Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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. Is the Airflow OK? by Philip_the_physicist · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This makes sense, since the dust should already be filtered, which removes a large part of the need for a case. However, I do wonder about the airflow, since an ordinary case helps to direct the airflow through the kit rather than over the top, which might be a problem. On the other hand, without a case, the ventilation will be much better, so what is lost on the swings may be gained on the roundabouts.

    This is a nice idea though, and would make sense for rackmount routers/switches, since these usually sit in an enclosed cupboard anyway.

    bTW: first?/p

    1. Re:Is the Airflow OK? by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 4, Interesting

      You might want to RTFA a little more closely: The fans in the second picture are embedded in a larger chassis, into which the module in the first picture is inserted. There are no fans in the server modules. There are fans, and power, provided by the larger enclosure into which they are inserted. I was wrong to speculate that it was full rack(the z6000 enclosure is only 2u, for reasons I can't quite fathom); but the thermal performance of the bare server does, indeed, depend quite closely on the enclosure into which it is inserted, just as I speculated.

  2. This is similar to an old school BBS trick by Optic7 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    My friend used to run a BBS way back when, and he told me he would just hang the motherboards and other components on a pegboard on the wall. Similar idea, but I think he was doing it to save money on cases and possibly to save space as well.

  3. It would be awesome if... by egcagrac0 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    They added a 12V only power supply and a 12V battery, integrating the UPS as well. All the 12V stepdown can happen on the mainboard!

    Totally OK if the battery is an optional replacement for the second hard drive.