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Keeping a Data Center Cool on the Cheap
jedimaud writes "You've heard of bubble wrap, and the boy in the bubble -- now, here's a datacenter in a bubble. I work for a government agency that, like most, is trying to cut back some costs, and one of those costs is a REAL datacenter. So, we decided to wrap the whole thing in plastic (including two 1.5 ton ACs). The room hovers about 83 degrees, however, the racks in the bubble (ok, more like a termite tent) stay about 10 degree cooler. Here's some pics to check it out."
Now that's cool.
Well, if your site is hosted by that Data Center, it just got a lot hotter in that bubble!
Linux, you magnificent bastard, I read the fucking manual!
Wonder if the bubbles are working now that it's been SLASHDOTTED!!
It's either on the beat or off the beat, it's that easy.
I moderate therefore I rule!
--
Do not place datacenter over head. Keep out of reach of children.
... and then they built the supercollider.
Because... stuff always needs more duct tape.
I doubt anyone had a chance to cache these pics.
At least now I know where my tax money went! Termite tents! That's at least more believable than that $15,000 toilet seat and $20,000 hammer :-)
Peter.
That was entirely tangential and ultimately useless information that adds no value to this discussion. ...which means that it was perfect for Slashdot! Keep up the good work!
I hate to burst your bubble, but you just got slashdotted.
Authority questions you. Return the favor.
Did anyone else just hear a popping sound?
keeping a datacenter cool? Thats nothing..
try moving to india to try and get your job back from dell only to get dysintry and heat stroke, lose your wallet and end up working in low grade indian miget porno to get enough money to buy a can of coke, only to get typhode.
Bubbles...pfff...
Ps. I'm writing this from Iran, send help.
Actually the takedown of the tents is automatic: When the computers overheat, the plastic will slump and drop onto the floor...
Oh well, what the hell...
You want cool and cheap? Move your datacenter to the North of Siberia.
If you open yourself to the foo, You and foo become one.
(including two 1.5 ton ACs)
Hey, I may be a fat geek, but I'm not THAT fat!
"Hey, how come we're down?"
"Don't know. Must be a caribou in the works."
(And when they track it down I want to see them tape that to an index card)
KFG
hey have you guys seen our ductape and plastic sheets?
actually I am happy to see you, however that is in fact a banana in my pocket.
Famous last words...
the real problem with a data center in alaska is that the fucking polar bears will keep drinking all the cherry coke.
actually I am happy to see you, however that is in fact a banana in my pocket.
"(more like a termite tent)"
... The internal structure of these mounds can be quite complex, with ventilation chimneys for active temperature control" Need I say more?!
"Most termite species are tropical or subtropical, but a few live in temperate regions." I'd posit that even fewer live in a properly cooled data center. So, on the surface (no pun intended), this doesn't seem to be a good comparison.
But reading further into the Wikipedia article: "Termites have biting mouthparts and are soft-bodied, of moderate to small size. They live in dark nests and tunnels, except when the winged alates emerge to leave their parent colony." When comparing termites to geeks, they both seem to have biting mouth parts and the geeks are definitely soft-bodied. And of smaller size. And, like the termites, true geeks live in their parent's basement.
"Termites cannot themselves digest the wood that they consume." Few geeks can live on chewed-up pencils. So again, another similarity.
Lastly, Termites construct extremely large and elaborate mounds to house their colonies.
HIV Crosses Species Barrier... into Muppets
Go stand in the corner and think about what you just said.
He must be a consultant!!:)
hilarious
Big bubbles no troubles.
VERITAS VOS LIBERABIT
...it's about load testing his data center!
"Here's some pics to check it out." ?? Dead giveaway!
"Good news, everyone!"
Run some massive fiber along the big pipeline.
What, and risk a backhoe causing major ecological damage?
"two 1.5 ton AC"
I know that lots of geeks tend to gain weight, but those are big Anonymous Cowards!
Black holes are where God divided by zero
Too knowledgable for consulting. Probably an academic.
catch (HumourFailureException e) { e.user.send("You, sir, are a humourless idiot."); }
Look at any Seagate product specification page.
Ever wonder why computers are made of metal? Why the plastic pieces are made of plastics that meet flammability performance standards?
Tiny Tim raises his hand
Yes, Tiny Tim?
Please, Mr Deacon Sir, so that if some source of ignition is present, the computer does not turn into a fireball spewing deadly poisionous smoke, Sir!
Very Good, Tiny Tim. And what happens if someone hangs up huge sheets of generic, flammable plastic in an area with lots of potential ignition sources?
Please, Mr Deacon Sir, sooner or later it catches fire, and people die. If these boneheads are lucky, Sir, someone from the Building Facilities or the Building Inspector will see this website and make them take it down, Sir.
Very good, Tiny Tim. The rest of the class is to read up on Flammability.
heh, the plastic folks maybe weren't acquainted with Mr. OSHA and Mr. Confined Space and Mr. Oxygen Deficency Hazard, so adding Mr. Fire Marshall to the list of ignored people isn't a big step.