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Creating a Low-Power Cloud With Netbook Chips

Posted by timothy on from the but-what's-the-wattage-equivalent-cfl dept.

Al writes "Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University have created a remarkably low-power server architecture using netbook processors and flash memory cards. The server design, dubbed a 'fast array of wimpy nodes,' or FAWN, is only designed to perform simple tasks, but the CMU team say it could be perfect for large Web companies that have to retrieve large amounts of data from RAM. A set-up including 21 individual nodes draws a maximum of just 85 watts under real-world conditions. The researchers say that a FAWN cluster could offer a low-power replacement for sites that currently rely on Memcached to access data from RAM."

2 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. Cradle to Grave by lymond01 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When I started this post, I was thinking that the overall power usage of building 21 computers that run at 85 W might supersede the power usage of building one 1000 W computer with 32 GB of memory, if you take the whole process from manufacturing to disposal.

    But I suppose it's the electric bill of the company we're concerned with so I'll just sit in the corner and re-read Bambi.

  2. New buzz words? by LoRdTAW · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So I guess the word cloud has replaced cluster to give old technology a fresh new look. Gotta love marketing.

    And since when did the term netbook come to describe low power computing hardware? There have been mini-ITX boards with low power CPU's long before the term netbook was in use. Just more marketing bullshit, repackage existing tech with a shiny new name and sell it.