Here is the video of Microsoft’s server containers being installed in the new Chicago data center. Below are screen captures from the video. These screen shots are only interesting because we know there are 2,000 + servers in the containers. Otherwise it’s not that interesting if you don’t know what is in it. Which is probably another reason why this is not mass tech media news.
Microsoft Chicago Data Center Container Bay
It’s too bad the Container data center isn’t getting better press.
The problem is directly related to this one blog entry http://blogs.technet.com/msdatacenters/archive/2009/09/28/microsoft-celebrates-chicago-data-center-grand-opening.aspx vs. the Microsoft EMEA web site ttp://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre/pressreleases/DublinDataCentrePR_240909.mspx.
Keep this example in mind if you want good media coverage. Many times I am in the role of a media guy, and hang out with media people. They need help to tell good stories.
BTW, the best quotes I’ve seen are InformationWeek.
Microsoft isn't done pushing this modular approach, says Daniel Costello, director of the company's data center research and engineering. Its researchers are working on ways to deliver air conditioning and heating as modular units as well, since they're a huge part of a data center's fixed equipment costs.
And there's a wide open space in the middle of the Chicago data center, where there are no yellow parking space lines painted. The next generation of modular units won't be shipping containers, Costello says—though he's not yet ready to say what form they will be.
