Sun To Unveil Project Blackbox

this great guy writes "A year ago, Google's secret plans for a portable data center in a shipping container were being revealed by Robert X. Cringely. Sun Microsystems is about to officially unveil its 'data center in a box' concept. Project Blackbox will involve the full-scale production of data centers in 20-foot-long cargo shipping containers." From the article: "The idea eliminates several major hurdles facing data center customers: finding an appropriate site, arranging the servers and cooling mechanisms in the most efficient manner, and waiting for construction to be complete. The company is touting energy efficiency as a crucial benefit of the confined space, as its patented cooling features can more accurately target hot spots than in giant warehouses. The box can hold hundreds of servers and save thousands of dollars per year in energy costs, the company said."

Comments

I have a Vision

[AKAImBatman]

I have this vision of a giant, square hole being dug in the ground, the walls being covered with borg-like equipment, then dozens of cargo containers being stacked and slotted into place as if they were large battery cells. It will be, the DATA CENTER OF THE FUTURE... (echo echo echo echo)

*shudder*

Seriously, I could see this being useful for the military. You simply air-drop the container, and *BAM* instant command and control. It would save the Army IT guys tons of time in getting the field systems deployed. It seems like it would also be good for portable sites like construction work. Unfortunately, I can't really figure out what you would need that much horsepower for. We're talking about a datacenter capable of supporting massive web server, remote application, and database needs.

Those sorts of applications are usually fixed at secure locations. Why would you want to deploy them onsite? Laptops are usually sufficient for the work, and a collaboration server or two can easily be deployed in the existing office trailers. Wifi solves the wiring problem, soooo.... I'm not really getting this.

On the bright side, the cargo container looks cool. :P

Re:I have a Vision

[zen611]

On the other hand, anyone with a semi-tractor and a cable cutter could steal your entire data center...

Re:I have a Vision

[freemywrld]

The thing that is boggling my mind is this: they tout that this could be a viable solution for an upstart company, leading to easy expandability, but where would an upstart house the 'datacenter in a box'? They would need to find a viable location to store it, and then secure it. I'm not sure I understand how this is particularly useful outside of military applications where a mobile field command center would be needed.
Anyone have any ideas on this? I'm genuinely curious how this would work logistically.

Re:I have a Vision

[Stanistani]

This is perfect for a COOP.

Continuity Of OPerations... also known as your disaster plan. If you leased however many of these you would need to replace your existing datacenter (possibly on some pro-rated insurance plan), you would have a great turnkey COOP alternative. You could even have them trucked out to your designated COOP site and test your plan, then return them to the company after the test...

It's also a business opportunity, if you look more closely...

Re:I have a Vision

[networkBoy]

Latency.
If you're main datacenter is in The Planet down in Tx and you want a presence in the EU without the cost of a datacenter you can drop one of these off at the local telco peering point and wham! instant local presence. Later when traffic dictates you could consider upgrading to a full datacenter.

On a completely tangental note:
Beowulf cluster anyone?
-nB

Re:I have a Vision

[AKAImBatman]

Continuity Of OPerations... also known as your disaster plan.

I suppose that really would work well with the whole "borg cube in the desert" thing. You configure your container, and the COOP provider slots it into place at their disaster site.

Still, a borg cube? *shudder*

Re:I have a Vision

[Silver Sloth]

you can drop one of these off at the local telco peering point and wham! instant local presence.

You've never dealt with BT. It would be more like
you can drop one of these off at the local telco peering point and wham! instant mindblowing beaurocracy (please hold while I con...)

On the other hand, if your relocating your datacentre to India, where your support staff are now located....

Re:I have a Vision

[charlesnw]

Why? Why would you give this any less security then a normal data center?

Re:I have a Vision

[aaarrrgggh]

The incentive is the many companies that can't plan. Something that can be deployed quicker than a lease agreed to for CoLo, that can be sited in a spot that doesn't require a mile of trenching for a new OC12.

Today there is a dearth of quality data center space. A well-executed container-based system that allows for various equipment to be installed inside, and that can be pre-configured in a wharehouse and literally "dropped" into place (have you ever seen how they deliver containers in parking lots...) is a great infrastructure solution.

The biggest challenge is finding ways to make it scale from an application standpoint, and really maximizing the energy benefits. My company was going to use heat pipes to the chips to free-cool servers; the problem is that a solution like that doesn't meet most IT organizations needs. (Could work for a Google, but not Citibank.)

Re:I have a Vision

[coredog64]

Not too long ago my employer went from hosting the datacenter on-site to co-locating @ HP's data center in Colorado Springs.
It seems to me that Blackbox would be a boon for companies like HP. Companies can start with whatever IT infrastructure they need, be it a Blackbox or some organic collection of UNIX and Wintel stuff. When they've grown to the point that in-house IT infrastructure management costs more than it's worth*, HP trucks in a Blackbox. The client company moves data and does a test switchover. Then the HP Blackbox gets moved to the local datacenter and the real switchover occurs.

*There are days when I question if IT infrastructure management ever costs more than it's worth, but it's at least useful to recognize the reality that some CxO will draw that line in the sand...

Re:I have a Vision

[Kjella]

Why? Why would you give this any less security then a normal data center?

Is a laptop easier to steal than the old desktop chained to your desk? Yes. It's not so much about giving it less security, it's that a mobile unit is inherently a lot easier to steal than a fixed installation. I imagine time would be of essence as most companies that need a datacenter would notice quite quickly that it was missing. Cut the alarms, break up the locks, hook up the truck and when you're ready to go the whole datacenter is rolling before you know what hit you as opposed to start tearing down server racks. I suppose you could fix this by locking it down until you have a permanent installation, but then most of the point seems lost to me. If you're doing a once-over job on cooling and organizing then traditional datacenters do just fine. Stuff I see this as useful for is the type "Yes, I know we're moving next year when the new site is done, but we need more capacity now. Find me a cheap way to deploy it now but move it next year." That sort of implies you won't be embedding it in concrete any time soon.

Re:I have a Vision

[SABME]

Good point about disaster recovery. The first thing that popped into my head when I read this was AT&T's mobile CO, which is a similar idea. Essentially, it's a complete, self-contained telecom central office in two tractor-trailers that can be moved anywhere in the US to restore service, even after a "smoking crater event."

Re:I have a Vision

[Ravenscall]

You beat me to it.

Looks like corporate espionage is about to get a lot more interesting.

Not to mention the smuggling capability to get new tech to rogue states.

Re:I have a Vision

[naChoZ]

Yes, but if you purchase the "Large" configuration from Sun, it comes with the optional camouflage/concealment package. Of course, I giant boulder with lots of wires coming out of it and a diesel generator parked next to it may arouse some suspicion.

Re:I have a Vision

[couchslug]

"On the other hand, anyone with a semi-tractor and a cable cutter could steal your entire data center..."

Only if you are silly enough to leave it on the container hauler chassis.
Once on the ground, you'd need a rollback, a Landoll trailer, rough-terrain forklift, or a very large commercial wrecker and a flatbed.

20-footers can be placed with a common commercial rollback (they don't need to be delivered on a trailer), and if desired they can be locked to anchors on the ground. Just pot the anchors (containing standard lock fittings) in the ground, lower/slide the container on top of them, lock, then tack weld the locks. More secure than a conventional structure, and fitting a Lojak tracking box into the ISO would be easy enough.
There are many ways to use these 20' modules indoors and out. ISO container structures are versatile, easy to work with, and I encourage anyone needing a building or internal structure to check them out. There are many companies customizing ISOs for every use including modular homes.

Re:I have a Vision

[Dun Malg]

The existing datacenters are already air-dropped piecemeal, then setup in a battlefield tent on the ground. I guess it's all about the packing.

Do you mean airdropped or just airlifted (parachute vs slingload under a helo)? I saw plenty slingloaded, but never saw anything but "soft" material airdropped.

The sandbagging was outright stupid (I guess several shelters collapsed from it), and the AC equipment was always on the fritz.

Tell me about it. I spent my "garrison" time in Afghanistan playing plumber and electrician, just trying to keep the lights on and the water running. And it was only by luck and obstinancy that any of it worked-- there were no "military electricians" there, just a few of use reservists who are electricians in "real life". We had to scrounge for everything, from tools to light bulbs. Of course the beauty of Afghanistan is that if you can get to "town", they have EVERYTHING for sale...

Re:I have a Vision

[couchslug]

Mike Sparks is no web designer, but is quite a bright guy and IMO the BattleBox concept is sound.

Having accumulated a couple of years in tent cities, I'd much prefer living in a container (that could have held gear and goods when deployed) instead of a rapidly deteriorating, smelly tent. Rather than having to build wooden walls and floors as is standard practice for tents, a container is turn-key ready. It is far more resistant to fire and weather, and can be turned into a stout bunker with sandbags, revetments, or conventional containers filled with sand.

The military already containerizes quite a bit of equipment, and could stand to containerize more. Much of the Army already deploys that way, even boxing/flatracking helicopters.

Hmm...

[fussili]

That thing looks like Optimus Prime's smartphone.

Security?

[Salvance]

I'm sure Sun has thought about it, but there has to be some security concerns with housing your data center in an easily transportable cargo container. Their example of using the containers for a growing company like YouTube instantly reduced my "who would ever want this other than the military" skepticism.

Talk about industrial espionage and theft opportunities though:
"Hey buddy, what's that on the back of your truck?"
"It's YouTube, I just picked it up out of a parking lot down the street"
"Cool, I was just looking around for a container of MySpace myself"

Re:Security?

[aaarrrgggh]

There are a couple good tricks for protecting them, stacking them like you would in a cargo facility is the first to come to mind, but Jersy Barriers on all sides would also complicate matters pretty well. Sandbagging the roof would also make it more work to get it out.

If all else fails, make a stand that they lock into on the parking lot. Those containers really are built for security and durability.

Imagine...

[DrLZRDMN]

a parking lot filled with those things clustered together.

Black box details...

[jpellino]

The BlackBox is built with its dimensions in the ratio 1:4:9, and when touched emits a strong radio signal back to its creators.

Are there some options?

[dilvish_the_damned]

Can I get this in white? Our puchasing policy explicitly forbids anything "blackbox". Maybe its just a poor codename.

Open Computing Environment

[Doc Ruby]

If Sun and Google can fit each container with enough solar cells to power it, and perhaps compact fuelcells for power storage, and several digital radio (WiMAX, etc) transceivers, these datacenters really can be deployed practically anywhere. They're gonna need onboard GPS just to find them for recycling in a decade. Or maybe they can just prepay for roundtrip shipping.

Though if they can get Greenpeace into the act, maybe they can manufacture them biodegradable. Then just dump them into the sea currents for distribution around the world. Probably stay pretty cool, and no charge for rent.

Re:Open Computing Environment

[evilviper]

If Sun and Google can fit each container with enough solar cells to power it,

Covering a house's entire roof in solar panels is barely enough to power several computers. Never mind hundreds of ultra-densely packed systems, needing heavy-duty cooling.

You've got a snowball's chance is hell (get it?) of getting the necessary power out of a few solar panels mounted on the container.

You have a much better chance, though, if you PACK this thing with portable cells, and have someone set them up, around the site. Though, you're definately going to need someone to stay around, keep people and animals away, and regularly clean sand, dirt, and leaves off the panels, or they won't last long.

Re:Open Computing Environment

[Doc Ruby]

I didn't say the solar input area was limited to the surface of one side, like its roof. Nor did I say the containers would be closely packed - rather, the only deployment I suggested was at sea, with lots of area per container.

Besides, there is actually lots of incident solar power. Even just the roof of a floating container is 8'x40' = 320ft^2 = 30m^2. Insolation in the tropics is about 1KW:m^2 at noon, probably about 400W:m^2 considering nights and weather. So each container gets over 10KW. Even 15% efficient PV means over 1.7KW. And again, that's just using the area of the roof, rather than a design using more of the surrounding space.

1.7KW+ is a lot more than PCs, especially if they're designed for low power consumption - natural cooling can help a lot. And again, if the design uses more of the surrounding space, even at lower efficiency, there's 180-725KW incoming within a containerlength or two. A pod of these containers sucking all the solar at 10% scattered just a few lengths apart can deliver 70KW to 100W computing units, or 700 units. That's about 10 units per cubic meter, which seems about right to accommodate pipes for ambient cooling. Without AC/DC losses, fans, or rotating discs (FlashRAM instead), and maybe Transmeta-style (or mobile Cells) CPUs, 100W starts to look like quite a lot. Enough to accommodate losses from generating/consuming fuelcell cycles to ensure continuous power.

Miltary already does this

[Chanc_Gorkon]

The military has been doing this for a while now or will be doing this soon so that Command and Control centers can get setup much more quickly. Setup the dish and they are on the Milnet and all set to support the handheld units in the field.

It might have uses

[dilvish_the_damned]

I could see this being potentially usefull in very specific situations. I could see even more uses if they would further armour it against the harsh elements. No one thinks about -40F until your trying to run a thousand man crew in some remote place in alaska, and you need to be semi-mobile with your main office.

Well, now that I think about it you would really need to have a problem that must be solved on site and requires a lot of CPU power and a lot of bandwidth, and not so much need for imediate portability. Otherise you would use a semi-portable dish on the top of a truck to get some 12mb down and say 4mb up (depending on which side of the globe your on) to link you to a stationary data center. In this way you expose your assets a whole lot less and you are far more mobile.This of course assumes weather will not get in your way (which it does).

Maybe the modular datacenter that happens to have bay doors is a good application, assuming your problem is big enough to warrent purchassing equipment by the bussload... as you need it.

Nope, I changed my mind. When it comes down to it, I just don't see the potential for this super-product as its descibed here.
Maybe quick geographic redundancy might be a seller...

APC Beat them to Market

[OrangePeril]

http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index .cfm?base_sku=ISXT440MD12RMBL APC beat both Google and Sun to market on this one. This is one of the 'coolest' ideas I've ever seen. Park this in a lot and have a replacement datacenter on demand, or drive it around the country like the Russians used to do with the nukes.

Re:APC Beat them to Market

[curlynoodle]

There are no servers in the APC truck, just UPS and climate control. Maybe a gateway and switch for the satellite transceiver.

Put Google or Sun's MDC in one of these, and you got a solution.

From APC site: Standard Lead Time: Special Order - Call for Quoted Lead Times. Really? I hadn't guessed.

Internet Archive in a cargo container

[yppiz]

The Internet Archive has a related design that would allow them to ship functional copies of the archive anywhere in the world. It's called the Petabox and it's designed to operate in a shipping container, just add external power, bandwidth, and cooling.

--Pat

It's a Data Center AND a Data Mover

[ReferenceDesk]

The other bit of Cringely's article that may be relevant is the observation that the effective bandwidth of a shipping container full of servers and disks going across the Pacific on a freighter, is approximately the same as the total bandwidth of an undersea optical cable. Much greater latency, but comparable throughput. So, if someone wants to bootstrap a remote clone of their data center, preloading the information before shipping the servers may be smarter than building raw capacity and then having to load it over the WAN. Yes, you have to do a couple week's of incremental updates, but at least the base data is already there.

Sun: Data Center is doomed

[Chapter80]

One week ago, Jonathan Schwartz (CEO of Sun) declared the death of the datacenter, as discussed on Slashdot.

Now they've put in a box for burial?

Re:Sounds like Sun is doing a MS

[mritunjai]

So ?

Ideas are dime a dozen! You can have an "idea" for a perpetual motion machine, but that doesn't mean you can sit on it. Execute something and then patent it!!!

Gosh, aren't we already sick of bozos patenting "idea" of 'doing an auction... uh.. using a computer' ? How'd google be any different if they did the same ?

And BTW, Google couldn't have pulled off execution of the idea. It isn't like you shove a truck load of white boxes in there and expect them to magically work given the heat outputs (except if you're running them in Antarctica)!

SUN and Google have a long partnership and SUN has some pretty cool (both metaphorically and literally!) processors and machines. 40 of the thumpers and may be a dozen of the T2K mean you have a real serious powerhouse with a petabyte of storage !!!

A sun insider just told me...

[slashflood]

... that this project won't go into mass production. In fact, there is only one container planned as a solitary padded cell for a guy called "Jörg Schilling". All outgoing network packages will be dropped. Respect!

Re:Just 1 Question

[rjschwarz]

You don't need to store the things in your parking lot. You could store these things in a standard wharehouse that wouldn't require special cooling systems and locks. Then when you need to expand you move the pallets of Mountain Dew and printer paper and make room. Although the idea of a couple of them in the parking lot, covered in graffiti has a sort of William Gibson visual to it.

Re:possible uses?

[coogan]

Exactly what we do - during peak holiday seasons we need extra capacity on our cellular network at various beachfront locations. We truck in containers with preconfigured base stations, and even have a few mobile switching centres on wheels which we use for both capacity and DRP purposes. Given the sometimes poor power situation in Africa we also have lots of mobile generators and portable masts scattered around the country waiting to be dispatched to tower locations in times of need. The container idea has saved our bacon on many occasions.

Data Centers as Toasters

[maggard]

I can see a market for this, as part of a package deal.

Keep in mind Sun is probably not going into the business of selling just any ole data center, they're gonna be selling you a "Sun Certified & Supported Data Center To-Go". Arrange for delivery, plug the color coded cables into the color coded sockets, flip the switch, and for US$50,000 down & US$10,000 a month you've got yourself a fully managed outsourced onsite data center.

Need redundancy? Stick one over in the parking garage, should something happen to the primary it's twin is a few hundred yards away with everything duplicated. Have a backup site in case of catastrophe? There's a discount, just sign here, the minute your primary site goes offline Sun will see to it your hot spare is up before the skeleton staff knows what happened. Need an additional data center? As part of the introductory package Sun will guarantee delivery, complete with data, within 24 hours anywhere in the 48 contiguous states.

Heck turn these into complete turnkey blackboxes and simply sign service level guarantees with Sun. Pay US$10,000 month for so many cycles, so much storage, all managed and backed up, completely overseen by Sun. All you do is supply the footings, power, ventilation, and 24 hour access for their technicians. The savings in support staff alone would cover it all.

Now all of these numbers are joke ones, but turning data centers into toasters, why not? Sun has been pushing pay-for-the-cycles-not-the-boxes for years, but folks want things onsite. So here it is. Standard. Efficient. Low-investment. Just sign the lease and pay the monthly bill and everything will be taken care of.

Jack Welch's dream

[ebh]

Jack Welch told CNN, "Ideally, you'd have every plant you own on a barge, to move with currencies and changes in the economy." Now you can truck your datacenter to wherever sysadmins are cheapest. Goodbye Bangalore, hello Bucharest.

Re:Shipping Containers

[AnotherDaveB]

Recycled shipping containers are great small buildings

If you stack them, they make great big buildings too.

Re:In a 40' container since 1999

[couchslug]

High Cubes are less common. I had to ask my supplier for them.
They are 9'6" tall and MUCH more desirable for a dwelling!

http://www.tis-gdv.de/tis/taz/h/high_cube.jpg

http://www.proboxinc.com/productsp.htm

Lotta pics and parts:
http://www.tandemloc.com/

BattleBox
http://www.geocities.com/strategicmaneuver/battleb oxes.htm

Sea Box (food for thought)
http://www.seabox.com/id-2