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Data Center In a Shoe Box

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the size-matters dept.

eldavojohn writes "How would you like to have a data center that uses just 14.5 watts and weighs 255g? It's also only as big as a shoe box! The Register looks at a few solutions to network area storage that make buying a dedicated data server on a rack look like a relic of the past. Yes, it runs Linux."

5 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. Smart boxes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I have been thinking of setting up such shoe box server. It would be nice to have ftp, and maybe bittorrent, running without too much noise or heat. And saving the planet too, since it would cut down my carbon footprint.

  2. Re:AppleTV by clare-ents · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If you watch TV shows when you're sat in the data centre I guess is might be. If you're after a cheap dedicated linux server (and *lots* of people are) good luck finding something cheaper.

    --
    Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. (Einstein)
  3. Re:Who is this meant for? by gfxguy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Since I use my laptop for most of my work (it's quieter, uses less energy, and there's no performance penalty for practically everything I do, which is mainly just editing files), I'd been thinking of what a good desktop replacement system would be.

    First, the reason I still keep my desktop is for higher end video... games and occasionally video editing. So I was thinking along the lines of a replacement system that was as generic as possible...

    A small system with a brick power supply... it would only have those things necessary for extremely fast processing and graphics... so, CPU, memory, and a PCI express slot (or two). Absolutely everything else would be external (mostly USB), including keyboard/mouse, audio, USB to ethernet adapters, DVD players... the only other ports you might want are firewire (but then if it's got two PCI slots, you could always add one) and maybe eSATA.

    You could remove a lot of what the BIOS has to do... no floppy controllers, no parallel port, no built in video, no built in ethernet, no built in serial ports... all of these things can be done via USB, even if you need an actual serial or parallel port. It should make the basic system very simple.

    Because the basic system would just be CPU/Memory/PCI, it could be powered with a brick (no PS Fan), only one system/cpu fan would be needed (maybe one for video). It could be a lot smaller than a "shoe box," and sip power, and be a real desktop replacement.

    --
    Stupid sexy Flanders.
  4. Mini-ITX and Blades by bradgoodman · · Score: 3, Interesting
    It's not quite a "shoebox" - but same principal. I made a 40-node Mini-ITX datacenter a few years back. Very cheap, low-power, cool (temperature), etc.

    I still use one as my main server at home.

    Picts at:

    http://www.bradgoodman.com/pictures/itxblade.jpg

    http://www.bradgoodman.com/pictures/itxbladex40.jpg

  5. Re:Ogg Support??? by dfranks · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The Alix series is definately worth checking out. We use their 2c2 board in our STACS field communications device that provides a VOIP switch, EV-DO, dual (WAN and LAN) 802.11g WiFi, INMARSAT BGAN satellite terminal, radio interface, GPS in an IP65 weatherproof, dustproof case at under 14 lbs. And that includes a SLA battery good for around 10 hours of operation. There is another processor on board, but the Alix provides the linux hub that drives the entire device and makes normal operation completely automatic (just turn it on and browse/call/etc). Dean dfranks -at- solomontech.com