Modular Data Centers Can Move With You (And Survive Earthquakes)

from the just-add-water-(and-electricity) dept

Thu, Dec 10th 2009 8:05am — ITInnovation

Having recently discussed some factors in choosing a good location for data centers, we might have overlooked mobility itself as a feature for data centers. With shippable data centers, choosing a location doesn't have to be a permanent decision. And some natural disasters (such as earthquakes?) can be made more manageable when all the equipment is self-contained and designed to withstand extreme vibrations. There has even been somewhat serious speculation about data centers on barges -- avoiding local politics and real estate issues altogether.

The capability to create a modular data center park may be catching on as next generation data centers focus on scaling costs and energy efficiency. And as infrastructure improves in developing nations, there is growing interest in container solutions that are quick to set up. The next trick, though, may be operating servers at ambient conditions in tropical climates.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

5 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

anonymous guy, 10 Dec 2009 @ 10:35am

not quite earthquake proof, ya know...
I assume you're referring to the BlackBox.... which still have to be located *somewhere*... and if the building it's inside isn't earthquake retro-fitted, it doesn't really matter if evertyhing inside is strapped down or not. Just saying.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
senshikaze (profile), 10 Dec 2009 @ 1:55pm

im waiting for the inevitable flying data center with satellite connections.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Michael Ho (profile), 10 Dec 2009 @ 3:20pm

Re: orbiting servers...
senshikaze,

heh. apparently, you missed this post:
http://techdirt.com/blog/itinnovation/articles/20091123/0010157045.shtml

mikeho
[ link to this | view in thread ]
senshikaze (profile), 11 Dec 2009 @ 9:04am

Re: Re: orbiting servers...
awesome.

so would you just need massive heatsinks to cool it, or would just being in space do it? I wouldn't think you could water cool it without pressurizing the whole thing.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Michael Ho (profile), 11 Dec 2009 @ 11:28am

Re: Re: Re: orbiting servers...
Based on the International Space Station... looks like NASA uses liquid heat exchangers that help radiate heat to the vacuum of space... Not sure if such a system would really be necessary if humans weren't co-habitating with the electronics...

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast21mar_1.htm
[ link to this | view in thread ]