NYC Data Center Needs Focus On Fuel

Nerval's Lobster writes "Who knew that the most critical element of operating a data center in New York City was ensuring a steady supply of diesel fuel? In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the challenges facing data center operators in the affected zones include pumping water from basements, waiting for utility power to be restored, and managing fuel-truck deliveries. And it's become increasingly clear which companies had the resources and foresight to plan for a disaster like Sandy, and which are simply reacting. Here's the latest on providers around the New York area." And remember, having fuel for machines sometimes only means it's time to start the manual labor.

Comments

Diesel does not last forever.

[gestalt_n_pepper]

Once refined, it degrades. Oxidation, bacteria. Algae. Amazing things grow in diesel. You can add preservatives, but these only go so far. Keep it too long, and it's unusable. If you don't use it, you have to dispose of it. There's a large disincentive to keep diesel around.

Re:you can't store 3 days of fuel at high floors

[Nadaka]

You also need to make sure to bolt the damn tank down. Fuel and air are more buoyant than water or mud. More than a few flooded gas stations have suffered damage only because the tanked popped out of the ground.