Fall down from the Cloud: Cloud usage without Internet?

Absturz aus der Wolke: Cloud Nutzung ohne Internet?

Fall down from the Cloud: Cloud usage without Internet??

This article is a translation and adaption of this German language article: https://onshape.inneo.com/de/blog/blog-detail/absturz-aus-der-wolke-cloud-nutzung-ohne-internet.html

Onshape is the fastest growing CAD system, although only available through Internet. The founders, who are the original SolidWorks founders, were driven by: How can we use cloud computing technology best for CAD design.

Fully cloud or not ? Only a cloud-native approach delivers all advantages. Porting a C++ monolith to the cloud is not enough.

In consequence Onshape was developed fully new from the ground, to ensure, that it is a true Cloud-native tool. Onshape was written for the Cloud, was born there and lives only in the Cloud. This gives many advantages, e.g.:

- Usage on any devices (Windows, Mac, Tablet and Smartphone)

- No installation

- Sharing data instead of sending (analogue Microsoft 365 or Google Suite)

- Collaboration in the CAD authoring system in real time (not only on meta data level)

- Minimum of IT resources at the end customer

- Automatic and hidden update every 3rd week

- No crashes and broken CAD references

Because Onshape lives only in the cloud, it can be used only with an Internet connection. A user being offline has no access to his CAD data. Is this a disadvantage?

A fundamental need of a modern human being: Internet.

In the 50s of the last century, it was state of the art to use a drawing board for designing, analogue and in 2D views. Not only the design department needed paper. All systems, accounting, storage etc. were based on index cards and paper. With the usage of computer technology, the world switched from analogue to digital. Companies' who bought first time a computer, asked: What shall I do, when electrical power shuts down?

Picture of an old enterprise: a piece of paper is also available without electrical power but does not have the advantages of the digital world.

Who at that time preferred paper instead of betting on computers, was soon not competitive anymore and was kodaked (vanished). Despite occasional power failures, the power grid was reliable and delivered significantly more productivity.

Anja Kopp, CIO Microsoft Germany, at Digitalization Conference of INNEO Solutions

Still power failure is a disaster. No employee can work without electrical power. The Internet has today the same place value. Communication through Email, VoIP phones or text messages is impossible without Internet. Whole factories are connected and need data to operate. Even storage-, accounting and project management systems are connected increasingly to the Internet. In the case of Internet failure companies cannot operate or can operate only on a low level.

This is exactly the reason Internet providers try to establish a reliable net. Looking onto the broadband width atlas of the German Net Agency, you see, that 95% of Commercial users have a minimum of 16 Mbit/s. So the Internet technology in Germany delivers a high availability.

In a private environment you have for sure a high need for rapid surfing in the Internet and high availability. But this is not a big issue for Onshape.

Picture: Minimum net coverage for commercial usage in Germany. Source: https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/DE/Fachthemen/Telekommunikation/Breitband/breitbandatlas/start.html

If I lose my net... it is good to have a second one.

To use Onshape you need a constant Internet connection, but you do not need a broad band width and latency is tolerated. Data for the graphic card are delivered from Onshape to the local device only during initial load. The further operation like rotating, zooming, creating section views are all calculated locally. After a feature operation is finished with a green check mark, a subset of data are sent to the server and back and forth. That means, there is no permanent streaming, only small data packages are sent.

In the case of an Internet failure this means, that there is the feasible alternative to go through Mobile Data of the cellular or tablet device. Onshape consumes due to small data packages an exceptionally low level of data volume and can be used this way. Also, the map of mobile data shows a high availability of Mobile Internet in Germany.

Picture: LTE coverage in Mobile Net in Germany

Conclusions

Onshape is the first CAD system using fully the advantages of the Cloud, as it runs only on the servers of AWS. Therefore, a constant access to Internet is necessary. During Corona period and increasing Home Office usage we experienced, that Internet is as reliable as electrical power. The fall from the Cloud is very seldom.