Servers are harder than previously thought, a recent outdoor experiment has proven.
Microsoft has released the results of a test which ran servers in an outside tent for more than a half a year in Seattle, Computer World reports
Employees placed five HP DL585 servers - which had been previously used – in a tent from November 2007 through to June 2008.
The company claims that the servers worked perfectly and did not malfunction at all.
Even with a small amount of rain, fluctuating temperatures and leaves being sucked into the machines' fans the servers proved functional.
The experiment was conducted by principal power and cooling architect, Christian Belady, and facility program manager Sean James.
According to Computer World, Belady, writing in a blog post, said: "While I am not suggesting that this is what the data centre of the future should look like. ... I think this experiment illustrates the opportunities that a less conservative approach to environmental standards might generate."
Intel has also recently completed a ten month study investigating the performance of servers using both traditional air conditioners and dust filters and air economizers.
The company found that the traditional set up was more efficient than the economizers.
News provided by Comms Express, number one for server racks on the net.
Last Updated: 26/09/2008 17:42
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