Google has recently provided some unprecedented views into their data center operations and have even revealed current details of their server board.  In the past they have only released information on old designs (like the 80 PC rack given to the computer history museum). It seems like every time photos would pop up of server parts it would end up being of a previous generation of equipment.  For the most part, folks like me have only dreamed of being able to see inside a real Google data center and seeing real operational, current generation Google equipment.

Now, thanks to Google, there is loads of info that can be used to satisfy a CTO’s curiosity.

We now know that rumors of Google leveraging advanced shipping container constructs (the idea created by Sun Microsystems) are true.  A Google datacenter like the one in the video holds about 45 containers, and each of those can hold 1160 servers.  Since the designs are in shipping containers there are some easy to engineer cooling efficiencies

For a video tour inside a Google datacenter watch the clip below:

Google designs its own web severs so it can optimize performance and enhance energy efficiency.   The unique design includes a powersupply that has a battery integrated right in so the power supply is also an uninterpretable power supply (UPS). For a deep video view of the server itself see:

Related posts:

1. Data Center Design: Notes from a visit to the IT Server Center
2. Google App Engine: CTOs should check it out
3. Vivek Kundra: Democratizing Data and Putting it in the Public Domain
4. Google Upgrades and Enhancements
5. A Google Knol on Disruptive Technology

Tags: CTO, Google, innovation, Network Security, R&D, Sun, Tech/Internet

This entry was posted on April 6, 2009 at 6:01 am and is filed under CTO, Cloud Computing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.