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Russians Build Nuclear-Powered Data Center (datacenterdynamics.com)

Posted by timothy on from the little-warm-in-here dept.

judgecorp writes: The government-owned Russian energy company Rosenergoatom is building Russia's largest data center at its giant Kalinin nuclear power station. Most of the space will be available to customers, and the facility expects to be in demand, thanks to two factors: reliable power, and the data residency rules which require Russian citizens' data to be located within Russia. Facebook and Google don't have data centers within Russia yet — and Rosenergoatom has already invited them into the Kalinin facility.

58 comments

  1. Really? by nospam007 · · Score: 5, Funny

    They are catching up with France, where _every_ data-center is nuclear powered.

    1. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Are you sure?

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_theater_hostage_crisis (170)
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beslan_school_siege (385)

    2. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just hope the Russian ones are less noisy. Oh wait.

    3. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Depends on your definition of "ahead".

  2. is nuclear design by java multicore/ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    java has wait() and notify() which allows for safe nuclear

  3. Nuclear data center gap! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We've got to close the nuclear powered data center gap!

    I hear the hot aisle is really hot!

  4. What actually happens by prefec2 · · Score: 1

    The Russians build a data center. The center will consume 80 MW and have 10000 racks and from the price tag it might be as big as one Google data center. So what is the big thing about it?

    1. Re:What actually happens by Blaskowicz · · Score: 2

      It's built by the nuclear power company, and the article says the data center may act as a power sink when there's excess electricity on the grid. So that's a bit interesting.

    2. Re:What actually happens by hackertourist · · Score: 1

      Where are they going to sink that excess electricity? Spinning up servers just to let them sit idle is pointless, you might as well dump the power into a resistor bank. Low-priority grid computing, maybe?

    3. Re:What actually happens by OverlordQ · · Score: 1

      Talking about bitcoins baby.

      --
      Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
  5. Putin cares! by NostalgiaForInfinity · · Score: 1

    In September, Federal Law No. 242-FZ came into force in Russia. In a nutshell, the law requires all foreign businesses that handle the personal data of Russian citizens to keep this data on servers located within the country.

    This is so that Putin can protect Russian citizens from invasions of privacy by evil American corporations like Facebook! Putin cares about his subjects!

    1. Re:Putin cares! by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 1

      Sarcastic comment or not, I'd like to see every country do the same. As a Canadian, I think too much of my personal information is on American servers.

    2. Re:Putin cares! by NostalgiaForInfinity · · Score: 1

      Sarcastic comment or not, I'd like to see every country do the same. As a Canadian, I think too much of my personal information is on American servers.

      What's keeping you? You can do business with only Canadian companies if you want to.

      You are asking for something entirely different, namely that all Canadians are forced to keep their data within easy reach of Canadian police and spy agencies. That means that you yourself can't keep your data abroad anymore, anywhere, even if you choose to. You either have to be confused or you have to be in bed with spy agencies to think that that's a good idea.

      I wonder how that would work out for your Bitcoins; arguably, all your Bitcoin transactions could then only be recorded within Canadian ledgers, right?

    3. Re:Putin cares! by TeknoHog · · Score: 1

      In Soviet China, Hu cares!

      --
      Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
    4. Re:Putin cares! by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 1

      You're absolutely right. This means we're fucked either way.

    5. Re:Putin cares! by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      So explain to everyone why exactly you want to keep your medical records abroad?
      Why do you want your dental records abroad?
      Why do you want you local investment details abroad?
      Why do you want you correspondence with local relatives, neighbours and friends abroad?
      Why do you want correspondence with your local employer abroad?
      Why do you want you dealing with local government abroad?
      Why do you want your dealings with State government abroad?
      Why do you want your dealings with federal government abroad?
      Why do you want your dealings with local retailers abroad?
      Seriously why the fuck would you want the contents of your own hard disk drive, at your own desk, stored abroad?

      The list goes on, phone communications, what you watch on smart TV, fucking conversations in your own fucking lounge room, stored abroad. Me thinks your a full of PR=B$. I side with those who support the idea, that any data about me created in my country, stays in my country and that it be regularly audited by the government for invasions of privacy and excessive data retention. Don't trust my government, well, I trust corporations a whole lot less and demand that my government keep a bloody close eye on their activities and start fining them sufficiently that egregious corporations are actually sent into bankruptcy and their executives imprisoned.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    6. Re:Putin cares! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're absolutely right. This means we're fucked either way.

      No, you are fucked. That's because you fuck up yourself.

    7. Re:Putin cares! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      but Ivan says we have the RADest servers now!

    8. Re:Putin cares! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Canada is in America and is part of five eyes anyway.

    9. Re:Putin cares! by NostalgiaForInfinity · · Score: 0

      So explain to everyone why exactly you want to keep your [...] abroad?

      Under current law, I have a choice. Under European or Russian law, I don't.

      I like to have the choice.

      I side with those who support the idea, that any data about me created in my country, stays in my country and that it be regularly audited by the government for invasions of privacy and excessive data retention

      Well, what can I say, you are an idiot.

    10. Re:Putin cares! by cfalcon · · Score: 1

      > So explain to everyone why exactly you want to keep your medical records abroad?

      Because it's his data, and he can store it where he likes... unless a defacto dictator or totalitarian regime, Putin-style, overrides that.

      > Don't trust my government, well, I trust corporations a whole lot less

      I mean, that's a reasonable position. But under Russian style laws, you don't have the choice- you BETTER "trust" the government, because *you don't have a choice*.

      Also, you mention things like the government auditing to be sure. That's scary as shit, and here's why- proper data would be stored encrypted. In the ideal world, you provide the key. In a less than ideal world, some corporation can unlock it. In a shitty world, some corporation can unlock it, AND the government can unlock it.

      You don't get to pick "corporation or government". You are picking "corporation, or corporation AND government, AND it has to be stored less secure so the government guys can get to it easily, you know, for whatever reason".

      Under Russian style laws, you could argue that renting a server in the US and a server in Russia and keeping a one time pad on both of those (such that neither side has your data) is in violation of the "data residency" laws.

      This isn't a thing to save you from a corporation. A government that wants to do this is looking to monitor and control its citizens, full stop.

      It's evil.

    11. Re:Putin cares! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What is with you leftists? You want to take away my rights, again, because you know best and because you're afraid. Fear based policies are a bad idea, mkay?!? Maybe I just want off-site backups outside of my country because my country is full of semi-retarded people who keep pushing for fear based politics.

    12. Re:Putin cares! by kwoff · · Score: 2

      I think the official spin is more like: to protect Russian citizens from sanctions imposed on them, that is make important services independent of the outside. For example, countries can suddenly, in response to let's say invading Ukraine, demand that certain banks (or credit cards) refuse to process Russian data, which could majorly impact Russians.

    13. Re:Putin cares! by Cederic · · Score: 1

      Under current law, I have a choice. Under European or Russian law, I don't.

      I like to have the choice.

      Under UK (and so probably European) law you do have the choice.

      The companies sucking in all your data and abusing it do not. This is a good thing.

      But feel free to put your own data anywhere you like. Nobody's stopping you posting your private information onto a server in every continent.

    14. Re:Putin cares! by NostalgiaForInfinity · · Score: 1

      But feel free to put your own data anywhere you like. Nobody's stopping you posting your private information onto a server in every continent.

      Really? How is that supposed to work? If you rent a server from a foreign company and put your personal information on there, then that foreign company holds your personal information and is therefore subject to these laws.

    15. Re:Putin cares! by Cederic · · Score: 1

      If it's a foreign company then how it it beholden to laws in a jurisdiction in which it doesn't operate? And why should it care?

      If they provide the tin but you install the software and add the data, how is it their responsibility irrespective of jurisdiction?

      Why do you think you have to rent a server anyway?

    16. Re:Putin cares! by NostalgiaForInfinity · · Score: 1

      If it's a foreign company then how it it beholden to laws in a jurisdiction in which it doesn't operate? And why should it care?

      Because they may have both their Internet connections and their payments blocked from your country if they don't comply. Without such enforcement, mandates to retain personal data within a country would be meaningless. You don't see much of that happening with international Internet services, but there is ample precedent for such obstacles already when importing and exporting physical goods.

      If they provide the tin but you install the software and add the data, how is it their responsibility irrespective of jurisdiction? Why do you think you have to rent a server anyway?

      First of all, the way I read those laws, all that matters is whether they hold personal data, not who provides the software. Second, what you are saying seems to amount to the notion that only people capable of setting up their own servers should be able to keep their data abroad.

      I think your beliefs about these laws stem from the fundamental misconception that they are intended to help you. Such laws are intended to ensure that all your private data is within reach of your own national police and intelligence agencies.

      And I can pretty much guarantee you that once major providers like Google and Facebook have been forced to move your data within the reach of your police and intelligence agencies, any attempt by you to set up foreign servers to keep private data will rouse suspicion by your own police and intelligence agencies, and will likely be held against you should you run into trouble when it comes to tax issues or any computer-related legal disputes (say, with an employer). Stop being so naive and gullible.

    17. Re:Putin cares! by Cederic · · Score: 1

      Your paranoia is extreme, and I already have private data hosted on servers in foreign countries.

      I haven't broken the law to do this.

      If HMRC want to investigate my tax affairs, they can ask me for all relevant information. Where I personally store that information is not relevant, whether I provide it to them is.

    18. Re:Putin cares! by NostalgiaForInfinity · · Score: 1

      You're bumbling from one straw man to another. Great going.

  6. Re:Good News by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 2

    Hopefully this data center helps with destroying more islamists.

    Damn right! And about time, too!

    After Islam, we should go after the Jews, Christians, Buddhists, etc.

    And once there's only the atheists left, we'll eliminate the idiots who believe in the FSM! LONG LIVE THE IPU!

  7. In Soviet Russia... by Rinikusu · · Score: 4, Funny

    Feds.. invite you to use their shiny new data center?

    --
    If you were me, you'd be good lookin'. - six string samurai
    1. Re:In Soviet Russia... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can't think of a better place to store servers to ensure the government has complete unfettered access to the servers and their data.

      Nuclear facility security and secrecy, check
      Government owned and operated, check ..

    2. Re:In Soviet Russia... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      "There was a melt-down in the DC" has a whole new meaning.

    3. Re:In Soviet Russia... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Think of it as a one-stop shop for ALL your protection needs.

  8. Re:Good News by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 2

    I thought we would have learned by now that carpet bombing terrorists is not going to take care of them. It may be necessary (and in case of IS it'll certainly help weaken), but it's not a solution. And nationalism, or being proud of your country, is fine, however Putin is a great example of the kind of leader that sentiment tends to attract. With every thing that Putin does, from bombing ISIS to messing in the Crimea to signing a bill to protect the spotted puking buzzard, you have to look first at how it helps him and keep him in power, because that's his motivation. Ruling Russia has always been about spear-rattling to fuel their pride, petty oppression to fuel their fear, and for the rest doing whatever the hell you want without pissing the general populace off too much. I'm sure someone will want to point out that this could be said for many western governments these days, but read a little history to see that there really is no comparison. It's not for nothing that someone (can't remember who it was) called Russia a "nation of moral masochists"

    --
    If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
  9. In other news, the NSA welcomes your colo in Utah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Their state-of-the-art data center is ready to host your sensitive data now! It will end up there anyway, so why not save time and effort?

  10. islam by unixisc · · Score: 0

    Here is the difference. Islam is a centuries old geopolitical ideological cult successfully masquerading as a religion due to both its 7th century underpinnings, as well as having a following of above a billion. Islamism is a fictional concept invented in the West to pretend that Islam is none of the above things.

  11. Kalinin? by unixisc · · Score: 1

    I RTFA and checked Udomlya on the map. It translated to Tver, which used to be called Kalinin during the Soviet era. So what's w/ the naming of these facilities after Soviet era generals? Can't they just call it Rosenergoatom Data Center? Or even Putin Data Center, after the great man himself?

    1. Re:Kalinin? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is slashdot, we use Hearts of Iron as a world atlas.

      On a serious note, the reactor is named after Kalinin because it was built during the Soviet era.

    2. Re:Kalinin? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On a serious note, the reactor is named after Kalinin because it was built during the Soviet era.

      Chernobyl is actually named V.I. Lenin Nuclear Power Station. As the Russians continue apace mythologizing their greatness under Stalin and the commies it is unlikely they will be renaming any of these facilities.

  12. Re:Good News by unixisc · · Score: 1

    What is FSM and IPU? So that I can get the relevance to the comment?

  13. Re:Good News by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is "its nationalism", not "it's nationalism". If you have been unable to master something as simple as that, nobody is going to take you seriously on more ponderous issues.

  14. Re:Good News by unixisc · · Score: 1

    While I'm no fan of Putin, Russia did do an experiment in trying to do things the rational democratic way b/w 1992 and 2000, and that went nowhere. The failure of their democrats - Geidar et al - to resurrect their economy forced Yeltsin to make Putin his Prime Minister, and ultimately his successor. And Putin did some of the things the old Soviet way. It is a pity that Russia's economy remains fuelled almost exclusively by oil, much like the OPEC nations.

  15. Where are all the data centers? by unixisc · · Score: 1

    Google, Facebook, Twitter, et al - are all their servers in the US? Or is it more distributed worldwide - maybe not in every country, but certainly in major ones that can act as hubs for entire regions. Like in South Africa or Brazil or South Korea or Philippines or Norway or Canada? Cold climes sound better, so that cooling them wouldn't be a major energy budget.

  16. Well, not the old way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    but... were I in charge, there is a way to seriously stop these people with bombing: fuel/air bombs. Drop these for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and at the same time drop napalm on the perimeter of the area being fuel/air bombed. With these tools, the blast doesn't have to kill you, neither does the heat, although they help, but lack of oxygen will kill anyone, even buried in a bunker. Do this on all daesh strongholds for a week straight and we don't have to send in troops.

    The question remains... does the US have the balls, the will, the intent, to do this. Were I president, US or Russia, I would literally torch all daesh-held areas. No troops required until the bombing starts. Then let the Iraqis, Syrians, or whomever actually owns the land legitimately to waltz in, shoot the stragglers in the head, and claim the victory. Fuel/air bombs and a few sorties are cheap compared to sending in troops that need food, shelter, medical help.

    1. Re:Well, not the old way by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

      First of all you are talking about doing this to a large part of two countries. Ignoring the morality it's not exactly feasible.

      Now to bring the morality back you are a fucking psychopath. There are hundreds of thousands if not millions of innocent people in the towns and cities that have been captured by ISIS and you would be murdering them. You would go down in history as one of the great mass murderers only to be outdone by the likes of Stalin and Mao (I won't go with the other obvious one). You would easily have Assad and Bush beat out for most deaths caused by a leader in this century.

    2. Re:Well, not the old way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't recall the US, Canadians, British, or Russians being accused of being psychopaths when they collectively bombed the hell out of Germany, and/or Japan in the case of the US alone, during the Great War. No one batted an eye at the need to take out cities in order to achieve a goal. No one said "oh, noes! there are children in those cities." No one gave a monkey's toss then and still don't unless they are liberal milquetoasts. War is hell. It's supposed to be. War does not determine who is right, it determines who is left. Full stop. The goal is to kill anyone and everyone who would wave the banner of islamic terrorism.

      Be careful with words like "psychopath". It's a little strong when used in the context of winning a military engagement, even against people that are not actual standing armies. Wars of the future are going to be largely asymmetrical, against loose affiliations of people. Hitler, whose name you would not write, was a douchebag whose desire was to eradicate a race. The goal of the West is to weaken and eventually kill all islamic terrorists and supporters. Full stop. Not eradicate a race. Killing a few civilians should not stop the West from proceeding. Ever. Daesh is testing our mettle. They know we won't drop a bomb on a city like we would 70 years ago. I really don't know where we went wrong in our outlook on winning. War is not about a draw or surrender, it's about total control and domination of the enemy, the lands they hold, and their objective. Like Patton once said. The goal is to have the other son-of-a-bitch die for his side.

    3. Re:Well, not the old way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You don't recall it because you're indoctrinated in the West. No, son. We're still kind of hated, to this day, for nuking Japan and bombing the fuck out of Dresden. Good, I say. Let them hate us. Maybe they'll remember and not do stupid shit like that again.

  17. Will it have an FSB-room? by mi · · Score: 1

    It will not have an FSB-room — because all premises will be used by the Service...

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  18. Rosenergoatom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who's Rosener?

  19. Re:Good News by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 2

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

  20. Co-Cooling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Of course, the data center should utilize the extra cooling capacity and district heating system input just next door. Where ever there is water, the data centers flow.

  21. It's a trap by spaceman375 · · Score: 1

    Of course they want google and facebook there. It will give the Russians easier access to their internal networks. They should call it The Admiral Ackbar Data Center.

    --
    On the one hand you take life too seriously, and on the other, you do not take playful existence seriously enough. Seth
  22. Computing is Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nuclear Computing is Better!

  23. Re: Good News by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you're going to be that pedantic, no one will be your friend.