Microsoft fault knocks out websites

[Simon]

Faults with Microsoft's cloud computing platform have knocked many third-party sites offline, as well as disrupting the US firm's own products.

Microsoft Azure's status page says problems began at 00:52 GMT across the globe. Its European operations are taking the longest to fix.

Access to Microsoft's Office 365 online suite of apps and its Xbox Live gaming facility are among services 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30111575

[Gary]

Oh how I hanker for the days gone by when clouds were called servers and people didn't put everything minus including the kitchen sink on them