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Web Servers Getting Naked, For Weight Savings

Posted by timothy on from the community-standards dept.

1sockchuck writes "Cloud computing is causing servers to get naked. HP today announced a 'skinless' server optimized for customers packing thousands of servers into cloud or HPC environments. This follow the lead of SGI/Rackable, which ditched the cover when it introduced bare bones servers for its CloudRack (previously discussed here). HP says the skinless design makes servers far lighter, which is apparently an issue when shipping them by the rackload."

4 of 101 comments (clear)

  1. Blade? by TopSpin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The new 'blade'; 19" wide and 1.75" tall.

    I see discrete Ethernet phys, VGA, USB, etc.; all the horrible stuff blades are supposed to consolidate away. Turns out all the proprietary silicon, software and exotic backplanes necessary to make that real costs too much and is creepy.

    And you can quit calling it "cloud" now... they're just hosting providers and you know it.

    --
    Lurking at the bottom of the gravity well, getting old
  2. marketing speak and buzz words grind the skin by johncandale · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "Cloud computing is causing servers to..."

    What's with calling everything by near meaningless terns like 'cloud computing' all the time now?. The coverless servers are not due to 'cloud computing', they are just a different technic for server farms. It could be for databases, large analysis, supercomputing, regular network hosting, etc. There is nothing about this that makes it exclusively meant for 'cloud computing' , it's just an idea for large arrays. Unless you a a marketing tool stop saying cloud computing just because it's the hot new phrase. Save it for when it's relevant

  3. If it improves performance, why not? by Lord+Byron+II · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why does a computer have an external skin anyways? It's helpful for desktops to prevent damage from spills, but in the rack mounted environment, unless the skin increases cooling somehow, it's actually worse than useless.

  4. RTFA by adolf · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I see a few confused posts here about "WTF? Cooling?"

    Just RTFA, folks. It's a blade server arrangement, not a standalone computer. These "naked" computers are nothing more than a pair of dual-proc computers, in a 1U-ish chassis without a lid, which needs to slide into the appropriate rack-mounted housing in order to work. This housing includes all of the cooling and power supply goodness one would expect, and (of course) includes a top panel to promote useful airflow and limit RFI.

    I don't see much "new" about these things at all, since AFAICT most/all "blade servers" were already naked since their inception.

    Color me unimpressed.

    --
    Kid-proof tablet..