Microsoft Will Build Huge Container Data Center in Virginia | Hacker News Reader

Microsoft Will Build Huge Container Data Center in Virginia

datacenterknowledge.com

9 points1SockChuck7 comments

Open articleView on HN

This reminded me of a story I saw a while back about Google patenting a modular datacenter structure:

http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/06/18/googl...

I wonder how similar these designs are

Open to the air, in VA. I wonder if they realize we get hit by hurricanes on a semi-regular basis?

I'd love to know where/how the fiber to connect it is coming from out there in the middle of nowhereville.

Shipping containers are made to stand up to the rigors of sea travel so I guess they're confident they can withstand storms. Still it's a ballsy move and I'd think the exposure to the elements would be a net negative, even factoring in heat dissipation through the air with natural wind, etc.

The problem with hurricanes isn't going to be the wind and water (hopefully they've accounted for flooding). It's going to be the trees and other debris flying through the air at 100+mph. Without concrete to absorb/mitigate that damage, I'd hate to see what happens :)

Also, it sort of shows their hand on size - you can just fly over and tell exactly how extensive their installation is. No hidden cages/etc. It's a very interesting choice, and I'd love to know what inspired it.

The state of Virginia has actually used money from its tobacco settlement to fund the development of a broadband network in the southern part of the state. That was a key piece of the deal, as there's lots of power and water infrastructure in that area from old factories. Here's more details:

http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/08/27/micro...

Hmm, Culpeper and Richmond are only 'Southern Virginia' compared to Arlington/Mclean/NCR area.

Microsoft's project is WAY out in the middle of nowhere, right near the Carolina border, but conveniently, nowhere near Hampton Roads (Norfolk/Virginia Beach area), where this is actually a sizable population (where I live).

I guess there's probably a sizable fiber bundle down I-85, and they're simply peeling off of that. The only other real fiber deployment in South Eastern VA is the Lambda Rail and DoD leased fiber going to Norfolk Naval Station.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com