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Microsoft Will Build Huge Container Data Center in Virginia

9 points by 1SockChuck 16y ago

count 16y ago
Open to the air, in VA. I wonder if they realize we get hit by hurricanes on a semi-regular basis? I'd love to know where/how the fiber to connect it is coming from out there in the middle of nowhereville.
- tlack 16y ago
  Shipping containers are made to stand up to the rigors of sea travel so I guess they're confident they can withstand storms. Still it's a ballsy move and I'd think the exposure to the elements would be a net negative, even factoring in heat dissipation through the air with natural wind, etc.
  - count 16y ago
    The problem with hurricanes isn't going to be the wind and water (hopefully they've accounted for flooding). It's going to be the trees and other debris flying through the air at 100+mph. Without concrete to absorb/mitigate that damage, I'd hate to see what happens :)
  - count 16y ago
    Also, it sort of shows their hand on size - you can just fly over and tell exactly how extensive their installation is. No hidden cages/etc. It's a very interesting choice, and I'd love to know what inspired it.
- 1SockChuck 16y ago
  The state of Virginia has actually used money from its tobacco settlement to fund the development of a broadband network in the southern part of the state. That was a key piece of the deal, as there's lots of power and water infrastructure in that area from old factories. Here's more details: http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/08/27/microsoft-project-boosts-southern-virginia/ http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/08/27/micro...
  - count 16y ago
    Hmm, Culpeper and Richmond are only 'Southern Virginia' compared to Arlington/Mclean/NCR area. Microsoft's project is WAY out in the middle of nowhere, right near the Carolina border, but conveniently, nowhere near Hampton Roads (Norfolk/Virginia Beach area), where this is actually a sizable population (where I live). I guess there's probably a sizable fiber bundle down I-85, and they're simply peeling off of that. The only other real fiber deployment in South Eastern VA is the Lambda Rail and DoD leased fiber going to Norfolk Naval Station.
nysauhem 16y ago
This reminded me of a story I saw a while back about Google patenting a modular datacenter structure: http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/06/18/google-patents-tower-of-containers/ http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/06/18/googl... I wonder how similar these designs are

9 points by 1SockChuck 16y ago

count 16y ago

Open to the air, in VA. I wonder if they realize we get hit by hurricanes on a semi-regular basis? I'd love to know where/how the fiber to connect it is coming from out there in the middle of nowhereville.

tlack 16y ago
Shipping containers are made to stand up to the rigors of sea travel so I guess they're confident they can withstand storms. Still it's a ballsy move and I'd think the exposure to the elements would be a net negative, even factoring in heat dissipation through the air with natural wind, etc.
- count 16y ago
  The problem with hurricanes isn't going to be the wind and water (hopefully they've accounted for flooding). It's going to be the trees and other debris flying through the air at 100+mph. Without concrete to absorb/mitigate that damage, I'd hate to see what happens :)
- count 16y ago
  Also, it sort of shows their hand on size - you can just fly over and tell exactly how extensive their installation is. No hidden cages/etc. It's a very interesting choice, and I'd love to know what inspired it.
1SockChuck 16y ago
The state of Virginia has actually used money from its tobacco settlement to fund the development of a broadband network in the southern part of the state. That was a key piece of the deal, as there's lots of power and water infrastructure in that area from old factories. Here's more details: http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/08/27/microsoft-project-boosts-southern-virginia/ http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/08/27/micro...
- count 16y ago
  Hmm, Culpeper and Richmond are only 'Southern Virginia' compared to Arlington/Mclean/NCR area. Microsoft's project is WAY out in the middle of nowhere, right near the Carolina border, but conveniently, nowhere near Hampton Roads (Norfolk/Virginia Beach area), where this is actually a sizable population (where I live). I guess there's probably a sizable fiber bundle down I-85, and they're simply peeling off of that. The only other real fiber deployment in South Eastern VA is the Lambda Rail and DoD leased fiber going to Norfolk Naval Station.

nysauhem 16y ago

This reminded me of a story I saw a while back about Google patenting a modular datacenter structure: http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/06/18/google-patents-tower-of-containers/ http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/06/18/googl... I wonder how similar these designs are