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UPS, Generators Join Servers For Boxed Data Centers

Posted by timothy on from the one-stop-shopping dept.

miller60 writes "As more companies look into using a 'data center in a box,' you can now get your UPS and generator in a box as well. HP and Sun have begun offering containerized power and cooling infrastructure along with their data center containers, offering an expansion path for facility owners that have run out of power and cooling capacity. Microsoft also plans to use containerized power and cooling in its next-generation facilities, allowing it to build them with no roofs (remember its tent data centers?)."

63 comments

  1. Obligatory by Van+Cutter+Romney · · Score: 3, Funny

    UPS and generator in a box

    Now, what can brown do for you?

    --
    Help a man when he is in trouble and he will remember you when he is in trouble again.
    1. Re:Obligatory by CannonballHead · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It can probably deliver the aforementioned UPS and generator in a box. :)

    2. Re:Obligatory by Yvan256 · · Score: 1

      Brown.... box....

      If you see a box on fire, don't step on it!

    3. Re:Obligatory by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 0, Troll

      Seriously, are you a corporate shill, or are you just repeating advertising campaigns that you saw on TV? I live abroad, which means I'm totally ignorant of what's on these days (but I'm not one of those "I don't own a TV" douchebags), so it's always blatantly obvious when someone begins parroting an advertising slogan. Is it the height of wit these days to repeat ad slogans? Because frankly, I really don't know.

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    4. Re:Obligatory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      UPS and generator in a box

      Now, what can brown do for you?

      This reminds of an employee brainwashing campaign they had while worked there, called the "Golden Thread". I always thought it tied in nicely with the "What can brown do for you?" campaign.

    5. Re:Obligatory by CodeBuster · · Score: 1

      Now, what can brown do for you?

      Flush on the first try?

    6. Re:Obligatory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you really think about it, I'll think you'll find that this post was far from 'obligatory'. In fact, MOST things labeled 'Obligatory' are actually lame and entirely NOT needed to advance a discussion. It's just funny how they are always called 'Obligatory', as if you're providing some service or filling some innate universal need that nobody but you can sate.

      I think your so-far negligible moderation bonuses show just how useless your hackneyed contribution really was.

    7. Re:Obligatory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Wow, UPS can deliver UPS in a box? Talk about recursion. /mind-explodes

    8. Re:Obligatory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      You're just mad you didn't think of it first.

    9. Re:Obligatory by toiletbowl · · Score: 1

      Eh... does that make you the "Obligatory" Troll?

  2. MS data center by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    No roof but the design is undeniably flawed due to excess Windows.

    Thanks, I'm here all week.

    1. Re:MS data center by jeffshoaf · · Score: 1

      Thanks, I'm here all weak.

      There, fixed that for you.

      --
      Putting the "anal" back into "analyst"...
    2. Re:MS data center by mysidia · · Score: 1

      So maybe there really is something to the accusations of MS squandering cash for R&D... why else would they be running production servers in tents.

      The economy isn't that bad, is it?

  3. There are ... by PPH · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... more and more things that you can get (NSFW) in a box all the time.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
    1. Re:There are ... by mabhatter654 · · Score: 1

      approperiate for valentine's day...

  4. Nothing New by madsci1016 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Generators and climate control built into containers is not a new idea at all. Traveling carnivals have used generators in containers for decades. The same for air conditioning for outdoor boat shows. The fact that Sun is just offering the option to go with boxed data centers when costumers could have easily just contracted out to a generator company instead isn't news.

    1. Re:Nothing New by cryfreedomlove · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yes, I've always seen a lot of parallels between IT and traveling carnivals. They both share an ability to provide steady employment for anti-social freaks.

    2. Re:Nothing New by sexconker · · Score: 2, Funny

      Not to mention working for peanuts.

    3. Re:Nothing New by Lord+Ender · · Score: 1

      Computer science/engineering graduates have average starting salaries far in excess of median household incomes in the US. I wouldn't call that peanuts, especially for starting salaries.

      --
      A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
    4. Re:Nothing New by 77Punker · · Score: 1

      Maybe he's talking about being a sysadmin. In that case, I'll draw another comparison to the circus and call them trained monkeys.

    5. Re:Nothing New by JCSoRocks · · Score: 1

      Well that explains the number of FPS maps involving containers. Apparently I was just running amok in a datacenter / carnival generator storage facility. Who knew?

      --
      You are using English. Please learn the difference between loose and lose; they're, there, and their; your and you're.
    6. Re:Nothing New by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IT:

      Pay is low for the work done and education required.
      Rarely get overtime pay.
      Often expected to be on call 24/7.
      "IT" covers anything that runs on electricity, so you'll be troubleshooting the damned microwave and someone's cell phone.
      Lack of a union.

    7. Re:Nothing New by mabhatter654 · · Score: 1

      it's because in most places IT is "non unit producing". Sales also works crappy hours but they get special bonuses and comp time... IT is expected to work the same hours but not get the perks. But we're paid "well". Also, most IT people are promoted "above" their education status because they can do the work, so HR doesn't see them as "qualifying" for their wages.

  5. This Apparent Future by Dr.+Eggman · · Score: 3, Funny

    It seems the future is flexible, expandable, customizable. The future is moving to interchangeable, physical modules of enterprise. The Future is the most awesome LEGO blocks project ever!

    --
    Demented But Determined.
    1. Re:This Apparent Future by PrescriptionWarning · · Score: 4, Funny

      No way, these are way bigger... like Duplos

    2. Re:This Apparent Future by iluvcapra · · Score: 1

      It seems the future is flexible, expandable, customizable. The future is moving to interchangeable, physical modules of enterprise.

      Yes, in the future, entrepreneurs won't simply be able to build a business model on plugging box A into plug B, marking-up the result 10%, and calling it a 'product,' or doing it once a week, marking up the labor 50% and calling it "consulting." The business concerns of the future will be free of this and limited only by the quality of their ideas.

      We're doomed.

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Baltar.
    3. Re:This Apparent Future by coyote4til7 · · Score: 1

      A-Rod's Duplos...

      --

      the clock on the wall says 4 til 7
    4. Re:This Apparent Future by mabhatter654 · · Score: 1

      the quality of the idea is that 50% markup. That's because YOU don't have contacts to hire the same people and get the same output.
      Also, a large part of consulting is "experts". They have a contract to buy 100 generators a year... they know who to call, and how much to spend in minutes, not days unlike you. A consulting firm can pool resources to keep a few highly trained professionals that know their stuff and they get experience beyond what your company would have servicing many businesses.

    5. Re:This Apparent Future by iluvcapra · · Score: 1

      I'd say "whoosh," but you'd accuse me of throwing a ball at your head.

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Baltar.
  6. Beats my idea by Jonboy+X · · Score: 1

    That beats my idea of a data center in a brown paper sack.

    --

    "In a 32-bit world, you're a 2-bit user. You've got your own newsgroup, alt.total.loser." -Weird Al
    1. Re:Beats my idea by Dishevel · · Score: 1

      That beats my idea of a data center in a brown paper sack.

      Of course if you cool the sack improperly it will result in fire. The person stomping out your data center will find the sack at that point filled with shit that used to be your data center.

      --
      Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
  7. Generators should go nuclear by cryfreedomlove · · Score: 1

    How long will it be before these containers use a self contained nuclear fusion based generator?

    1. Re:Generators should go nuclear by GenP · · Score: 1

      A while after we get nuclear fusion figured out?

    2. Re:Generators should go nuclear by cryfreedomlove · · Score: 1

      What is there to figure out? France is kicking our butt with Nuclear power right now.

    3. Re:Generators should go nuclear by Score+Whore · · Score: 1

      What is there to figure out?

      Hmm. I dunno. How about.... fusion?

    4. Re:Generators should go nuclear by oodaloop · · Score: 1

      The only way France is getting power from nuclear fusion is by sitting out solar panels and collecting it from the sun. You're thinking of nuclear fission. Small difference.

      --
      Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
    5. Re:Generators should go nuclear by niw · · Score: 1

      What is there to figure out?

      Figuring out fusion itself would be a good start.

      What you are thinking of is fission, that we have down good.

    6. Re:Generators should go nuclear by cryfreedomlove · · Score: 1

      Duh! I meant fission.

    7. Re:Generators should go nuclear by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How long will it be before these containers use a self contained nuclear fusion based generator?

      I think he meant portable nuclear fission generators.

    8. Re:Generators should go nuclear by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then why did you reply to the parent when he was talking about fusion?

    9. Re:Generators should go nuclear by 1sockchuck · · Score: 1

      Actually, some folks are already considering the possibility.

  8. Containerized! by jjeffries · · Score: 1

    This is exactly the second time I've seen the word "containerized" used in print.

    The first time was when I moved into an apartment in a new town some years ago, and when I got the trash pick-up set up they gave me a piece of paper with trash and recycling info on it, which included the lovely sentence "all garbage must be containerized."

    WELL DONE!

    1. Re:Containerized! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well then, here's time number three for you.

  9. howto - data center in a box by NonUniqueNickname · · Score: 1

    Step one. Cut a hole in the box.
    Step two. Put your data center in the box.
    Step three. Get her to open the box.

    1. Re:howto - data center in a box by CannonballHead · · Score: 1

      I can't decide if you're going for "date a center in a box" or "date a sent her in a box" or "data sent her in a box" or what. :)

    2. Re:howto - data center in a box by deraj123 · · Score: 1

      Try this. Then you'll get it.

  10. PC UPS/PS by nschubach · · Score: 1

    I'm still waiting for the PC power supply with a built in battery backup...

    Think: AC -> PS -> DC -> Battery -> Motherboard or something along those lines.

    That may be small potatoes to this story though...

    --
    Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
    1. Re:PC UPS/PS by sexconker · · Score: 1

      It's called a laptop.

    2. Re:PC UPS/PS by nschubach · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I don't know why that sort of setup hasn't been adapted for PCs yet. You are still stuck buying an external UPS with an inverter and all that loss.

      --
      Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
    3. Re:PC UPS/PS by um_atrain · · Score: 1

      Not worth it. They would be too big to fit inside standard cases, you wouldn't be able to power accessories (eg: external harddrive, other stuff that shouldn't be turned off)

      Also, UPSs are pretty efficient, there isn't too much extra loss converting to AC and back. There is no need for this.

    4. Re:PC UPS/PS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My old Dell PowerEdge 2600 already has this. Two of them, actually. It's still no replacement for the giant APC sitting behind it.

    5. Re:PC UPS/PS by Beorytis · · Score: 1

      My PC already has this... Only problem is the battery is only big enough to run the clock.

    6. Re:PC UPS/PS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just figured you could remove one stage of the system by removing the inverter.  The battery could sit outside for all that it matters.  Just use the spot where the old "monitor/out" power used to reside for a battery plug of some type.  This way you could chain as many batteries as needed or connect it to a bigger DC power grid for other backup purposes.  To alter to my previous "illustration":

      AC -------> Power -> DC:PC
      DC:Batt <-> Supply

      Then you could plug in a DC line to the back of the PC from anywhere and run either DC or AC.  Determining if it's a battery or a feed shouldn't be too hard, should it?

    7. Re:PC UPS/PS by mysidia · · Score: 1

      Which is no good for production servers. Although the fold-up screen and built-in keyboard may be useful for software emergencies, popping a laptop open to swap out a dead FRU is a bitch, and you require some sort of PCMCIA SAS card to attach to an external chassis w/ external RAID controller to have any ability to use multiple hard drives for redundancy.

    8. Re:PC UPS/PS by mysidia · · Score: 1

      There are cases where you have no external hardware of importance (e.g. servers). Energy is at a premium, space is not.

      A UPS may be pretty efficient, but there is still a huge amount of loss that occurs converting AC to DC and back to AC and back to DC again, VS one conversion to DC.

      Even if it's just a 20% loss, it certainly adds up for equipment that has high runtimes.

      Also, UPS efficiency is not something that stays high constantly.

      On most UPSes, the efficiency will be extremely poor at low loads, for example, if the PC is in "sleep mode", the load on the UPS may drop to 10%, and the efficiency of the UPS may be 30% instead of 80%.

      A management controller on the mainboard could manage a built-in power supp better, by cutting to battery when the charge is above 80% and the system is in sleep mode or standby, and automatically making the transition from sleep to hibernate/standby, after sufficient idle period.

      The system can then be performing AC/DC conversion only when there is substantial demand for the juice, saving energy.

      Energy is wasted keeping the battery of a UPS charged anyways (wasted since the battery is only used on the rare occasion of a power loss), it makes sense to put it to good use.

  11. don't forget the chillers by alxkit · · Score: 0

    something something DARK SIDE. something something COMPLETE.

  12. Gotta do something with all those containers by Philip+K+Dickhead · · Score: 2, Informative

    Now that the global shipping economy has collapsed.

    --
    "Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act." -- George Orwell
  13. Portable generators? New? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How exactly is the concept of a portable, modular power generator anything new? The construction industry relies on widespread use of portable generators for decades. Is this considered innovative just because the power outlet is connected to a computer?

    1. Re:Portable generators? New? by aaarrrgggh · · Score: 1

      We actually had Active Power in our office the other day touting this solution. It isn't bad unless you have over about 400kW of load.

      This is significantly different than a containerized generator in that it is intended to be integrated completely in the factory, so you just bring in unconditioned power to the box and it sends out conditioned power.

      However, if you have a big system, it isn't exactly modular (yes, you can go up to 1.2MW, but you have to put the generator externally).

      There was an article in IEEE Spectrum about a 200MW containerized data center that similarly missed the mark: People aren't using containers the way they need to in order to make it a truly effective solution. PUE's are still way to low compared to what is possible, and as far as I can tell, nobody has really solved the management issues properly.

  14. Re:Of course by djupedal · · Score: 0, Troll

    Nice to see the MS trolls once again wasting mod points....mission accomplished!

    Notice the six articles out of the total thirty gracing the home page on /. are, in some way or another, about MS. That makes it at least two shy of the quota MS pays the admins to maintain. We're certain this is an oversight that will be corrected momentarily. All hail ./...an MS paid outlet since 2003.

  15. At the rate sun is going... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is probably just in time, by the end of the year Sun will probably be able to run all of their operations off of a pair (fully redundant!) of cargo containers with servers, ups and generators. Woot!

  16. Trane Packaged Units by Migraineman · · Score: 1

    Trane manufactures packaged units. The "HVAC system in a box" unit has existed for decades. In fact, I have one on my house (best money I ever spent ... got that noisy blower outside.) Granted, it's not in a sea-freight container, but it's about the same overhead to connect to your server-cluster-in-a-box. What's next? Cubicle in a box?