Comments on: Ahoy, Me Mateys! Google Plans a Navy of Data Centers

By: jim

jim — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:45:41 +0000

Calm down? Pretty soon they will know everything about everybody. Good thing they’re not evil, right?

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Web Hosting Coupon Codes — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:52:10 +0000

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By: jim

jim — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:32:29 +0000

“Augustin-Jean Fresnel Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
See the discussion about my eponymously named “Fresnel Zones” here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_zone to understand how optical/radio wave propagation and ‘ground’ effects relate to one another. The principles are the same over the seas, except that your obstructions become waves, passing ships, and even large flocks of birds.

Once you understand these equations you can begin to understand line-of-sight communications.”

Well, Gus, I haven’t done a complete propagation study but I’ve looked at a lot of radar signals in the last 39 years. Seems to me a 7 mile link is not insurmountable. They could probably afford redundant ones. Your best defense against multipath is polarization diversity.

By: Augustin-Jean Fresnel

Augustin-Jean Fresnel — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:59:08 +0000

See the discussion about my eponymously named “Fresnel Zones” here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_zone to understand how optical/radio wave propagation and ‘ground’ effects relate to one another. The principles are the same over the seas, except that your obstructions become waves, passing ships, and even large flocks of birds.

Once you understand these equations you can begin to understand line-of-sight communications.

By: rexmanthe

rexmanthe — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:32:17 +0000

In William Gibson’s Sci-Fi book “Count Zero” (the sequel to the greatest Sci-Fi ever written, Neuromancer), one of the characters it taken to an abandoned oil rig in the north sea. The oil rig was an offshore data centre.

Here is a quote from the book.

“Someone tried to set up a data haven here once,” Conroy said. “International waters. Back then nobody lived in orbit, so it made sense for a few years. . .”

I am thinking that Google might put certain data centres in international waters to bypass a regulatory framework or two.

What do you think?

By: Ruben Zevallos Jr.

Ruben Zevallos Jr. — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:28:08 +0000

It’s a very good idea, when you think for the environment, but who knows, how big G’ll manage those data cross the globe? Imagine if those ships go to international waters? Who’ll be able to request some visit? What country those ships will respond?

By: MGA

MGA — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:38:39 +0000

I have to admit that this is a very innovative idea and i found it applicable.

By: Lachlan

Lachlan — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:05:26 +0000

“Microwave links to the shoreline.”

I am not an expert in microwave technology, but my understanding is that you cannot transmit over large bodies of water as the water reflects the signal.

By: jim

jim — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:46:03 +0000

“..may make sense one day, but not today.. You can’t just drag the fibre with you.”

Microwave links to the shoreline.

“.. Salt water is very corrosive.”

Water to water heat exchangers.

“How will they staff the data centre..”

A 7 mile commute isn’t so bad. Well, you’d have to have lunch in.

Hmmmm, these could be built in a factory and floated into place, rather than “stick built”. And quickly replaced, or moved to more advantageous locations.

By: Lachlan

Lachlan — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:11:50 +0000

This is an interesting idea, and may make sense one day, but not today. How do they plan to deal with connectivity. You could lay fibre on the sea bed, but what if you needed to move the barge due to storms. You can’t just drag the fibre with you.

If they are planning to use the seawater for cooling that will create problems as well. Salt water is very corrosive.

How will they staff the data centre, and what kind of premium on salaries will they need to pay.