10 ms·

Google's data centers are guarded by stormtroopers

257 points by jeffisageek 14y ago

check out on the google maps tour of the google data center who is keeping guard.

gbeeson 14y ago
Very tempted to make the obligatory droid joke at this point. Have thought better of it though.
- PaulAJ 14y ago
  There is an Android imprisoned elsewhere. Take a step or two back, go through the door on the right and keep going.
  - mcguire 14y ago
    http://goo.gl/b3ZjG http://goo.gl/b3ZjG Bastids. Set my brother free! And give him a scooter.
harrylove 14y ago
Rickrolled by a noogler. http://goo.gl/maps/2pMoe http://goo.gl/maps/2pMoe
nsoldiac 14y ago
glide over to the google kitchen, someone is stealing some food: http://goo.gl/GPQXJ http://goo.gl/GPQXJ
DocFeind 14y ago
In this economy, everyone needs a second job
chrisacky 14y ago
Someone was stupid enough to leave a computer terminal running with what I can clearly make out to be Google's future strategic plan. http://goo.gl/maps/d0tD5 http://goo.gl/maps/d0tD5 --- Enormous Android figure locked up in a cabinet: http://goo.gl/maps/7Njc6 http://goo.gl/maps/7Njc6 --- Guy getting Rickroll'ed twice http://goo.gl/maps/7IJMk http://goo.gl/maps/7IJMk --- I'm going to assume this is Buster from Arrested Development, hiding inside of a box. http://goo.gl/maps/61kbM http://goo.gl/maps/61kbM --- "Please keep the door closed... Or I'll call the Brute Squad" http://goo.gl/maps/DJJYr http://goo.gl/maps/DJJYr --- "Caution - This Sign has Sharp Edges" http://goo.gl/maps/Mo0uE http://goo.gl/maps/Mo0uE
- nsoldiac 14y ago
  at least the super secret strategic plan is being displayed in chrome :)
  - gracenotes 14y ago
    The main joke here being that PUE < 1 is impossible by definition, by the way.
    - pilsetnieks 14y ago
      Cold fusion - if anyone can crack it, Google can. That, or perpetual motion.
- anonymouz 14y ago
  > "Please keep the door closed... Or I'll call the Bruce Squad" I guess that's an inside joke referring to some security guard called Bruce? It seems to say "Brute", not "Bruce".
  - jimm 14y ago
    The Brute Squad is a reference to The Princess Bride.
- 14y ago
lucb1e 14y ago
The pranks emphasize how carefully Google narrated each shot on here. Earlier today on HN I saw a link to a Wired article about Google giving us an insight into their datacenter. Although somewhat true, the article is very superficial and hardly mentions any tech details, and the indoor street view very carefully avoids the interesting stuff. Try going next to a server on the streetview, it'll skip right past where you clicked and only show you close-ups from empty racks or racks without servers. Also I can't see anything about their cooling systems, which you hear a lot about and would be interesting. Also, don't mention how some things are blurred out, and how there is a huge curtain on one end of the streetview tour. I was honestly disappointed by how little Google told us, compared to the sensational title.
- mvgoogler 14y ago
  The are a lot more pictures on the "An Inside Look" page of the data-centers page. Gallery: http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/gallery/#/all http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/gallery/#/all Web-Page: http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/inside/ http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/inside/ Blog post: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/googles-data-centers-inside-look.html http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/googles-data-centers-...
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
MaggieL 14y ago
Notice that way down the hall past the stormtrooper is a sign that says "Pharmacy" Wot?
- peterwwillis 14y ago
  The Pharmacy is where they keep spare parts for servers
TheAmazingIdiot 14y ago
So.. guarded by people who die easily and can't shoot straight? Someone! Call Con SOLO!! Obi's WAN Kenobi died suddenly!
dageshi 14y ago
Someone's going to make a FPS map based on these...
- acuozzo 14y ago
  I can only pray for an excellent Doom WAD file.
drudru11 14y ago
appropriate
scovetta 14y ago
Found Android! https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=35.898541,-81.547941&spn=0.007466,0.011405&sll=35.900197,-81.547024&layer=c&cid=7373938251588581469&panoid=XEnj_lhwkg_mUh2WhyaVBA&cbp=13,40.33,,2,3.17&gl=US&t=m&cbll=35.898532,-81.547978&z=17 https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=35.898541,-81.5479...
Bud 14y ago
Sorry, but I have to call bullshit on the headline. There is, in fact, only ONE Stormtrooper pictured. Not plural "Stormtroopers". ;) Vader must have made budget cuts.
bostonpete 14y ago
Isn't he a little short for a storm trooper?
mtrimpe 14y ago
Did anybody else notice the RoombaMaster error thrown when you have a Flash debug build? TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference. at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba.controls::ElevatorControl/handleNewConfig() at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba.controls::ElevatorControl() at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba::RoombaMaster() at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba::RoombaModule/constructRoombaMaster() at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba::RoombaStub/handleLoadComplete() If that's an easter egg then they really went deep :)
sant0sk1 14y ago
There's also a small R2-D2 standing next to him. Zoom in if you can't see it.
Breakthrough 14y ago
While I'm not one to normally say this... That little R2D2 beside the Storm Trooper looks so cute! :)
ChuckMcM 14y ago
My favorite Google data center prank was the Oregon one. Next door to where they built it was a window factory, so a sign appeared on the data center fence which read "Voldemort's School of Defenestration"
pagebrooks 14y ago
About 25 employees waving outside of the Data Center: http://goo.gl/maps/cZfN9 http://goo.gl/maps/cZfN9
- laurencita12 14y ago
  and cornhole in the background!
lockes5hadow 14y ago
That's good, if there's a firefight they won't hit anything.
- iamdave 14y ago
  But in the case of an air attack any exposed exhaust vents will require constant guarding.
bjorncanute 14y ago
I just realized you can use 'w,a,s,d' keys to move around the camera instead of the mouse.
JohnsonB 14y ago
This is cute and all but is essentially a reddit level posting.
- burntsushi 14y ago
  Same thing for the parent comment.
pippy 14y ago
Google looks like such a cool company to work for. I'm sad I'll never have the skill set to be hired by them.
- aeontech 14y ago
  Never say never... If you really want to make it, study a subject in depth, show your skills by working on some good projects, open source or not, and you have good chances.
Hilyin 14y ago
Scooters for gettin around datacenter! Awesome. http://goo.gl/maps/SiBpj http://goo.gl/maps/SiBpj
alainbryden 14y ago
No photographing the server room? http://goo.gl/maps/1n7jW http://goo.gl/maps/1n7jW
biot 14y ago
"If your account is less than a year old, please don't submit comments saying that HN is turning into Reddit. (It's a common semi-noob illusion.)" pg, is it time to update the guidelines? Or at least ask that people read and follow them? This submission and its comments seem to indicate that the illusion is becoming reality. More specifically, there is already a story[0] on Google's datacenter in which one's intellectual curiosity can be gratified. This one is little more than a meme with Google's name on it. [0] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4663946 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4663946

257 points by jeffisageek 14y ago

check out on the google maps tour of the google data center who is keeping guard.

gbeeson 14y ago

Very tempted to make the obligatory droid joke at this point. Have thought better of it though.

PaulAJ 14y ago
There is an Android imprisoned elsewhere. Take a step or two back, go through the door on the right and keep going.
- mcguire 14y ago
  http://goo.gl/b3ZjG http://goo.gl/b3ZjG Bastids. Set my brother free! And give him a scooter.

harrylove 14y ago

Rickrolled by a noogler. http://goo.gl/maps/2pMoe http://goo.gl/maps/2pMoe

nsoldiac 14y ago

glide over to the google kitchen, someone is stealing some food: http://goo.gl/GPQXJ http://goo.gl/GPQXJ

DocFeind 14y ago

In this economy, everyone needs a second job

chrisacky 14y ago

Someone was stupid enough to leave a computer terminal running with what I can clearly make out to be Google's future strategic plan. http://goo.gl/maps/d0tD5 http://goo.gl/maps/d0tD5 --- Enormous Android figure locked up in a cabinet: http://goo.gl/maps/7Njc6 http://goo.gl/maps/7Njc6 --- Guy getting Rickroll'ed twice http://goo.gl/maps/7IJMk http://goo.gl/maps/7IJMk --- I'm going to assume this is Buster from Arrested Development, hiding inside of a box. http://goo.gl/maps/61kbM http://goo.gl/maps/61kbM --- "Please keep the door closed... Or I'll call the Brute Squad" http://goo.gl/maps/DJJYr http://goo.gl/maps/DJJYr --- "Caution - This Sign has Sharp Edges" http://goo.gl/maps/Mo0uE http://goo.gl/maps/Mo0uE

nsoldiac 14y ago
at least the super secret strategic plan is being displayed in chrome :)
- gracenotes 14y ago
  The main joke here being that PUE < 1 is impossible by definition, by the way.
  - pilsetnieks 14y ago
    Cold fusion - if anyone can crack it, Google can. That, or perpetual motion.
anonymouz 14y ago
> "Please keep the door closed... Or I'll call the Bruce Squad" I guess that's an inside joke referring to some security guard called Bruce? It seems to say "Brute", not "Bruce".
- jimm 14y ago
  The Brute Squad is a reference to The Princess Bride.
14y ago

lucb1e 14y ago

The pranks emphasize how carefully Google narrated each shot on here. Earlier today on HN I saw a link to a Wired article about Google giving us an insight into their datacenter. Although somewhat true, the article is very superficial and hardly mentions any tech details, and the indoor street view very carefully avoids the interesting stuff. Try going next to a server on the streetview, it'll skip right past where you clicked and only show you close-ups from empty racks or racks without servers. Also I can't see anything about their cooling systems, which you hear a lot about and would be interesting. Also, don't mention how some things are blurred out, and how there is a huge curtain on one end of the streetview tour. I was honestly disappointed by how little Google told us, compared to the sensational title.

mvgoogler 14y ago
The are a lot more pictures on the "An Inside Look" page of the data-centers page. Gallery: http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/gallery/#/all http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/gallery/#/all Web-Page: http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/inside/ http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/inside/ Blog post: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/googles-data-centers-inside-look.html http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/googles-data-centers-...
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]

MaggieL 14y ago

Notice that way down the hall past the stormtrooper is a sign that says "Pharmacy" Wot?

peterwwillis 14y ago
The Pharmacy is where they keep spare parts for servers

TheAmazingIdiot 14y ago

So.. guarded by people who die easily and can't shoot straight? Someone! Call Con SOLO!! Obi's WAN Kenobi died suddenly!

dageshi 14y ago

Someone's going to make a FPS map based on these...

acuozzo 14y ago
I can only pray for an excellent Doom WAD file.

drudru11 14y ago

appropriate

scovetta 14y ago

Found Android! https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=35.898541,-81.547941&spn=0.007466,0.011405&sll=35.900197,-81.547024&layer=c&cid=7373938251588581469&panoid=XEnj_lhwkg_mUh2WhyaVBA&cbp=13,40.33,,2,3.17&gl=US&t=m&cbll=35.898532,-81.547978&z=17 https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=35.898541,-81.5479...

Bud 14y ago

Sorry, but I have to call bullshit on the headline. There is, in fact, only ONE Stormtrooper pictured. Not plural "Stormtroopers". ;) Vader must have made budget cuts.

bostonpete 14y ago

Isn't he a little short for a storm trooper?

mtrimpe 14y ago

Did anybody else notice the RoombaMaster error thrown when you have a Flash debug build? TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference. at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba.controls::ElevatorControl/handleNewConfig() at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba.controls::ElevatorControl() at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba::RoombaMaster() at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba::RoombaModule/constructRoombaMaster() at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba::RoombaStub/handleLoadComplete() If that's an easter egg then they really went deep :)

sant0sk1 14y ago

There's also a small R2-D2 standing next to him. Zoom in if you can't see it.

Breakthrough 14y ago

While I'm not one to normally say this... That little R2D2 beside the Storm Trooper looks so cute! :)

ChuckMcM 14y ago

My favorite Google data center prank was the Oregon one. Next door to where they built it was a window factory, so a sign appeared on the data center fence which read "Voldemort's School of Defenestration"

pagebrooks 14y ago

About 25 employees waving outside of the Data Center: http://goo.gl/maps/cZfN9 http://goo.gl/maps/cZfN9

laurencita12 14y ago
and cornhole in the background!

lockes5hadow 14y ago

That's good, if there's a firefight they won't hit anything.

iamdave 14y ago
But in the case of an air attack any exposed exhaust vents will require constant guarding.

bjorncanute 14y ago

I just realized you can use 'w,a,s,d' keys to move around the camera instead of the mouse.

JohnsonB 14y ago

This is cute and all but is essentially a reddit level posting.

burntsushi 14y ago
Same thing for the parent comment.

pippy 14y ago

Google looks like such a cool company to work for. I'm sad I'll never have the skill set to be hired by them.

aeontech 14y ago
Never say never... If you really want to make it, study a subject in depth, show your skills by working on some good projects, open source or not, and you have good chances.

Hilyin 14y ago

Scooters for gettin around datacenter! Awesome. http://goo.gl/maps/SiBpj http://goo.gl/maps/SiBpj

alainbryden 14y ago

No photographing the server room? http://goo.gl/maps/1n7jW http://goo.gl/maps/1n7jW

biot 14y ago

"If your account is less than a year old, please don't submit comments saying that HN is turning into Reddit. (It's a common semi-noob illusion.)" pg, is it time to update the guidelines? Or at least ask that people read and follow them? This submission and its comments seem to indicate that the illusion is becoming reality. More specifically, there is already a story[0] on Google's datacenter in which one's intellectual curiosity can be gratified. This one is little more than a meme with Google's name on it. [0] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4663946 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4663946