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Google's Newest Data Center [Pics]

informationweek.com — Massive air-cooling systems rise above two data center buildings, which are so close to The Dalles' dam you can almost hear the water roar. An industrial-strength power grid connects the dam to Google's energy-sucking, heat-spewing Linux servers.

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  • PhazeDK, on 10/10/2007, -10/+3The google domain is spreading beyond the WWW
    • CiXeL, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9you think this is their AI project?
      the rate they are expanding it almost seems like a manhattan project in the works
  • homerj14, on 10/10/2007, -2/+49Looks like a giant heat sink
  • obliviousfool, on 10/10/2007, -4/+30That big black roof? Maybe they could stick some solar panels on that.
    • saifatlast, on 10/10/2007, -3/+9Or paint it white and dramatically reduce their cooling costs.
      • SimonDonkers, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3Black will easily take heat from the sun and heat up. However black will also easier radiate it's heat back into the sky and cool down. I would guess they would generate enough heat that the second flow would be bigger. Besides, outwards radiation happens around the clock while inwards radiation only happens during the day.

        There's a reason lots of electronics and things like adapters are colored black rather then white.
        • saifatlast, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1>> Black will easily take heat from the sun and heat up. However black will also easier radiate it's heat back into the sky and cool down.

          The first part is true, the second is not. Think about it. Black things are black because they absorb a lot of visible light. White things are white because they reflect a lot of light. Also, if the flow of heat out was greater than the flow of heat in, the system would be cooling off, which impossible. Black things will continue to radiate heat longer than white things, because they absorb more heat in the first place. This has lead to a heat island effect in many urban areas.

          What is this inward radiation you speak of? That doesn't make any sense to me.

          Adapters and so on are a totally different story. Those aren't meant to be in the sun, so what would be the point of making them white to reflect the sun's energy?
        • SimonDonkers, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1"A black body is a theoretical object that absorbs 100% of the radiation that hits it. Therefore it reflects no radiation and appears perfectly black.
          (...)
          It is also a perfect emitter of radiation. At a particular temperature the black body would emit the maximum amount of energy possible for that temperature."
          http://www.egglescliffe.org.uk/physics/astronomy/b ...
          (couldn't find a link with a more reputable font quickly)

          A black body will absorb all radiation but black is also the most efficient color for transmitting radiation. If you hold your hand close to black marble in the sun you'll feel the heat radiate from it. You won't feel that as as strongly with white marble at the same temperature.

          I should point out that I'm getting my bachalor degree in physics this year.
  • MtheoryX, on 10/10/2007, -12/+1This CAPTCHA system really blows.
    • byrdgang, on 10/10/2007, -7/+1Tell me about it. I have a problem with it on a regular basis, and many times, you can't even properly read the letters. They could easily create a three letter CAPTCHA system instead of so many letters on a gray background. A computer wouldn't be able to have an easier time going through a three letter system more so than a highly complex group of characters. Even if they have to have so many characters, make it easy to read.
    • jamangold, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Uh, what does this have to do with the article?
    • raptordrew, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5Wait, what CAPTCHA system? I missing something?
      • knowyourrights, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0some people need to enter a captcha EVERY TIME they put a comment in. And some people don't, not sure why, they're probably on Kevin Rose's ***** list or something. Another reason why Kevin is pulling the plug on this foul, buggy, unwieldy, slow, god forsaken, *****, antichrist comment system. And I hope it happens soon, it is by the the worst implementation of ajax I have ever seen. And now I have to type hAYHR...
  • deadlift, on 10/10/2007, -6/+1Its cool. Its Cool. I aint complaining.
  • torched, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7925 cent doritos!? Man Larry Page and Sergey Brin sure are living the good life.
  • Claw787, on 10/10/2007, -0/+22Oh Crap....

    I thought it's a high risk to build 'data-centers' near 'rivers'.

    They're changing rules of the game....
    • m3mn0n, on 10/10/2007, -1/+15Yeah. Any sensitive/valuable data repository shouldn't be THAT close to any major river. But since they did spend millions upon millions, I'm sure they did their homework and took all the precautions necessary to ensure the risk is minimal.
      • sacr3dc0w, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2The Dalles has different elevations, Main Street is closer to the river where as Google's data center is towards the top of the hill. Brave or stupid really, because the winds can at the elevation of their data center can reach 100 MPH if weather permits.
        • lengau, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Great. They can stick turbines on their roof to suck in more power, and they can have wind shafts for cooling.
      • xs650, on 10/10/2007, -4/+4True in flyover country, but in places with non-flat terrain it's not a problem. That data center looks like it's a few hundred feet above the elevation of the river.
        • Abestar, on 10/10/2007, -8/+1Dugg down for using the term 'flyover country', ***** you.
          • knowyourrights, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Nah, don't fight fire with fire, just report the offensive incident like I did. Enough incident reports results in a ban of your digg account.
        • saifatlast, on 10/10/2007, -9/+2Just FYI, I ***** hate you.
        • tdous, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1"It is a term that became somewhat common during the 2000 U.S. presidential election[1] due to the tendency of such states to lean towards George W. Bush."
          And we hate both of you.
        • knowyourrights, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Guys, don't hate, just report the incident as offensive.
    • Petrarch1603, on 10/10/2007, -0/+13well, considering that the river at that point is just past the dam for the electrical plant, the river level is pretty stable.
    • DigDugDigger, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6The Google uses the river like a nuclear power plant, using it to cool the components inside and returning it nice and warm for the Googlefish to enjoy.
      • tdous, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Ok.. put that out and empty your pockets.
  • schestowitz, on 10/10/2007, -11/+3Very disappointing.
  • rxzhang, on 10/10/2007, -17/+2Crazy google logo pics: http://www.rankthehot.com/_pics_crazy_google_logo_pics
  • TeamoSupremo, on 10/10/2007, -3/+27So it takes all that to store my pr0n searches!
  • Synapse84, on 10/10/2007, -3/+29give it a couple more years and google will own a state..... i'll be first to move there.
  • MDrake, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3Massive.
  • KEMIC1, on 10/10/2007, -8/+1googl-EVIL-le!! nice...
  • mlostracco, on 10/10/2007, -1/+65Next. Next. Next. Next. Next....
    • saifatlast, on 10/10/2007, -1/+11Close, more like Next, [SWEAR FOR 30 SECONDS WHILE PICTURE LOADS], NEXT etc.
      • lengau, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Open them all in separate tabs.
      • grumpyrain, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1First page -> View Image Location
        Next -> View Image Location

        Hmmm, interesting I bet I can guess where 3 is, yep.. that's better.
  • Krumm, on 10/10/2007, -0/+30If you're cringing at the fact that they have an air cooled center next to a large source of water, then you may be interested in The Register's recent interview with some data center specialists:
    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/08/24/scc5_rumsey_engineers/
    It's an hour of audio for those that like to listen and do other stuff :)

    Oh, and the pictures are a bit disappointing - I was hoping for at least racks & cables.
  • avonwodahs, on 10/10/2007, -6/+30Is it just me, or does the 'evil' in googEVILle stand out?
  • MasterDwarf, on 10/10/2007, -0/+66Disappointed, I thought there would be pics of the inside too!
    • knowyourrights, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1It's clear none of you have worked in the private sector before. Do you guys really think it would be allowed for pictures to be taken inside? N00bs.
  • Meatshield, on 10/10/2007, -2/+8Can we say "water cooled"?
  • bvanpelt, on 10/10/2007, -5/+2So lame! The heat exchangers are surrounded by visual barriers so the building doesn't look so ugly. These are normally on the top of skyscrapers; look at pictures of NYC. And there's no way the drop in that dam is enough to power turbines...
    • shulkman, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dalles_Dam

      Powerhouse:

      * Length: 2,089 feet (636.7 m)
      * Fourteen 78,000 kilowatt units
      * Eight 85,975 kilowatt units
      * Total capacity: 1,779.8 megawatts
      * Overload capacity: 2,038 MW

      Trust me... I've driven by this dam too many times. It is more than capable of creating plenty of power.
    • vertigoblue, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2from now on i shall call you SOFA KING...
      Your grasp of the inner workings of hydroelectric power is obviously not well founded...
      My grandpa has his house on a river and its powered by just a 12 foot drop, and 3 water jets into a Pelton wheel... The system powers both his house, and his neighbors house.
      the Dalles is a major power source for the northwest.
  • nedbigbyssg, on 10/10/2007, -7/+4Looks more like "hicks"ville to me...
  • ahpro, on 10/10/2007, -5/+1Can somebody please explain this google-linux thing? I still don't get it..
    • knowyourrights, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0You need to be a bit more specific asking your question.
      • zoom1928, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1No kidding! A search for linux and google on Google returned 379,000,000 results. Could be please be more specific?
  • eqtitan, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Does this remind anyone else of that movie AntiTrust?
    • BradMW, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Nothing could ever remind me of that crap fest, including your mention of it. It has been permanently blocked from my memory.
  • flessa, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Thought we where going to get some pictures inside. Oh well.
  • tehtuxpenguin, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0Hmm.. how about this? Google finally in Cairo?
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnadi/11026499/
    • goffy59, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I was hoping this would be a picture of pyramid. Wouldn't that be sweet if they built a clone pyramid but with metal/etc? That would be sick!
      • ikoul, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1It'd be a death trap when the sun heated up the metal.
  • kyote, on 10/10/2007, -1/+17you would think information week could squeeze out some development time to make their photogallery ajaxified so it wouldn't redraw the same damn page over and over again.
  • Rogozhin, on 10/10/2007, -3/+3The Columbia River is a huge magnet for new data center buildouts. I'm working in the Yahoo! center in Wentachee and will be building out the massive center in Quincy WA. Microsoft, Intuit, and Intel (core fabrication plant) are done with 1st phase building.

    Rogo
  • jhumps, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5most annoying ads
  • weebit, on 10/10/2007, -0/+12I wanted to see lots and lots and lots of racks, and cables. All I got was a scenic view the best one was number one cause it had the Googleville sign.
  • hole23, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Air Cooling? Those things on top of the buildings are sixteen 1300 ton cooling towers. They actually cool water not air.
  • CarbonAndroid, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5Google Federal Correction Center. Man, these guys are into everything.
  • Sprules04, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Huh, I drive past The Dalles all the time and I never noticed the building. Next time though I'm going to keep an eye out for it and when I see it I'll giggle like a little girl.
  • tmpoirier, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5I was dissappointed by this article. and what's up with that power-sucking-linux comment? doesn't the HARDWARE make the difference, not the OS? (i know, acpi and all that crap. I just thought that comment was odd.)
  • aldenhg, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2The Dalles is a pretty sunny place for half the year. I wonder why they put in a brand new transformer station to suck juice off the already stressed northwestern Oregon grid and didn't put up a solar array.
  • crash331, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I could post pictures of the inside of a data center, but the consequences aren't worth it.
  • nesibus, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1maybe its just me, but the building looks like something out of Punch Home Design....and added into a photo....the photos look off.

    Then you kinda ask yourself...if someone did fake this....what a stupid thing to waste time on...talk about no life.
  • weedmonk, on 10/10/2007, -3/+0Yawn! Apple Data Centers are much more elegant and beautiful.
    • andrew522, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3If this was microsoft, I could understand the reasoning for that comment, but google and apple have a pretty good relationship. you don't have to pick sides.
    • knowyourrights, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Besides the 'Is weedmonk being offensive? Report it' link after the dugg down, I wish there was a 'Is weedmonk being a dumbass' as well, this way everyone would have a dumbass-o-meter next to their username for safe measure. With all that said, weedmonk you are a dumbass sir.
  • windowsrookie, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3$.25 Doritos!? Count me in!
  • kidal25, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0Are they bigger than microsoft yet?
  • diecastbeatdown, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1google was going to hire me, then i found out i was going to be stationed there and i turned it down. it's in the middle of nowhere. 2 hours from portland, not exactly my dream to live 2 hours from the mecca of coffee.
  • MasterFunk, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Is it just me or does this data center look a lot like the building in the Waco Massacrers?
  • kinerry, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1You should see the Council Bluffs, IA one
  • phanfromcheese, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring
  • lhsonic, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Hey! That's crazy, I was just at Dalles last week. I guess the data center just didn't make the cut for my tour's "places to visit" list. I did go up to Washington's Stonehenge though, it's like a 20 minute drive from the dam.
  • mainomega, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I stopped in for the 25 cent Doritos... it was only the small baggy. Which is sold everywhere for 25 cents. On the plus side, I tried going inside and a big black SUV blocked my path and demanded I turned around... how rude !
  • lex0429, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0i know the data center in council bluffs, IA that is opening in 2 years costs over $500 million. google craps money..this would be way cooler if there were inside pics...a building, with huge AC units on its roof, im the middle of god knows where, whoopdie freakin do
  • pamon, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1tell me the state of oregon isn't loving Google. All that income and revenue coming into the state... geez
  • Sautechef, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4who gives a *****
  • AnnaBay21, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Not impressed
  • xuna, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5That has to be one of the crappiest image-gallery viewers I have seen. I SO expected that switching a photo would NOT refresh the page, so I had to both verticaly scroll down to the main picture AND horizontal scroll to find the next thumbnail (if I didn't wanna use "next").
    This kind of design should be ILLEGAL! :o
    • tundrajack, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Absolutely horrible viewer! And where is the slideshow option?
      InformationWEAK.com
  • bctrainers, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I really hope that they did a check on how often that river floods, and where they located that google building in according to the dams additional spillways...
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