Opinion: Some very key ideas here for whomever would run the next Google or Facebook. Reason: The next Google or Facebook will not be run on a single server.

Opinion: Some very key ideas here for whomever would run the next Google or Facebook. Reason: The next Google or Facebook will not be run on a single server. Nor two servers. It will be run on N servers, which will need to communicate with one another. If that network topology, that network mesh, is sub-optimal - then so will that network be. That's why the PDF referenced above is so important. It not only contains nice, intuitive, explanatory graphics, but shows the mathematics governing a plethora of network topologies. It might not be complete, nor absolutely correct for all circumstances (haven't reviewed it critically), but in my opinion, this PDF serves as a great introduction to the subject matter, and design issues at stake, etc., etc.