy Full in the rural town of Maiden.

According to Bloomberg, Apple made an offer to the Fullbrights for the land they purchased once upon a time for $6,000. But Donnie and Kathie said no thanks. Apple made a second offer. They again politely declined.

There is confusing news coming from Afghanistan about cloud computing. A U.S. General has declared that the military is bringing in cloud computing to network soldiers in the sky and the ground.

According to Network World, "the basic hardware and software technology is being packed into mobile boxes that later this year will start to play a key role in networking for soldiers in the sky and on the ground."

As the week began, all eyes in the tech world were on the Techcrunch Disrupt event in San Francisco, from which some of the biggest tech news of the week came.

While

The FBI's hopes to "wiretap" the Internet show that federal officials and the Obama administration have little understanding of its implications and further almost no understanding of the technology and the way security functions in a communications environment.

It's dangerous stuff if nothing else than for its clear attempt to intrude deeper into our personal lives in the name of safety and security.

But before we get too tripped up on those silly worries about personal freedoms, let's look at what the effects would be on cloud computing and in particular, the customers who use it.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) relocated its data centers to North Carolina. Instead of relocating 250 servers, they leveraged the opportunity to create a virtual infrastructure.

"Rather than physically transport all those servers down to Durham and then rebuild the infrastructure, we decided to create a virtual infrastructure in the new location," says Ranny Dey, director of IT operations at AICPA.

We had one of those rare days. It almost felt like two politicians, going back and forth, playing to the crowd.

But these were not fat cat politicians. They were Silicon Valley moguls, razzing each other about their own definition of cloud computing. On stage was Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff followed by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. No matter who you believe, it was an entertaining day.

The dueling came to life as Larry Ellison launched a cloud computing strategy that had a lot of people scratching their heads.