As Faceboook Lulea powers up, makes sure its neighbors don't put infrastructure at risk

Part of what a big data center company like Google and Microsoft have learned to expect is that neighbors show up after they are the first to build.  Facebook going to Lulea was one of the first data center operators in the area.  And now that there are others looking at Lulea and Facebook is going through commissioning, there are concerns there is enough infrastructure.

NyTeknik reports in Swedish on the local event.

Soon it's time for the commissioning of the first of the giant data centers like Facebook is based in Luleå. Availability of green electricity from hydropower and a stable electricity grid were two of the factors that got Facebook to choose Luleå.

While trying municipality to attract more IT companies and a large computer giant is about to establish itself around Facebook in Porsön in Luleå.

But now reacts Facebook and through its agents Pinnacle Sweden, asked to Luleå further investigate the availability of energy, water and sanitation, the newspaper reported Norrländska Socialdemokraten.

Here is a picture from the same publication.

What's next for GreenM3 to focus on? Thinking 5 years out what will the data center industry be like

I started out in the data center industry working with some smart people who asked some tough questions

1. What is the energy consumption of an application in a data center?
2. What is a way for our company to be a thought leader in the data center industry?
3. How should I apply product lifecycle management principles to the data center?

All these are questions in the past, and I have been getting kind of bored.  I left HP, Apple, and Microsoft because I got bored.  Boredom has bad effects.

Boredom is generally an unpleasant emotion, composed of a lack of stimulation and physiological arousal. Unfortunately, boredom is often associated with the academic setting of attending class and studying. That said, while academic boredom may be present in higher education, do we care?

...

As stated by the authors, “the evidence in our studies suggests that boredom typically impairs attention, motivation, behavioral strategies, and performance in achievement settings. The pervasiveness of the boredom experienced by many students, coupled with its deleterious effects, clearly implies that educators, administrators, and policy makers responsible for the design of academic settings should pay more attention to this emotion.”

Last week another smart data center guy said in response to an e-mail.

It sure is an interesting time....I don't think anyone knows how it will turn out in 5 years.

Yeh, it is impossible to know what data centers will be like in 5 years.  But, then I thought about the question more.  

Five years from the data centers built are going to look different than what is currently industry standard.  So, what is known there will be change.  Who is the most aggressive and innovative?  There is media coverage for some data centers that are not leading others to be innovative.

Data Centers 5 years from now will be greener - more energy efficient and more renewable energy.  The cost of water will most likely grow faster than the cost of power.

There are actually many things that can be reasonably certain will occur 5 years from now.  Of the top data center operators who will be in the top 5 years from now. Who are the new companies?

What I like about thinking 5 years out is it is hard to get bored. :-)

Facebook's Iowa Data Center has three phases over 6 years

Des Moines Register has a review of the 18 month process the City of Altoona went through.  

What seems interesting is a tax issue based on a three limit needed to get changed to six.

Also in March, a roadblock suddenly emerges: VanderZanden emails Durham that state rules prohibit the company from fully benefiting from Altoona’s proposed 20-year tax abatement.

The rules specify that all phases must be built within a three-year project completion window. Facebook plans three phases over six years.

“Iowa should remove as many hurdles as it can to our building the third building in Altoona,” VanderZanden writes in an email.

The issues of renewable energy shows up in the article too.

Durham says Facebook discusses a “wind farm totally dedicated to them” vs. investing in a portfolio of renewable energy.

It’s tricky territory for her. A wind farm would compete with energy Facebook gets from Mid­American, a close partner with the state in encouraging economic development in Iowa.

Eventually the plan is for there to be a 100 employees.

In the parking lot after the announcement, Durham signs the state’s finalized contract with Facebook. The state agrees to provide Facebook with $18 million in tax credits, based on job creation and capital investment.

Within days, Facebook begins filling key positions, says Kirkland, Facebook’s spokesman. State leaders believe permanent jobs will grow to about 100 when all three phases are built.

Party Stress test, 50 people hosted in our house

One thing the data center industry teaches you is stress testing and finding the limits of your design.  I was over a fiends house where 5 of us were having a nice relaxing evening last week and I said we were hosting a dinner party.  How many?  50.  Fifty, not fifteen.  Yes, five zero.

My wife and I designed our house to be a great space to entertain.  we have had about 30 people for our construction crew for a dinner party.  and 20 kids and adults for a soccer pizza party.  Last night we had 50 people over for a going away party for our ski friends from Crystal Mountain Alpine Club (CMAC), Angie and Steve.

We had a 20 x 10 tent in case it rained on the deck.  

 

Here are pictures from the party in a slide show. 

After the party my wife felt 50 was comfortable and we could easily handle 100 guests.  I then told her we don't need to have a party with 100 people to test the limit.  :-)  50 people is a big enough number and know we have head room for a margin of comfort and it is easier on the budget.

Thanks to our good friends Megan and Curtis, the event was catered, staffed, including cleaned up.  My wife is decorating wizard and she picked the flowers and all the rest of the decorating.  My job was to take the pictures.

Chicago's 601 Polk is open for co-location business

DCK has a post on 601 Polk opening its doors for co-location business.

AlteredScale Opens Doors at 601 Polk in Chicago

• By: Jason Verge
  May 17th, 2013

601 West Polk in Chicago is the home of a new data center for AlteredScale. The facility will be managed by Norland Managed Services.

601 West Polk is alive and kicking. The 100 year old structure just west of the Loop in Chicago has been through a lot over the years, including a previous owner passing through bankruptcy. After several millions of dollars worth of renovations. AlteredScale, a provider of mission critical data center solutions, announced this week that it has chosen Norland Managed Services to operate and maintain its data center at 601 West Polk.

But, this opening is not so much news as a milestone in a long process.

First the President of AlteredScale, Kevin Francis is a good friend and we have had many conversations over the past 3 years.  We've had fun at SXSW.  Discussed many changes in the data center industry, and caught up on what's up with our personal lives.  A year and half ago I went into 601 Polk when it was a shell and met many of the people who were working on the project.

About 6 months ago, Kevin said he was looking for options of who could run facility operations at 601 Polk.  There is a short list of who could do the work and you know the list.  Given Kevin is a close friend, I made an introduction to another good friend Norland Managed Services, General Manager North America Steve Manos.  You could view this as a favoritism to take care of your buddies.   Or you could see that good people working together is what the industry needs more of.  This could be the end of the process, but I know I'll be chatting with Kevin again to hear how 601 Polk is running and how Norland is able to work with his co-location environment.  And, I'll be talking to Steve Manos soon (most likely at 7x24 Exchange in Boca) as well, and thinking of more interesting ways to work in the industry.  Steve started data center socials in Chicago and LV, mine is in Santa Clara. We'll see where we go next.

It is a milestone to make the announcement, but it is not really news when I saw the space 1 1/2 years ago, and made the introductions between AlteredScale and Norland 6 months ago.