Bob Porras' Blog

Randy Pausch is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.  Here is a clip from his last lecture.  Gut wrenching but at the same time some worthy advice.  Make it count...  I certainly do and can relate to him.  ABC News will be showing a program this Wed April 9th, 2008 @ 10pm/9 CST.  Here's to Randy.

In anticipation of some Winter Holiday downtime and unplugging from the internet cloud-- I envisioned some history reading and some home projects that required tools from a Craftsman Toolbox.  On Dec 24th my home computer hardware decided to get real sick.  The system uses fast RDRAM memory but all 2GB became usless when a single memory address line failure corrupted my system disk.  I was able to invoke extended memory tests then managed to isolate the faulty DIMM module and once again had good memory.  My next step was to try and recover the system disk.  I ran chkdsk (its just like fsck), mucked with the boot partion, etc. but could not recover the disk.  Previously I was fortunate to recover the system disk two times prior on this machine but this time my luck ran out.  Since all my data is on a separate data disk that is incrementally backed up daily to a network drive, I still had the most important items intact... The DATA.  So I reformatted the system disk and reinstalled the OS, then all the numerous updates, patches and ALL the applications (including configuring them).  It took about a day but all is normal on the home computer once again.  My wife and I realized how dependent we are on this device for running our domestic endeavours (paying bills, kids activities, purchases, getting information, etc.)  While we have other computers running various OSes in our house, this specific one was the nerve center.  It really resonated with me that I had taken precautions to preserve the data and they payed off.  It felt similar to the car accident question.  "Are you all right?"  We can replace the car but not you (the data). Personal digital data that an individual generates is just as important as the digital data of corporations.  We live in a sea of digital data today.  With free email, picture sharing and archives that store massive amounts of data that increases every second, protecting the data grows in importance as well.

My son received a new gaming console as a holiday present and the initial experience was amazing.  The ability of the graphic processor (GPU) to generate and manipulate polygons is incredible.  The effects generated to create waterfalls, reflection, smoke, 3D, etc. is excellent.  The visual effect is most stunning when the game's HD visual output is displayed in 1080i mode on a HD display.  It is safe to say the gaming console is a powerful personal computer.  The ultimate gaming experience is when you plug into the network cloud and play online with others.  Forget for a moment the complexities of configuring your network router, wireless LAN and the correct settings of open not restricted NAT and UPnP.  To play online and communicate in real time via VoIP, while you visualize in HD, hear in surround sound and control the events of the game is an experience you could only previously get at Walt's Kingdom.  The online response was great... for a few days when suddenly response started to get slow.  I told my son that good old latency had arrived.  He said "What?"  I told him that if 10 kids in each city of the world just received a new game console for the holidays that would be a lot of new consoles.  By the time most of them connected online would be about now...  As a result there are servers somewhere that are hosting these online games that are probably getting strained/hot and can't keep up with all the requests.  In other words the computer infrastructure (lots of servers, storage, etc.) that is keeping all game consoles in harmony can't do it as effortlessly as before because there are now too many of you playing while on school vacation. Then it happened...  His online id on his console got corrupted.  He could not recover his id.  All his scores, points, you name it data and a lot of it was unreachable on his console.  I told him I think his hard drive on his console is corrupted.  So I reformatted his hard drive (deja vu) and went through a recovery procedure.  Fortunately we recovered his online id and all his data since those busy servers with loads of storage kept a copy of his data too.

These technology woes are opportunities for those who provide the infrastructure of the internet... which is one large data cloud growing and growing and growing. 

Today I hit the 6 year mark of battling cancer.  I'm still here on this earth and feel very fortunate.  For those of you who find yourself in a similar battle keep up the fight!  If you know of someone who is battling this disease, support them the best way that you can.

Six years ago today I was handed a very significant challenge to beat.  Nothing is more sobering than having your health instantly taken away from you with a severe diagnosis.  I want to beat the odds and be part of a company that can demonstrate this as well. On this anniversary day I don't want to talk about my battle, but rather remember 2 people. A neighbor and friend, who fought bravely, but both did not reach a 5 year cancer free anniversary.  First there was Joseph.  A young boy who did not see double digits of age here on earth.  He had the courage and drive of a young lion.  During his short life he managed to pack a full agenda of activity into his precious day, even when he was sick from his therapy and surgeries.  His battle was fought over a period of a few years.  At the later stages of his battle he knew he was going to die and was at peace with what was about to happen.  Joseph died but deserved better.  I can still see the image of a boy who is my hero.  He was a brave heart.

Sharlene was the wife of a childhood friend.  I have known this friend since we were both in kindergarten.  Sharlene had three children ages 4, 3 and 1 when she died of cancer.  She was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma, which is one of the deadliest forms of cancer when discovered too late.  I cannot forget the time I had to provide my friend an honest opinion on a last chance effort she was desperate to pursue.  Talk about integrity and character of cheating people...  The so called cancer cure claimed to be able to cure up to 90% of the cancer in a patient.  The treatment was not medicinal but rather a vitamin and herb regiment.  It was extremely difficult but my childhood friend asked me to be honest with him.  I remember the words I said.  "Mike any treatment has to cure 100% of the cancer in order for it to be a cure."  He thanked me but knew that his family was grasping at any sense of hope.  Sharlene died and deserved better.  I asked Mike how does he cope?  He told me he straps on a suit of armor before getting out of bed every day. He then takes it off at night and falls apart only to be ready for the next day by suiting on the armor the next morning.  He is also a firefighter so maybe he was prepared for trauma through his occupation.

Talk about integrity and courage.  We can all do better.  I'll keep fighting for Sharlene and Joseph...

Alternative fuel sources seem to be gaining some momentum once again since the alleged U.S.A. gas crunch of the 1970s. Nearly 40 years later there is some traction with the big automobile makers for providing hybrid cars to consumers.  While gasoline/electric hybrid vehicles are a step in the right direction one could argue we need to go further.

Hydrogen and natural gas powered cars are available but not popular.  The amount of carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion is incredible.  While the world continues to search for more oil deposits in such places as the oil sands in Canada it does not solve the problem of reducing green house gas.  The price of oil is causing for more research in alternative fuel types that contribute to the carbon problem or possibly help reduce carbon emissions.

One potential alternative fuel that produces greenhouse gas but may be an oil alternative is methane hydrate. This substance is located in vast supplies deep in the ocean in a frozen state.  While it is well known about  the hazards of nuclear reactor power generation, nuclear reactors produce their own environmental waste by product.

Think ECO and GREEN. The planet to the left is a beautiful place.  I have personally seen the air pollution in Los Angeles, Rome, Athens and Beijing.  The picture below is a coal fired power plant that is generating electricity and tons of carbon emissions.  Everyone can make a difference.  If we can solve landing on the moon we should be able to produce an ECO friendly fuel source.

1. I was born and raised in Medford, Massachusetts U.S.A.  Right here. It is ~2 miles (3.2m)  to Boston from Medford.  In fact Medford is part of a group of surrounding cities known as Greater Boston.  If you like Italian food as I do, (being 1/2 Italian and 1/2 Spanish) go and visit Bob's Food Store.  The store is located at the top of the next street over from where I lived. This specialty store still uses sawdust on the floor just like the butcher stores of yesterday.  If you go and visit Medford, I recommend you lock your car doors.  If you know me I have a strong Boston accent.  I do not sound like I grew up in Kansas or Texas.  Life in Medford gave you some street sense and skills.  I was highly encouraged or basically forced by my Dad to attend 12 years of parochical school (St. Joseph's, Medford, MA and Pope John XXIII  High School, Everett, MA).  With many blue collar people in the city there was plenty of opportunity to make bad decisions on the road of life.  My Dad always told me "picture my face before you go do something stupid."  That helped me say many times "I'll catch you guys later..." As I grew older and attended college-- the streets started to consume some of the young adults that I knew. Unfortunately some are in a better place today while others ended up in not such a good place.  However my brother "Al" became a Chemical Engineer, "Mikey D." became a Mechanical Engineer and 2 Stevie's became Electrical Engineers.  So 5 of us on Golden Ave becoming engineers. It is interesting that 4 of the 5 engineers all did the 12 year reform school program above.  Go figure...
   
2. My 1st job was peeling 50 lbs. bags of onions for $2.35/hour.  After peeling onions for a while you cannot get the onion smell off of your hands.  You get acclimated eventually and your red eyes stop pouring tears... most of the time.  Onion peeling was a right of passage (Is he going to last or quit???) before you got moved up to unloading full freight cars of 50 lbs. bags of carrots, cases of lettuce, crates of melons and yes those onions once again.  This was a lousy job at a Fruit and Produce wholesale operation for grocery stores.  Have you ever seen a freight car up close?  They are BIG and can fit many bags of carrots.  How do you unload these carrots?  One 50 pound bag at a time even if it is winter (cold) or the humid days of August (hot, hot, hot).  My Dad would smile and say this work is good for you.  It will encourage you to earn your living with your head not your body.  Physical labor is a good learning lesson when you are young but as you start becoming a 40 year old your body begins to break down.
3. I liked to take things apart (still do) and "trying" science, especially during the summers. I was blessed at being good at math and having a desire, since I was a kid, to get stuff done.  I earned my undergraduate degree from the "engineering factory of Boston." After getting an advanced degree in Computer Science, I enrolled in an advanced business degree program.  A thesis was required to graduate.  The thesis was due in February...  I had the thesis signed off and orally defended 6 months before it was due.  My Dad would always say "Anybody can talk but walking the talk is what matters." Can you get it done? My parents both grew up during the Great Depression.  Their stories of hardship certainly shaped me.  My Dad worked as a union (AFL-CIO and Carmens) employee for over 50 years.  I never saw him miss work, never saw him intoxicated, never saw him loaf, never saw him act as a bad example to me.  Guess how I act today?  I had to pay my own way through college (hello cooperative education at NU).  My parents paid for the 12 years of parochial school so the rest was up to me.  During college I received some student grants. I also worked part time at a plumbing supply store stocking inventory and delivering merchandise in a Class 2 truck.  Problem was I didn't have a Class 2 license...  This again was Medford.  Have you ever tried to move a cast iron bath tub or steam fed boiler?  They are both h-e-a-v-y.  Becoming an engineer looked better and better all the time.
   
4. A Medford Little Leaguer and Babe Ruth League baseball player won a World Series ring with the Minnesota Twins in '91.  We played ball together and he lived right down the street.  Imagine being able to live the fantasy that many boys played as kids.  Hitting a home run in the real World Series.  Mikey did it!  I played baseball, hockey and football through high school but Mikey P. was able to play baseball as a professional career for 11 years.  I don't want to say I was the last guy cut before making it to the show, but then again I didn't warm any benches when I did play.  I still have the scars from hockey on my face, the broken bones from football and the shoulder from baseball that predicts the weather. Mikey has a World Series ring.
   
5. I am a cancer survivor.  I reached 5 years of being cancer free from initial diagnosis last August '06.  Cancer is a physical and mental challenge.  I truly believe mental attitude plays a big part in the battle.  I'm also convinced that the lessons from Medford played a part in fighting the disease as well.  Part of the recovery of being a cancer survivor is that you have to talk about it.  Why me?  Why did I survive and others did not make it? Helping others get through the hardship and loss of life is therapy as well.  I had the same type of cancer as Lance Armstrong.  Lance was a very late diagnosis because of his denial.  For me I embraced the fear much sooner.  If you want to know what it was like for me read his book. I read his book after my 2 surgeries and boy did it hit home with a lot of parallels.  The numerous needles, xrays, and CT Scans with active contrast is not fun. The mental part of thinking that the next test is going to reveal metastasis or tumor marker is plain brutal.  It certainly made me cry.

Bob Porras (picture)
Vice President, Solaris Storage Software
Sun Microsystems, Inc.

As Vice President of Sun's Solaris Storage Software Group, Bob Porras leads a global organization that is focused on the delivery of Solaris core storage products and technologies. This includes all storage products for NAS, SAN and Object based environments.   In addition the organization delivers storage components into Solaris such as the ZFS file system and Storage Archive Management software.

Previous to Sun, Bob served in Vice President and Director roles at both startup and public companies including: Accolade Technology, Vitesse Semiconductor, Sycamore Networks, Compaq, Digital and Mitre. His experience spans storage, servers, intelligent optical switches, operating systems and semiconductors.

Bob holds a MSM from Lesley University, a MS in Computer Science from Boston University and a BS degree in Engineering from Northeastern University.