Microsoft wants datacentres in portable cabins

SOFTWARE GIANT Microsoft is dusting off the idea of selling data centres in portable cabins.

The idea is similar to that being touted by Sun with its Project Blackbox and it is being pushed by Vole's Windows Live Core team leader James Hamilton.

According to the online magazine Datacenterknowledge, Hamilton says that a distributed network of portable data centres were "an idea whose time has come".

It would transforms data centres from static and costly behemoths into inexpensive and portable lightweights.

Using containers means that data centres could be put where bandwidth and power was cheaper, Hamilton notes.

Vole's idea is to no longer build and ship single systems or even racks of systems. Instead, it should ship macro-modules consisting of a thousand or more systems. Each module is built in a 20-foot standard shipping container, configured and delivered as a fully operational module with full power and networking in a ready to run no-service-required package.

All that needs to be done upon delivery is plug it in, connect it to the net and work out how to bring it lots of chilled water to keep it cool.

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