Google's servers

[bascule]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10209580-92.html



It's all about cheap...

[bjaming]

Re: Google's servers

April 1, 2009 2:26 PM PDT

hmmm I wonder if this is some kind of silly prank...

[g3k_]

Re: Google's servers

hmmm I wonder if this is some kind of silly prank...

Not so much. Apparently one of Amazon's lead engineers wrote up some impressions in an obscure blog of his:

http://perspectives.mvdirona.com/200...ncySummit.aspx

Though April 1st is a retarded day to release something like this.

[theprez98]

Re: Google's servers

hmmm I wonder if this is some kind of silly prank...

The comments are interesting. Apparently some people just can't believe anything posted on April 1st could be an actual, legitimate news story.

[robosycho]

Re: Google's servers

The server-in-a-box approach is interesting, Also, sticking the power supply out on the front like that is interesting, I'm guessing the power supply fan sucks the air through the whole case, which is interesting, The design is pretty neat, I'm guessing the highest quality thing in there is the power supply, then the memory... Although looking at their server-in-a-box design, its odd, it looks like their power supply is on the opposite side... Also, one of the neat things about it is that the initial design (I don't know that this is still the case) was to just leave dead items on the racks, it was more expensive to hunt them down than just ignore them, at the rate they were adding computers.

[bascule]

Re: Google's servers

Although looking at their server-in-a-box design, its odd, it looks like their power supply is on the opposite side...

Looking at the second picture it appears that the PSUs are in back with all the cables easily accessible in front. I see the battery (likely the #1 component that needs replacing) in the very front of each server, and it can probably be swapped without removing the system at all.

Also, one of the neat things about it is that the initial design (I don't know that this is still the case) was to just leave dead items on the racks, it was more expensive to hunt them down than just ignore them, at the rate they were adding computers.

I don't think that's the case at all anymore. All of the systems have diagnostic lights on the front (so hunting them down becomes a matter of spotting the yellow or red lights) and everything is held down with velcro for easy replacement.

[streaker69]

Re: Google's servers

I don't think that's the case at all anymore. All of the systems have diagnostic lights on the front (so hunting them down becomes a matter of spotting the yellow or red lights) and everything is held down with velcro for easy replacement.

Plus any good management would have something that monitors the systems health, inventory control to tell you where every system is located in the racks and everything labeled correctly so someone without direct knowledge of the system would find it quickly.

I do like the idea of having the onboard battery, but I'm curious as to the charging circuit. Is it under the harddrives?

[Thorn]

Also, sticking the power supply out on the front like that is interesting, I'm guessing the power supply fan sucks the air through the whole case, which is interesting

Looking at the second picture it appears that the PSUs are in back with all the cables easily accessible in front. I see the battery (likely the #1 component that needs replacing) in the very front of each server, and it can probably be swapped without removing the system at all.

Bascule's right. Look at the picture of the data container's interior (sixth down.) The batteries are all facing the into corridor, as are the keyboard, mouse, serial, network and USB ports; although it seems only the network ports are used. Also, note that they don't have cases. They are on open trays in the racks.

I do like the idea of having the onboard battery, but I'm curious as to the charging circuit. Is it under the harddrives?

No, look at the enlarged picture and trace the thick red and black wires from the battery. They run right back to the power supply.

[streaker69]

Re: Google's servers

No, look at the enlarged picture and trace the thick red and black wires from the battery. They run right back to the power supply.

I saw that, and I was thinking that the battery is directly connected to the supply, but that wouldn't be good. You cannot continually charge those types of batteries, they just get hot and fail prematurely. There needs to be some kind of circuit in there to trickle charge them. If you'd just run 12V @ 5A into them, they'd die wouldn't they?

[Thorn]

Re: Google's servers

I saw that, and I was thinking that the battery is directly connected to the supply, but that wouldn't be good. You cannot continually charge those types of batteries, they just get hot and fail prematurely. There needs to be some kind of circuit in there to trickle charge them. If you'd just run 12V @ 5A into them, they'd die wouldn't they?

Probably, but those are special 12V only supplies according to the article. My guess would be that they have something internal that regulates the charging.

[streaker69]

Re: Google's servers

Probably, but those are special 12V only supplies according to the article. My guess would be that they have something internal that regulates the charging.

Another illustration of Google's obsession with efficiency comes through power supply design. Power supplies convert conventional AC (alternating current--what you get from a wall socket) electricity into the DC (direct current--what you get from a battery) electricity, and typical power supplies provide computers with both 5-volt and 12-volt DC power. Google's designs supply only 12-volt power, with the necessary conversions taking place on the motherboard

You mean this?

Their picture of the power supply says otherwise. Input Voltage 200-240VAC 50,60Hz.

So how again are they saving power?

[Thorn]

Re: Google's servers

You mean this?

Their picture of the power supply says otherwise. Input Voltage 200-240VAC 50,60Hz.

So how again are they saving power?

Right, 12VDC only output. They then do further 12VDC to 5VDC reduction on the motherboard. Franky, I'm not sure how much power that saves (I'd think very little), but with the shear number of servers, it may add up.

[TheCotMan]

Re: Google's servers

You mean this?

Their picture of the power supply says otherwise. Input Voltage 200-240VAC 50,60Hz.

So how again are they saving power?

If the amount of watts (power) required to drive the system are equivalent to systems that run at 100-120VAC 50/60 Hz, then the amp draw can be lower because the potential on voltage is higher. Amps X Volts = Watts. If Volts are x2, then amps can be 1/2.

Additionally, there are nice web page that describe how less energy is lost for long runs at 220VAC than 110VAC.
http://www.bsharp.org/physics/transmission
(See Section: " High-Voltage Transmission Lines " and equations associated with that.)

Basic Summary: Amps are current. Current is a measure of number of electrons flowing "through" a wire. Electrons have mass, and when running as current, are in motion. Resistance applies per electron. More electrons mean more loss to resistance because it is applied per electron. If you could somehow put a greater difference in potential energy in the electrons being transmitted, and transmit fewer of them to get the same power (Power = Amps x Volts , P=IV) then loss to resistance could be lower for the total power transmitted at higher voltage. So raise the voltage transmitted, and lower the amps, which lowers impact of resistance, and decreases loss to heat/light/noise.

Additional complications arise when the resistance leads to an increase in temperature in the wire, which can increase the loss due to resistance which changes in many materials with temperature.