This is what a Google server looks like (2009) • Hacker News Board

Re: This is what a Google server looks like (2009)

#21

Post by listic » Sat, Sep 25, 2010, 2:22 PM UTC

zwetan wrote: post #17

this video Google container data center tour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRwPSFpLX8I provide even more details on the cooling system etc. and yep that's NOT an april fool

I have read this article when it first appeared on Hacker News: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=542531 and I was in doubt whether to believe it or write it all off as April's Fool joke. The design looks interesting and reasonable, but... who releases serious information on April,1 really?! If they were actually serious, I was sure they would release this a day later or earlier.

Now, quite some time later, I read this again and I am not convinced by the article. The comments also do not offer evidence that this is not a joke. Nor the video that you posted, until the second part. In the first part all it shows are some containers and industrial machinery; nothing indicates that there are really servers in those containers or all of this stuff is actually Google's. Now after the second part I believe that it all was for real, after all.

I wonder if Google is playing with us on purpose, releasing the information on April,1. Or Maybe they just don't care a single bit about such things?

Re: This is what a Google server looks like (2009)

#22

Post by acon » Sat, Sep 25, 2010, 2:38 PM UTC

listic wrote: post #21

zwetan wrote: post #17

this video Google container data center tour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRwPSFpLX8I provide even more details on the cooling system etc. and yep that's NOT an april fool

I have read this article when it first appeared on Hacker News: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=542531 and I was in doubt whether to believe it or write it all off as April's Fool joke. The design looks interesting and reasonable, but... who releases serious information on April,1 really?! If they were actually serious, I was sure they would release this a day later or earlier. Now, quite some time later, I read…

Well, gmail was announced on April, 1, with an unheard of 1 Gig of storage, so I think Google likes to do this sort of thing on purpose.

Re: This is what a Google server looks like (2009)

#23

Post by 1SockChuck » Sat, Sep 25, 2010, 2:39 PM UTC

Yep. This is old news. But more recently other companies have also decided to implement on-board batteries on their custom servers, most notably Facebook:

http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/11/27/shoul...

And yes, this story was real, despite the April 1 date. I attended the event, and saw the server. It definitely seemed odd to schedule a technology unveiling on April 1, but Google apparently launched Gmail on April 1 as well.

Re: This is what a Google server looks like (2009)

#24

Post by chopsueyar » Sat, Sep 25, 2010, 3:06 PM UTC

1SockChuck wrote: post #23

Yep. This is old news. But more recently other companies have also decided to implement on-board batteries on their custom servers, most notably Facebook: http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/11/27/shoul... And yes, this story was real, despite the April 1 date. I attended the event, and saw the server. It definitely seemed odd to schedule a technology unveiling on April 1, but Google apparently launched…

Did Facebook license the Google patent?

Re: This is what a Google server looks like (2009)

#25

Post by chopsueyar » Sat, Sep 25, 2010, 3:10 PM UTC

Does anyone know how the Gigabyte mobo outputs 5 volts? Is that a custom hardware module or part of the mobo?

Re: This is what a Google server looks like (2009)

#26

Post by slug » Sat, Sep 25, 2010, 3:24 PM UTC

borism wrote: post #19

ck2 wrote: post #3

Fascinating! That's an off-the-shelf SLA (sealed lead acid) battery like many UPS/alarm systems use, which need replacement at least every 3 years (or much sooner if they are deeply discharged). But I would happily pay $2, even $5 more for that feature on a motherboard.

it seems to be connected directly to PSU?

From the article, the motherboard only requires one 12V input only, instead of the usual array of voltages (+-5, +-12, +3.3, etc). Having charging circuitry to keep the battery operational (trickle charge) and being able to provide power to the motherboard when mains power fails is mostly straightforward and cheaper in this case. Not much different from what you would find on a regular UPS, but removes a few conversion steps - (DC 12V) ->(110/220V AC)-> DC - improving efficiency and reliability.

Re: This is what a Google server looks like (2009)

#27

Post by joezydeco » Sat, Sep 25, 2010, 3:32 PM UTC

1SockChuck wrote: post #23

Yep. This is old news. But more recently other companies have also decided to implement on-board batteries on their custom servers, most notably Facebook: http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/11/27/shoul... And yes, this story was real, despite the April 1 date. I attended the event, and saw the server. It definitely seemed odd to schedule a technology unveiling on April 1, but Google apparently launched…

That's getting kind of sad if we have to flat-out stop using the internet on 4/1 from now on because we can't believe a single page that loads.

Re: This is what a Google server looks like (2009)

#28

Post by wmf » Sat, Sep 25, 2010, 4:30 PM UTC

hzon wrote: post #15

So given the amount of research that Google pump into getting the best components for the job, are we to take it that all their testing has concluded Hitachi hard disks are better than the alternatives? http://labs.google.com/papers/disk_failures.html

Maybe they buy from Hitachi, Seagate, and Western Digital; we don't know.

Re: This is what a Google server looks like (2009)

#29

Post by wmf » Sat, Sep 25, 2010, 4:32 PM UTC

jrockway wrote: post #10

wmf wrote: post #2

Talk about not hacker news; this article is from 2009 and the server is from 2005.

Yeah, totally irrelevant. Today's servers are powered by pixie dust and rainbows instead of batteries and circuit boards. I learned nothing from this article!

I learned from this article the first time it was posted; I have learned nothing further from the following N reposts. If we allow "new to you" articles on the front page it will be filled with old stuff.

Re: This is what a Google server looks like (2009)

#30

Post by acgourley » Sat, Sep 25, 2010, 5:00 PM UTC

"Google has patents on the built-in battery design, "but I think we'd be willing to license them to vendors," Hoelzle said."

Can you patent a device you use as part of your business but don't sell? I don't think you could get away with calling it a business practice, and I don't think you could get away with protecting a patent on a device you never try to market.