Facebook Buys Dedicated Data Center, Could Servers Be Far Behind?

fastcompany.com

18 points·fjabre··8 comments

"...could servers be far behind?"

No, they're just going to buy a dedicated data center and rent it out to people. The hell kind of question is that?

FTA: What's more, this move could clear a path for Facebook to design and build its own servers.

The question is about custom servers, it just didn't make it into the title.

Facebook certainly has the expertise to build their own servers: http://www.facebook.com/techtalks#/video/video.php?v=2085616... and they are hiring Hardware Engineers: http://www.linkedin.com/jobs?viewJob=&jobId=822679

Is this a move to improve service, or to reduce costs? Facebook has been fighting for profitability, however reducing their costs would enable them to fight their profitability from both ends. Not only can they strive to increase income, but also decrease costs.

I would be interested to see the designs for an eco-friendly data centre. What type of systems have they deployed that others haven't?

I know Google employs highly efficient AC/DC converters that are far better than the ones that come stock in any old rack server, instead choosing to run DC lines through their facilities. This probably saves them a huge bundle in power costs to boot.

Will this building be a single point of failure? Bad things happens. It's not that bad idea to spread servers around the world.

I'm sure this is just one of many to come. I doubt anyone on their netops team would agree 1 site is suitable.

Yes, can you imagine the chaos the world will be plunged in if Facebook went down.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com