German Cloud Company Offering Free Heat If You Have Room for Some of Its Servers

#1

Post by throwaway_yy2Di » Thu, Nov 13, 2014, 7:13 AM UTC

German Cloud Company Offering Free Heat If You Have Room for Some of Its Servers
slate.com

Re: German Cloud Company Offering Free Heat If You Have Room for Some of Its Servers

#2

Post by marknadal » Thu, Nov 13, 2014, 9:58 AM UTC

This is hilarious and great marketing, despite the fact I hate ads! Well done.

Re: German Cloud Company Offering Free Heat If You Have Room for Some of Its Servers

#3

Post by hollerith » Thu, Nov 13, 2014, 10:10 AM UTC

marknadal wrote: post #2

This is hilarious and great marketing, despite the fact I hate ads! Well done.

You seem to think that this is a publicity stunt (rather than a sincere offer of heating services).

I don't think it is.

Re: German Cloud Company Offering Free Heat If You Have Room for Some of Its Servers

#4

Post by _stephan » Thu, Nov 13, 2014, 10:21 AM UTC

hollerith wrote: post #3

marknadal wrote: post #2

This is hilarious and great marketing, despite the fact I hate ads! Well done.

You seem to think that this is a publicity stunt (rather than a sincere offer of heating services). I don't think it is.

Ignoring the technical difficulty of actually using the excess heat for reliably and consistently heating a building, it's hard to believe that the economics of connecting and servicing single cabinets randomly located all over the landscape could work out.

Re: German Cloud Company Offering Free Heat If You Have Room for Some of Its Servers

#5

Post by buro9 » Thu, Nov 13, 2014, 10:29 AM UTC

Do we get to turn the servers off in the summer when there is a heatwave?

Re: German Cloud Company Offering Free Heat If You Have Room for Some of Its Servers

#6

Post by DanBC » Thu, Nov 13, 2014, 10:33 AM UTC

buro9 wrote: post #5

Do we get to turn the servers off in the summer when there is a heatwave?

> If the servers do heavy data processing when no one needs the heat, the system stores hot water in a “buffering tank.” And the Cloud&Heat cabinets can also vent outside in the spring and summer.

Re: German Cloud Company Offering Free Heat If You Have Room for Some of Its Servers

#7

Post by xwintermutex » Thu, Nov 13, 2014, 10:40 AM UTC

Reminds me of a Dutch startup that is doing about the same: http://nerdalize.com/

Re: German Cloud Company Offering Free Heat If You Have Room for Some of Its Servers

#8

Post by mappu » Thu, Nov 13, 2014, 10:43 AM UTC

No mention of how noisy rack servers can be?

Re: German Cloud Company Offering Free Heat If You Have Room for Some of Its Servers

#9

Post by return0 » Thu, Nov 13, 2014, 10:49 AM UTC

i wonder if any big data centers do something similar to heat nearby cities?

Re: German Cloud Company Offering Free Heat If You Have Room for Some of Its Servers

#10

Post by yc1010 » Thu, Nov 13, 2014, 10:52 AM UTC

What about the noise? Servers can be extremely noisy, in a home environment they would drive the occupier insane (well unless they are deaf)