Gizmodo: containers

Microsoft's 224,000 Servers Fit Into 112 Containers and Only Take Four People to Set Up

Rosa Golijan — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:00:00 EDT

There are 2,000 in that container. And there are 112 such containers in Microsoft's $500 million Chicago data center. It may seem somewhat ridiculous, but this container-based data center design is absolutely brilliant (and environmentally sustainable to boot).

While we haven't seen Microsoft's newest data center, we hear that it has 700,000 square feet of space, really, really high ceilings, and 40-foot stacks of server-filled containers. Thinking about the stacks may leave me with vertigo, but thinking about the ingenuity of the design leaves me impressed: Microsoft has built something which'll "deliver huge benefits in cost, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability."

All those containers are plug-and-play in a way, complete with corresponding bays, and can be set up by "as few as four employees" in hours. Yes, they've designed it so that moving 60 ton stacks of servers requires only four people. If that's not incredible then let's consider that the place has a huge focus on being energy efficient: Despite the facility having a 30-megawatt power capacity, steps have been taken to make it as economical and sustainable as possible:

[T]he Chicago site employs water-side economization [which takes] advantage of cool outside air to reduce the data center's reliance upon power-hungry chillers to produce chilled water. Air economizers introduce fresh air into the data center, while water-side economizers use cooling towers to remove waste heat.

Basically Microsoft is cutting down energy waste, saving on labor, and being all-around economical. While the modular, server-in-a-box approach might not get the stamp of revolutionary, the way Microsoft is approaching it is something worth paying attention to because it might just be what'll help "meet the demand for cloud computing at scale." [Data Center Knowledge]

Double-Lidded Jar Took Way Too Long To Exist

Mark Wilson — Thu, 15 May 2008 10:20:00 EDT

Why do jars only have one lid? How many mothers have—upon discovering they were running low on peanut butter while readying her three kids from school—smashed the jar against the counter and filled their children's lunches with a deadly mixture of creamed legumes and shrapnel? It's a senseless loss of healthy youth esophagus, and an even more tragic loss of perfectly good eats. In the face of record global food crisis and acid reflux commercials, it looks like the double-lidded jar showed just in time. [Sherwood Forles via DVICE and Yanko]

Softflask Slips a Sip Through a Patdown

Charlie White — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 09:21:55 EDT

As much as we love breasts and ogling them as they support the Winerack that stores booze in a bra, there may not be many gals willing to wear such a thing and let you drink from their tits like that. Cue the Softflask, a pliable container that one of our tipsy tipsters swears by:

Bought this thing for cycling and end up using it to bring hard liquor into concerts. Passes the pat down test every time. Every time i break it out people go nuts.

Useful advice, indeed. This $11 flask may not work when you're going through airport security, but it could be a good way to get a shot or two past a turnstile, letting you spike up that innocent stadium soda. – Charlie White

Product Page [Softflask] Thanks, Brian!

Chinese Take Out Container Containers

Jason Chen — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 16:00:24 EDT

It must be take out week this week, and if you didn't get enough of take out goodness with the Take Out Container lamps, these Take Out Container Containers should satisfy you in the moo goo gai pan. These are ceramic containers that you can actually use to hold stuff. Be it flowers, actual other take out containers, or soy sauce packets, these containers will, er, hold them.

Despite being slightly less classy than the take out lamps, these containers are still neat and really accentuate the fact that you eat Chinese take out way too much. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Wrapables via Cooking Gadgts]

Leakproof Silicone Travel Bottles for Road Warrior Quaffers

Charlie White — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:15:00 EST

If you've ever had liquids or gels leaking into your suitcase, you might be interested in PKOH NYC's Silicone Travel Bottles. Just the right size to sneak under that Homeland Security size limit for deadly liquids, these bulb-shaped containers seal up with a leakproof O-ring.

We're liking their wide mouths, just right for a couple of quick 2-ounce shots of Jack during a mesmerizing coast-to-coast flight. A two-pack of these translucent bottles—one blue and one white—will run you 20 bucks. – Charlie White

Product Page [PKOH NYC, via Cool Hunting]

Biodegradable Containers

rhbaby — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 13:28:20 EST

Its not your mother's TupperWare—these containers break down in compost heaps in about 2 months. Made from corn resin, these sorts of holders are all the rage for cold and warm (less than 110 degrees Fahrenheit) foods and are US made. There is no shortage of container shapes and these are perfect for holding leftovers in the refrigerator or lunchbox. Once you're done, you can throw them away and not stay awake nights feeling guilty about contributing to the land fill.

Biodegadeable Food Containers [via PopGadget]
Product Page [Eco-Products]