Acer Ships Japan Only Intel Atom based Windows Home Server

March 14, 2009 Dave Ohara

Acer has shipped a Japan only version of Windows Home Server running Intel Atom.

Acer Launches Atom-Powered easyStore H340 NAS

Initially only available in Japan

By Traian Teglet, Technology News Editor

27th of February 2009, 08:22 GMT

Acer, the world’s third leading PC vendor, has just announced a new Atom-based product in Japan, which will not be part of the company’s lineup of Aspire One netbooks. The company has, however, decided to use the low-power Atom processor on one of its latest easyStore H340 series Networked Attached Storage (NAS) products. The NAS comes in two flavors dubbed S1 and S2, each one offering a different storage capacity.

Acer’s NAS has been designed to incorporate Intel’s 1.6GHz Atom 230 processor combined with 1GB of memory and four internal bays. The system is based on the Intel 945GC Express chipset and boasts 5 USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA and one Gigabit Ethernet port, meant to provide the end-user with the necessary connectivity options to back up their large media libraries or important data.
In terms of storage, the new Aspire easyStore H340 can set the user with support for up to 3TB of storage space on the S2 model, while the S1 model is only good for 1TB of storage. The system is packed with Microsoft’s Windows Home Server and is specifically designed to allow home users to easily back up their data, personal photos and videos or music. The NAS is expected to start shipping in Japan on March the 6th with a price tag close to $600 for the S1 model and a whopping $900 for the S2 model. Unfortunately there are no details regarding an upcoming release in other parts of the world, but given the approaching CeBIT show in Hanover, Germany, the PC vendor might be showcasing the new product at the event.
With the launch Acer has basically provided its users with support for storing their personal data in a convenient and easy to use device. It takes advantage of Intel’s low-power Atom processor to ensure the required performance while also keeping the power requirements to a minimum.

AFCOM says CxO’s See the Costs and Greenhouse Gases from Data Centers

March 14, 2009 Dave Ohara

GreenerComputing reports on an AFCOM survey. But, what caught my eye was the paragraph at the end.

"They're saying the data center is important," she explained. "[It also means] the CEO now has to take accountability for what's going on in the data center to be compliant, and to go green."

What that means is that the c-suite is finally realizing that although the data center is critical to operations, it is also a major element of costs and greenhouse gas emissions. All of which points toward more efficient and greener data center technologies, notably virtualization and cloud computing.

Another interesting one is 50/50 split in budget changes.

"The interesting thing is that for the first time in history I see corporate America looking at data centers and recognizing that they can't do day-to-day business without them," Eckhaus said. The survey found that just under half of all data center managers have been asked to cut their budgets for 2009, while the remaining 50-plus percent have not -- in a time when all companies are feeling serious economic stresses, that is a remarkable number, Eckhaus said.

The interest in Green Data Centers keep on growing. :-)

HP’s Green IT Website

March 14, 2009 Dave Ohara

I had a chance to talk to HP’s Jim Ganthier about HP’s adaptive infrastructure solutions for green data centers.

Accelerating adoption of next-generation data center technologies and services

Adaptive Infrastructure

Difficult times create opportunities for agile businesses to seize a stronger competitive advantage. Is your IT infrastructure poised to deliver?

More then ever, IT is expected to help the business take advantage of opportunities that arise in this new economic era by reacting quickly to deliver new services that help drive growth.

With agility and cost management top of mind with CIOs, successful companies are turning to next-generation technologies and services that are easier to buy, quicker to deploy and easier to manage so they can extract maximum return from their IT investments. This is where the HP Adaptive Infrastructure can help.

The HP Adaptive Infrastructure provides an advanced portfolio of products, services and solutions – with clear steps and methodologies – designed to move you toward a next-generation data center. The result is increased agility, lower costs and mitigated risk that, when achieved together, help accelerate business growth.

It’s been a while since I’ve checked out HP’s website, so I went and checked out their latest.

HP’s Green Business Technology Initiative
HP helps you address your green IT needs through energy-efficient solutions for the data center and beyond – where better business outcomes equal better environmental outcomes.

Business success and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. We hear every day from customers who want to save money through more energy-efficient solutions for their data center and broader workplace, or find easier ways to recycle their technology to become more “green.” At HP, we help our customers meet their most demanding technology challenges while at the same time helping them to reduce their environmental impact.

What I found was a comprehensive list of services.

Let us help you

Extend the capacity and life of your data center and/or design next-generation data centers

Increase data center energy efficiency and business continuity

Achieve sustainable employee growth in business services and end-user computing

Strengthen IT’s contribution to your organization’s green business goals and overall brand

Reduce material resource consumption

Support your compliance needs with current and anticipated e-waste disposal and carbon regulations

Better measure, manage, and report your carbon footprint to meet corporate commitments

Data center

Energy Efficiency Services

Dynamic Smart Cooling

HP BladeSystem Thermal Logic

HP Integrity Thermal Logic

Energy-wise Storage

Modular Cooling System

Consolidation

Virtualization

HP Insight Power Manager

Energy and Space Efficiency solutions

Power Management and Protection

Factory Express

Utility rebates

Data Center Services

Critical Facilities Consulting

Critical Facilities Design

Critical Facilities Assurance

Workplace

Halo telepresence and videoconferencing solutions

Business PCs and workstations—Energy-efficient computing

Thin clients

End-User workplace services

HP recycling programs for IT companies

Managed print services

HP mobility and wireless solutions

HP practices

Sustainable computing with HP

Reducing your carbon footprint

HP recycling programs for IT companies

Environmentally responsible standards for HP suppliers

HP’s 25-year commitment to the environment

HP’s Eco site is well done as well.

IBM’s Investment in Water Solutions

March 12, 2009 Dave Ohara

WSJ has an article about IBM’s investment in water solutions.

IBM Dives Into Water Venture

Touting 'Smarter Planet,' Big Blue Pushes Technology to Manage Resources

By WILLIAM M. BULKELEY

International Business Machines Corp. is embarking on a new business venture in which it will help manage water resources, an attempt by the technology giant to further expand its footprint outside traditional computer services.

The new business, which is part of IBM's Big Green Innovations initiative to find markets in carbon management, alternative energy and water management, will design and install systems of sensors and back-end software to monitor water pipes, reservoirs, rivers and harbors, according to Sharon Nunes, who heads the Big Green venture.

IBM has been touting its ability to help create a "smarter planet" by designing systems to monitor physical world activities such as electricity flows and traffic patterns. "There's a lot of stress on water systems around the world. With a limited supply, you'd better be able to manage it," said Ms. Nunes. She estimates that information technology for water management could become a $20 billion market.

I was surprised when I heard IBM executives talking about water solutions 2 years ago.

Why water? There is a lot of money that is going to go into water solutions.

Ms. Nunes said stimulus spending in the U.S. and China is likely to help build the market for water management. She estimated that in the U.S. between $15 billion and $20 billion of the new stimulus package is aimed at water projects.

Google Efficient Data Centers Summit

March 11, 2009 Dave Ohara

Here is a cool event coming up. I’ll be there, and it will be a good place to catch up with many people I’ve interviewed in the past.

I am sure Google is already at capacity, but their event will be available on YouTube.

Please join Google and other members of the IT industry to discuss best practices for building and measuring data center efficiency.

Saving resources such as electricity and water is not just good for the environment, it makes good business sense too. Being "green" reduces operating costs and can keep our industry competitive; it is this economic advantage that makes efficiency truly sustainable. Join us to learn more about how Google builds and designs data centers, and to share your own opinions and ideas.

A video of the summit will be posted to YouTube shortly after the event.
April 1, 2009

Google
Maxwell Tech Talk
1300 Crittenden Lane
Mountain View, CA 94043
View Map
9:00 amRegistration
9:30 amWelcome
Urs Hoelzle, Google
9:45 amStandards from The Green Grid
John Tuccillo, The Green Grid
10:30 amInsights Into Google's PUE
Jimmy Clidaras & Chris Malone, Google
11:15 amWhat's Next for the Data Center Industry
Andrew Fanara, EPA
12:00 pmLunch
1:00 pmBest Practices
James Hamilton, Amazon
1:45 pmGoogle Data Center Video Tour
Jimmy Clidaras & Chris Malone, Google
2:15 pmBest Practices Q&A
Luiz Barroso, Moderator, Google; Ken Brill, Uptime Institute;
James Hamilton, Amazon; Olivier Sanche, eBay
3:00 pmBreak
3:15 pmSustainable Data Centers & Water Management
Joe Kava, Google
4:00 pmWrap-Up
Luiz Barroso, Google

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