High Scalability Building bigger, faster, more reliable websites.

True high availability requires a presence in multiple data centers. The recent downtime of even a high quality operation like Amazon makes this need all the more clear. Typically only the big boys can afford the complexity of operating in two or more data centers. Cloud computing along with utility billing starts to change that equation, leveling the playing field. Even smaller outfits will be in a position to manage risk by spreading machines amongst EC2, 3tera, Slicehost, Mosso and other providers.

The question then becomes: given we aren't Angels, how do we walk amongst the clouds? One fascinating answer is exquisitely explained by Dmitriy Samovskiy in his Linux Journal article titled Building a Multisourced Infrastructure Using OpenVPN.