Microsoft planning more modular data centers
Microsoft is taking a new approach to building the massive data centers that run its growing suite of online services, which are fast right central to its business. The gang plans to build modular data centers, which use shipping containers preloaded by up to 2,500 server computers that can be built in moiety the time as conventional data centers.
More details and a video explaining it all notwithstanding the jump.
“Our ‘Gen 4′ modular data centers will take the flexibility of containerized servers — like those in our Chicago data center — and apply it across the not notched facility,” wrote Michael Manos, general manager of Microsoft’s Global Foundation Services, in a blog post describing the new strategy. “So what do we mean by the agency of modular? Think of it partiality ‘building blocks’, to which place the data center will be composed of modular units of prefabricated involuntary, electrical, security components, etc., in addition to containerized servers. … We believe it is one of the most revolutionary changes to happen to data centers in the last 30 years.”
Manos is in charge of “global data center design, construction and ongoing operations for Microsoft’s online services.” These data centers are the foundation upon that Microsoft’s cloud services are built. Manos wrote that the company has to a greater degree than 240 online products and services.
Microsoft has a major facts center in Quincy, Grant County. Other major Internet companies, including Google and Yahoo, have built given conditions centers elsewhere in the Northwest to take advantage of cheap hydroelectric power.
Microsoft is planning to “modularize the whole given conditions center,” Manos wrote. “Not true the server side (like the Chicago facility), but the mechanical and electrical space similar to well. This resource using the identical kind of parts in pre-manufactured modules, the ability to use containers, skids, or rack-based deployments and the ability to tailor the Redundancy and Reliability requirements to the putting into practice at a very specific level.”
The company’s interest in this type of data center has been public since at least April 2007, when it was reported by Data Center Knowledge.
The benefits of this approach, according to Manos, take in:
– Capital cost savings of 20 to 40 percent;
— Easier increases in magnitude to meet demand, free from huge upfront investments;
– Water practice, for chillers, potentially reduced to zero. (”Today’session data centers use massive amounts of water and we see water as the next scarce resource and have decided to take a proactive stance on fabrication water conservation part of our plan.”)
– Improved energy efficiency in construction and operation. (Microsoft Research is also focused on improving data center efficiency. Second item in this novel.)
“In curt, we are striving to fetch Henry Ford’s Model T factory to the data center. … Gen 4 volition move facts centers from a custom design and build pattern to a commoditized manufacturing draw near,” Manos wrote.
Manos described this video, complete with mellow futuristic piano harmony, as “a inspect into what we think is the future.” (One big dispute: no canopy.)
You may have noticed the “edge” copy depicted in the video is in Seattle near Qwest Field. A Microsoft spokeswoman says it’s just an example, “not anything that’s in the works.” Although one power suspect from the video that Microsoft is planning to build these smaller “edge” centers in major cities round the world.
For a glimpse of the present, accompany this video tour of Microsoft’s Quincy data center from the BBC.
Original text: {news-link}
