Amazon RDS for SQL Server now supports SQL Server Native Backup/Restore using Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3). You can now take database level backups as SQL Server backup files (.bak) and store them in your Amazon S3 bucket. SQL Server full backups are commonly used to migrate or move databases among different SQL Server instances, whether in the cloud or on-premises, for data ingestion, disaster recovery and other backup purposes. You can export a full backup of your on-premises database, store it in S3 and then use the custom stored procedures offered by RDS to restore that backup to an existing RDS instance. You will also be able to backup an RDS database into S3 and restore the backup file later onto an on-premises or RDS database. Storing and transferring backup files into and out of AWS through S3 affords customers an added layer of protection for disaster recovery and gives customers a peace of mind that their data can be moved around easily. On RDS, you can encrypt your backup files across SQL Server Express, Web, Standard and Enterprise Editions.
Amazon Elasticsearch Service now supports Elasticsearch 2.3
Amazon Elasticsearch Service now supports Elasticsearch version 2.3. Amazon Elasticsearch Service makes it easy to run Elasticsearch, which is a popular tool for real-time analytics use cases such as log analytics and application monitoring. Elasticsearch 2.3 offers many new features, including support for pipeline aggregations, improved geo-point fields, and support for data compression. Elasticsearch version 2.3 also offers many benefits over version 1.5, including improved performance, memory management and resiliency, and security enhancements. Starting today, customers can choose between Elasticsearch version 1.5 or 2.3 when creating an Amazon Elasticsearch Service domain.
Water scarcity stokes civil unrest in rural India
The Times of India is reporting a series of protests about a lack of drinking water by groups of hundreds of people in rural areas of southern India.
Palestine to receive desal plant as part of Turkey-Israel deal
Palestine is receiving a new desalination plant as part of a deal struck between Israel and Turkey to repair relations following the killing of 10 Turkish activists on a ship bound for Gaza six years ago.
Tajikistan to host symposium on best practice in water management
The Republic of Tajikistan and the United Nations department of economic and social affairs are running a symposium on sustainable water management on 9 August, in Tajik’s capital city, Dushanbe, reports Tehran Times.
American Water’s Litchfield, IL, team celebrates 20 years of safety
The company’s Contract Services Group is celebrating 20 years without a recordable, lost-time accident at its Litchfield, Ill. facility.
Canadian city of Prince Albert declares state of emergency following oil spill
The city shut its drinking water intakes on the North Saskatchewan River last week to protect residents from the spill, which is threatening the drinking water supply.
Amazon testing delivery drones in UK
The CAA has given Amazon exceptions from rules around the operation of drones in certain areas. It will be able to test drones which are out of sight of an operator. It will be able to trial sense and avoid technology. It will be able to have one pilot control multiple drones. Amazon is developing …
Managing Wi-Fi connections from within your app for IoT
Just to quickly flag an interesting article about programmatically managing the Wi-Fi connections used by your app. And yes, the IoT word is involved.
ams buys optical sensor firm in Germany
Austrian sensor and analogue IC manufacturer ams has acquired spectral sensing systems specialist MAZeT for an undisclosed amount in cash. Germany-based MAZet’s capabilities in IC and filter design and software system development are used in industrial and medical. Its sensors being used in applications including airplane interior lighting, agricultural sensors, and medical skin lesion analysis. Thomas Riener (pictured), …