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Intel Considering Portable Data Centers

Posted by samzenpus on from the put-it-anywhere dept.

miller60 writes "Intel has become the latest major tech company to express interest in using portable data centers to transform IT infrastructure. Intel says an approach using a "data center in a box" could be 30 to 50 percent cheaper than the current cost of building a data center. "The difference is so great that with this solution, brick-and-mortar data centers may become a thing of the past," an Intel exec writes. Sun and Rackable have introduced portable data centers, while Google has a patent for one and Microsoft has explored the concept. But for all the enthusiasm for data centers in shipping containers, there are few real-world deployments, which raises the question: are portable data centers just fun to speculate about, or can they be a practical solution for the current data center expansion challenges?"

8 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. How long before scammers discover these? by djl4570 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm sure RBN would love "Datacenter in a Box." As soon as the authorities begin sniffing around the datacenter can be trucked somewhere else. How long before someone steals one and sells it on ebay.

  2. My data in a box by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    > Intel says an approach using a "data center in a box" could be 30 to 50 percent cheaper.

    Steps:

    1. Get a box.

    2. Put your junk in the box.

    3. Make her access the box.

    and watch the love, baby...

    1. Re:My data in a box by maz2331 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Come on... how many slashdotters have actually accessed her box recently?

  3. You're all missing the point by Synthaxx · · Score: 5, Funny
    This isn't about the datacenter, this is a stroke of genious.

    You see, by closing the door, the actual data contained within' is either there or not there.

    What they've done is run a network cable to that same box to check this, thereby solving one of the most fundamental questions of the universe!

    Like i said, absolute genious!

    1. Re:You're all missing the point by youthoftoday · · Score: 5, Funny

      Schrodinger's CAT5?

      --
      -1 not first post
  4. Re:Why it probably won't work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You still fail to address the problem of working inside one of those. A shipping container can only be so big. As Feyr said, what do you do about upgrading or replacing stuff? There's limited room to move around. You need to be able to access all the equipment, not to mention getting wiring and all set up.

    You could pretend you are in the ISS.

    Also, would you want to be the captain of a ship carrying several hundred of those? If that ship sinks, then you're in deep trouble. Pun intended. Having hundreds of mobile datacenters on the sea floor isn't going to do you much good, now is it?

    You could pretend you are in "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea". Just watch out for sea monsters and such,

  5. Re:LAN Party ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    If there were to be a Woodstock today...
    ... there would be 100k kids on e and crystal meth bouncing around to mostly shit music punctuated by about 1 or 2 acts that are worthy of seeing.
    There has already been a Woodstock like that. It was in 1969.
  6. Portable data centers in field use by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    2007: government worker loses unencrypted laptop
    2017: government worker loses unencrypted portable data center