New Evidence of Apple's Plans for a Second Data Center Building at NC Site

[TimTheEnchanter]

The building appears to be 28 feet tall, on a single level. Could someone who is familiar with data centres explain why that extra height?

Are they racking the electronic bits up two or three levels, and then building open-grid walkways for the technicians to reach the units? Or is there another reason why a data centre needs a cavernous space?

Thanks in advance.

TOP 10 REASONS:
1. Being wary of Steve's temper and not wanting to second guess him, architects designed the building literally when Steve said, "Apple will have more overhead building this data center."

2. In order to have enough clearance to keep "the cloud's" moisture away from sensitive equipment.

3. One word.... iHoverboards!

4. Future data center employees are expected to be unusually tall due to inbreeding and massive magnetic fields generated by "the cloud".

5. Ironically, Jonathan didn't like the "thinness" of the design.

6. It's not really Apple's data center, it's the new Area 51.

7. Employees will only get injured from 28-foot "falls."

8. Tall enough for Steve to park his jet indoors.

9. Optional business model if this one fails: Trampoline Warehouse

10. It's really Disney's AppleWorld! A totally enclosed theme park with virtual skies and sun because nerds are allergic to the outdoors.

 

[deconstruct60]

Why does they need new data center?

1. To be a world class operation should have more than one. One big one means if something happens at that one site you go down. [ they can buy emergency disaster leases that can active from some big diaster recovery firms , but it is better to have two geographically diverse sites up and running. Easier to do drills and if done right cheaper long term. ]

2. They just have growth. More phones/iPads/Macs "contacting the mothership" . They are in 100,000 sq ft now. A decent chance they slightly overflowed that. If they light up 1/3 of new place they can split the workload between the two centers. Perhaps asia/ western US/ South Am for old one and East US /Europe/middle East/Africa for the new one.
Over time would grow other services into new one.

suspect in a 2-3 years they'll do another data center buy or build.

What does they process?

Apple isn't on this list either because they have kept it classified or they are a Teradata customer.

http://www.dbms2.com/2008/09/24/some-of-oracles-largest-data-warehouses/

But you can see Amazon has a 70TB (as of 2008 probably much bigger at this point). Apple has 100 million credit card numbers. probalby 1 billion transactions and has added "advertisement views". Apple probably has at least 100TB of customer store data that needs to be analyzed. The advertising stuff could grow to another 100TB depending upon how popular it gets. Don't need 50,000 sq ft to do that but an example of what back end stuff they do that consumes space.

Or does new iPhones' design requires more calculations?

for facetime Apple is like the old central switchboard in the phone company. While Apple doesn't have to move all the bits associated with the coversation they do have to "connect the calls" ( arrange for the two machines to find each other on the internet. )

Push notifications.... again all trickle through Apple. Data is piped into Apple and then routed to individual iOS devices. Given that there are 80+ million plus of those.... may need a few computers just to do that. Even at a 10,000:1 ratio between iOS device and computer that's 8,000 servers.
that is going to take up a row of rackspace in a even a large data center.

People invent alot of new "Buck Rogers" stuff for Apple to be doing. There are a ton of servers just keeping the current services running for a rapidly expanding device population. Apple doesn't need anything "revolutionary" new to expand their data center usage.

 

[KidIcarus412]

lol, how many trees do they need to clear

Betting per local codes they are requires to relocate most of those trees. They wont just be destroyed.

It's two buildings. They wouldn't have to apply for permits together so thats not a clue for anything.

 

[deconstruct60]

The building is probably low so that they can install containerised servers. This will improve their flexiblity and allow easier repair but it does mean you can't build up as you need overhead cranage to cover the entire floorspace to move the containers.

There is no advantage in making the world's thinnest data center.
It is also low because really don't want a tall building. Structurally you will have to throw significant space at supporting the upper floor. You will also need substantial internal conduits.


You can double stack containers and just need a specialized forklift/truck to more them around inside.

For more details about one of Microsofts mega centers : http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/...ta-centers-io-data-centers-microsoft/#chicago

That 8.5 Million gallon tank is for chiller brine solution. Lots of large data centers collect as much heat during the day and then chilldown the accumlated heat at night when the electricity rates are cheaper. Those two tanks behind the Apple center are in the chiller complex. Not sure if they are brine tanks, but looks like part of the chiller system.

What struck me looking at the pictures was the size of the storage tanks, I can only assume they are diesel tanks for the backup generators but they are massive!!

You'd probably want to bury fuel tanks. ( just like normally do at gas stations and truck stops. ) You don't want to hit thousands of gallons of fuels. That is just a bomb looking for a fuse.

If you look at one of the worlds largest centers....

For more info about the #1 on this top 10 size list: http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/...ters/worlds-largest-data-center-350-e-cermak/

If you look at the 8.5 million gallon tank in the picture that is for a brine (salt water) soution. Many of the largest datacenters collect heat during the day and only try to full remove it in the evening when the electricity rates are usualy much lower. There is also lots of diesel storage that can't see.

Those two tanks behind Apple's center look to be part of the chiller complex. Not 100% sure they are brine tanks but it wouldn't be surprising.
Definately look like part of the chiller complex.


P.S. Cermak is multistory because the building was already there. (and land prices in near downtown Chicago are high. )

 

[twoodcc]

it's probably 500,000 sq ft for both combined. though i would love it for it to be each. either way, i hope they double the size, and bring users more services

 

[deconstruct60]

The building appears to be 28 feet tall, on a single level. Could someone who is familiar with data centres explain why that extra height?

It is not extra height if using it for something.

a. holding/routting hot air. Fiber. chilled water ... whatever.

air: some design use large diameter fans to efficiently push the hot air up. (which it generally wants to do that anyway). Once up there remove it.
Can also temporarily "store" it up there also.

fiber: lots of times folks run wires under raised floors. Somewhat misses the point. You just need to route support through 'space' that isn't used. Don't have to raise the floor if the ceiling is high and routing through a variety of containers. Nobody has to work in an office in this building. You don't "need' standard ceiling heights (unlike when you put a data center or machine room inside of a primarily office building. ) . There is a subsection of the building that probably has offices and cubicles that is more normal. Nobody should be in the machine room unless there is a problem or issue to resolve.


In general, with a very large faciltiy there are lots of services/utilities that you need to move from one side to another. There is lots of stuff to route if have centralized utility infrastructure. Need more than just a 'raised floor' to easily route all that.


b. double stack containers. You can construct a "module" within a building. The outer shell is to keep the rain/snow/elements out. If have open space inside you can put a wider variety of things in. [ Look at the insides of 1-2" thick laptops and 0.5" think laptops. Somewhat same principle. ]

A huge room with standard racks suck from a security audit standpoint (who is messing with which machine) . They also suck when it comes time to "rip out the old" and "install the new". Usually people end up orgaining things into 'pods' anyway. It often makes sense to just make a 'pod' a physicaly entity and just move it around. Just like folks build buildings with "pre-fab" units ... you can do data centers with "pre-fab" pods. Just plug into the network/power/chilled water/etc system of the center and light it up.

Even if don't double stance need higher than normal celing heights to move the around. (will need to lift and carry them around. )

 

[CFreymarc]

i'm shocked

common sense suggests that you build both buildings and only flick the on switch when both are complete and ready to go

You are assuming Apple uses common sense. On that note, building the first structure, getting it going and then building the second is actually more logical. You work out the inevitable bugs and shake down of the first place and avoid those mistakes getting the second one up. This produces a cost savings.

From the inner wall diagrams, I'm quite impressed with the layout. It looks like two levels of security; one for general entry and a second to access mission critical equipment. Also, the employee weapons carry laws are very lax in NC where I expect a few security experts packing heat to make sure no one screws around with such a high value and high profile target of American industrial might.

Bet that both buildings are mirrors of each other down to the track and sector of each hard disk and wire bend in the place. Thus, if one goes down, the other one will keep on going and a response team doesn't sleep for a few days til they bring up the second one.

I would expect this building design to be copied at other places around the world for Apple's infrastructure and eventually featured in one of Steve's keynotes in the next year or two.

 

[k995]

Also, the employee weapons carry laws are very lax in NC where I expect a few security experts packing heat to make sure no one screws around with such a high value and high profile target of American industrial might.

high value? High profile?

Yeah al qaida is already planning, no doubtnext week they will install iSAM batteries.

I doubt it, neither high value not high profile. Just a datacenter for apple , think about it. If this is taken out what will stop fonctioning besides certain people apps/perhaps mail and ,most important no doubt, gamecenter.

 

[str1f3]

I think that Apple's plans are huge. What do I see?

-MobileMe will be free
-iOS devices will backup to the cloud. It only takes 300MB worth of memory which will cost money
-iDisk will gave a Dropbox API

This is Apple's cloud-based solution to the iPad and Air.

 

[alic01]

You'd probably want to bury fuel tanks. ( just like normally do at gas stations and truck stops. ) You don't want to hit thousands of gallons of fuels. That is just a bomb looking for a fuse.

I didnt know they used brine for the chillers, your probably right there i expect that is the function of the tanks.

With regard to the fuel tho, fuel oil (diesel) is non flammable at atmospheric pressure and poses very little risk stored in above ground containers.

The containers can be stacked two high and maneuvered by forklift but then you have to leave a 40' corridor beside each container to allow them to be moved by forklift. If the building was designed with containers in mind then an overhead crane would allow them to be placed closer to each other maximising the usable space. In a building 28' tall they could be stacked two high and still have room to move a container above the stacks.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I think primarily, the new data storage center will be for storing videos for streaming to the Apple TV box, especially if Apple can upgrade the video quality to 1080p. If there is excess capacity, another company that stream videos (can you say Netflix?) might use some of the capacity of the new data center, especially if Apple decides to double the size of the center.

 

[Carniphage]

What would Apple need....

...to set up a new TV network?

A digital, internet-distributed network.

With advertising.

On demand movies.

That sort of thing?

C.

 

[pocket3d]

--deleted--

 

[CFreymarc]

high value? High profile?

Yeah al qaida is already planning, no doubt next week they will install iSAM batteries.

I doubt it, neither high value not high profile. Just a data-center for apple , think about it. If this is taken out what will stop functioning besides certain people apps/perhaps mail and ,most important no doubt, game center.

You really have no concept of modern warfare. Forget the material damage, just the destruction of the facility could generate enough propaganda to make it worth it.

For example, the fiscal impact of the twin towers were recovered in insurance and other redundant facilities. However, the symbolic value of them taken is worth far more to the enemy than the industrial damage.

I'm sure the local good ole boys have been briefed on this and the right eyes are already on the place. Typically places like that just get fighter jets scrambled from the local air bases to handle any incoming. There is no need for dedicated iSAMs. Those puppies have expensive upkeep.

 

[mfq]

I would love to hear comments on my thoughts on all of this

I have posted on my blog my comments on what Apple is up to. I'd love to see replies here or on my post.

http://futureoftv.blogspot.com/2011/04/reed-and-giant-apple.html

Mike