Comments on: The Data Center: Alive and Well http://blog.theplanet.com/2007/05/24/the-data-center-alive-and-well/ Welcome To The Planet's Weblog! Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:31:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Kevin Hazard, Web Hosting Evangelist http://blog.theplanet.com/2007/05/24/the-data-center-alive-and-well/#comment-6954 Kevin Hazard, Web Hosting Evangelist Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:50:55 +0000 http://blog.theplanet.com/2007/05/24/the-data-center-alive-and-well/#comment-6954 Harry, I think you're referring to the generators in the Data Center Tour video, so those would be at our H2 data centers. All of our data centers have equivalent generators/UPS rooms for reserve power. I see that one of your servers was affected by our H1 power outage, so you are likely seeking some kind of explanation that the data center was not prepared with the backup systems in place, but that's not the case. As Doug explained in several of his updates, the outage was caused by an explosion in the conduit linking our electrical room to the transformer outside. The initial explosion resulted in explosions at both the transformer and the transfer switch in the power room. Because the transfer switch controlled which type of power Phase 1 received, we could not power Phase 1 from our N+1 permanent generators (which is why we brought in temporary generators). Phase 2's distribution equipment was not affected by the initial explosion, so we were able to route power from our permanent generators to the data center floor as soon as we were cleared to resume power from the fire department. Harry, I think you’re referring to the generators in the Data Center Tour video, so those would be at our H2 data centers. All of our data centers have equivalent generators/UPS rooms for reserve power.

I see that one of your servers was affected by our H1 power outage, so you are likely seeking some kind of explanation that the data center was not prepared with the backup systems in place, but that’s not the case. As Doug explained in several of his updates, the outage was caused by an explosion in the conduit linking our electrical room to the transformer outside. The initial explosion resulted in explosions at both the transformer and the transfer switch in the power room. Because the transfer switch controlled which type of power Phase 1 received, we could not power Phase 1 from our N+1 permanent generators (which is why we brought in temporary generators).

Phase 2’s distribution equipment was not affected by the initial explosion, so we were able to route power from our permanent generators to the data center floor as soon as we were cleared to resume power from the fire department.

]]> By: Harry http://blog.theplanet.com/2007/05/24/the-data-center-alive-and-well/#comment-6938 Harry Sat, 07 Jun 2008 05:17:10 +0000 http://blog.theplanet.com/2007/05/24/the-data-center-alive-and-well/#comment-6938 Which datacenter has the huge generators shown in your power entrance photos? Do ALL datacenters have equivalent generators and reserve oiwer equipment? Which datacenter has the huge generators shown in your power entrance photos?

Do ALL datacenters have equivalent generators and reserve oiwer equipment?

]]> By: Kevin Hazard, Web Hosting Evangelist http://blog.theplanet.com/2007/05/24/the-data-center-alive-and-well/#comment-6909 Kevin Hazard, Web Hosting Evangelist Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:13:50 +0000 http://blog.theplanet.com/2007/05/24/the-data-center-alive-and-well/#comment-6909 The Planet does not have the biggest data center in the world. We are the largest privately held dedicated server provider, but as some of the other commenters noted, that does not mean we have the largest data center. Our infrastructure includes ~50,000 servers in 6 data centers. Many public companies choose to operate their own data center installations, but these installations are often not positioned to provided dedicated server services to their customers. The Planet does not have the biggest data center in the world. We are the largest privately held dedicated server provider, but as some of the other commenters noted, that does not mean we have the largest data center. Our infrastructure includes ~50,000 servers in 6 data centers. Many public companies choose to operate their own data center installations, but these installations are often not positioned to provided dedicated server services to their customers.

]]> By: jeffatrackaid http://blog.theplanet.com/2007/05/24/the-data-center-alive-and-well/#comment-6904 jeffatrackaid Sun, 01 Jun 2008 19:48:24 +0000 http://blog.theplanet.com/2007/05/24/the-data-center-alive-and-well/#comment-6904 Biggest Datacenter? Depends on how you measure. According to your site, ThePlanet has 155,000 square feet of data center space in six facilities. Though sizable, that is peanuts compared to some other datacenters. Google for example leases 300,000 sqft in the 111 8th Avenue facility alone. Lifetime Television also has a 50,000 square foot data center there. That leaves another 2.5 million sqft. 111 8th Ave is a massive 2.9 million sq. ft facility. Sure many companies use it, but there are some huge single company datacenters inside. I only use about 12 sq ft of it. ;) Digital Reality Trust owns millions of square fee of data center space around he world. Switch and Data also have large amounts of space. There are some truly large facilities out there owned by both public and private companies. Rackspace purchased a 750,000+ sqft mall to put in a datacenter (not sure how much is in use). Banks also have sizable operations. If server count is your thing, Facebook has 10,000 servers: http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2008/Apr/23/facebook_now_running_10000_web_servers.html I've seen some installations with very high server densities. With blades, you can pack as many as 100+ servers into a standard rack. So while ThePlanet is one of the major providers in the SMB/budget dedicated server space, there are plenty of facilities out that are larger, denser and have higher server counts. If you want the scoop on datacenter news check out: http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/ Biggest Datacenter? Depends on how you measure.

According to your site, ThePlanet has 155,000 square feet of data center space in six facilities. Though sizable, that is peanuts compared to some other datacenters.

Google for example leases 300,000 sqft in the 111 8th Avenue facility alone. Lifetime Television also has a 50,000 square foot data center there. That leaves another 2.5 million sqft. 111 8th Ave is a massive 2.9 million sq. ft facility. Sure many companies use it, but there are some huge single company datacenters inside. I only use about 12 sq ft of it. ;)

Digital Reality Trust owns millions of square fee of data center space around he world. Switch and Data also have large amounts of space. There are some truly large facilities out there owned by both public and private companies. Rackspace purchased a 750,000+ sqft mall to put in a datacenter (not sure how much is in use). Banks also have sizable operations.

If server count is your thing, Facebook has 10,000 servers:
http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2008/Apr/23/facebook_now_running_10000_web_servers.html

I’ve seen some installations with very high server densities. With blades, you can pack as many as 100+ servers into a standard rack.

So while ThePlanet is one of the major providers in the SMB/budget dedicated server space, there are plenty of facilities out that are larger, denser and have higher server counts.

If you want the scoop on datacenter news check out:
http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/

]]> By: Britt Lindley http://blog.theplanet.com/2007/05/24/the-data-center-alive-and-well/#comment-1463 Britt Lindley Thu, 31 May 2007 19:02:06 +0000 http://blog.theplanet.com/2007/05/24/the-data-center-alive-and-well/#comment-1463 Har, Biggest data center in the world? That’s actually not a very easy question to answer. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) The Planet does not operate the largest data center in the world; our operation is spread out between 6 different facilities (in two different cities), so that would put us out of the running for the largest single data center, since we don’t consolidate our operations like that. At one time, I believe that CERN claimed to have the largest data center, although I don’t believe they’ve made that claim in a while. They are, however, still the largest physics lab in the world, which is something, I suppose. IBM currently claims to operate world’s largest commercial technology infrastructure, with more than eight million square feet of data centers in six continents. We’re second only to them, and they’re publicly held. So, I think that puts us in that “really big” category, for sure. Har,
Biggest data center in the world? That’s actually not a very easy question to answer. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) The Planet does not operate the largest data center in the world; our operation is spread out between 6 different facilities (in two different cities), so that would put us out of the running for the largest single data center, since we don’t consolidate our operations like that.
At one time, I believe that CERN claimed to have the largest data center, although I don’t believe they’ve made that claim in a while. They are, however, still the largest physics lab in the world, which is something, I suppose.
IBM currently claims to operate world’s largest commercial technology infrastructure, with more than eight million square feet of data centers in six continents. We’re second only to them, and they’re publicly held. So, I think that puts us in that “really big” category, for sure.

]]> By: har http://blog.theplanet.com/2007/05/24/the-data-center-alive-and-well/#comment-1462 har Wed, 30 May 2007 08:18:05 +0000 http://blog.theplanet.com/2007/05/24/the-data-center-alive-and-well/#comment-1462 anyway, is theplanet.com the biggest data center in the world? anyway, is theplanet.com the biggest data center in the world?

]]> By: har http://blog.theplanet.com/2007/05/24/the-data-center-alive-and-well/#comment-1461 har Sat, 26 May 2007 09:04:05 +0000 http://blog.theplanet.com/2007/05/24/the-data-center-alive-and-well/#comment-1461 reading scientific books & journals to relieve from stress? great way!=D reading scientific books & journals to relieve from stress?
great way!=D

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