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Looking Inside the Second Life Data Centers

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the lookit-all-them-wires-in-there dept.

An anonymous reader writes "InformationWeek looks inside the data centers that power the game Second Life. Tidbits from the article: The software architecture is an extension of the virtual world metaphor of Second Life. At any time, it's possible to walk into one of Second Life's two data centers, pat one of the rack-mounted servers, and say that particular server is running virtual New York, or San Francisco, or ancient Rome, and imagine itty-bitty people and buildings inside the 1U rack-mounted servers. Linden Lab, which develops and maintains Second Life, runs 2,000 Intel- and AMD-based servers in two co-location facilities in San Francisco and Dallas. And, contrary to widespread belief among Second Life users, Linden Lab has not decided whether to open-source the Second Life server software."

5 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. Game? by Simon+Garlick · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Second Life isn't a game, it's an advertising medium. Nothing more.

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    1. Re:Game? by Professor_UNIX · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I can't think of any other advertisement medium where viewers pay to see advertising.
      You can't? Cable/Satellite television? Satellite radio? Sporting events (all those billboards you paid to go look at). Advertising is everywhere and you often pay to see it.
  2. Residual self image by mushadv · · Score: 3, Insightful

    At any time, it's possible to walk into one of Second Life's two data centers, pat one of the rack-mounted servers, and say that particular server is running virtual New York, or San Francisco, or ancient Rome, and imagine itty-bitty people and buildings inside the 1U rack-mounted servers.

    "No...I don't believe it...let me out! I want out!"

  3. Pictures by allscan · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Why do all of these "inside the data center of ..." never have pictures? Everyone knows geeks needs something to drool over and fantasize with.

  4. Wheres the server pr0n? by rmadmin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Am I the only one that reads these titles that say "A peak inside X's datacenter" and go "OMG Datacenter pics!!!!!!"? Only to be disappointed by a text article with no pics? I DEMAND MY SERVER PR0N!

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    Can all fish swim?