Where would we be without the internet? We take for granted the ability to access websites quickly and easily wherever we’d like. Most people seldom consider that the very backbone of this technology, data centers, originated as room sized systems designed to handle data from just one computer. The humble beginnings of data centers that can now handle large streams of data from numerous corporations are hard to believe. Obviously, data centers, along with most modern machinery, have seen considerable changes over time, but the evolution of data centers happened more rapidly and more efficiently than most technology used today.nIn the Beginning: Huge and HotnEarly data centers were room-sized complex machines that required a delicate environment to operate and produced an enormous amount of heat. The first computers were gigantic, and their creation led to the development of a “dedicated” room to contain the computer and its electronic apparatus. The segregation of the computer and its associated components helped organize connections between computers and the data storage system and also enhanced security by limiting access to the computer to those with specified clearance. Initially, the expense, space requirements, and overall complexity of computers with their associated data centers restricted their use to government and large industry uses.nIntroducing the First Data CenternENIAC, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, is considered the world’s first general purpose electronic computer. The ENIAC weighed in at 27 tons, and was approximately 8.5 X 3 X 80 feet, occupying a total of 680 ft2, or approximately the size of a small apartment. The machine was originally developed to compute World War II ballistic firing tables, but was also used to compute calculations necessary for successful creation of the hydrogen bomb. The rapidity with which ENIAC could perform operations stimulated the scientific world to develop innovative new technologies for utilizing the computer’s abilities. These possibilities would not be realized until computers, and data centers, could be reengineered to be more widely available.nDot.com Era: The Birth of the Modern Data Centern nAs computer use became more widespread, client-server computing began to take shape to more adequately manage IT resources. Microcomputers began to be incorporated into “computer rooms”, leading to the creation of the modern data center. With the advent of publicly available access to the internet, the competitive market for smaller, more efficient data centers expanded exponentially. To ensure fast access to the internet and nonstop operability, many companies began building IDCs (internet data centers) to solve the myriad problems big companies were facing with the deployment of large scale websites. The largest data centers use shipping containers composed of at least 1,000 servers to facilitate data center repair. When maintenance or upgrades are required, the entire shipping container is replaced instead of working to replace thousands of servers individually. New technologies and practices were designed to handle the size and the operational requirements of such large-scale applications. These practices eventually resulted in the standardization of data center design, with levels being classified from the simplest Tier 1 to the most complex Tier 4. nData Centers 2.0nCurrently, data centers are used for a variety of functions. Their primary designation isto run the applications that process business and operational data for a variety of businesses. Beneath this broad umbrella, databases can be responsible for offsite backup, file servers, middleware, and various other applications. As the internet has gained popularity, the requirement for every reputable company to maintain their own website has necessitated a more affordable solution to data storage and management.  Private corporations developed strategies to provide data management through managed hosting; managing the data of multiple smaller corporations and therefore allowing costs to be distributed among multiple parties. Working with a reputable hosting company, managing the data centers provides small businesses with the security to protect their information from hackers and the reliability to ensure that it can be accessed at all times.  As the economy has continued to globalize, hosting companies have created networks of data centers across many countries to provide the fastest and most stable data management system possible. nLooking ahead: Green Data CentersnData centers are now much more cost effective for their performance per size than the original room sized versions, but are still extremely expensive. For example, Amazon’s2 116,000 ft data center is expected to cost up to $100 million to construct. With construction costs remaining high, renewed focus is being given to decreasing operating costs.nFrom the beginning, data centers have struggled with the vast amounts of heat produced by the high concentration of electrical components. Although this was previously only a physical consideration for creating boundaries within which the system must operate, and therefore a cost, the onset of global climate change has impacted priorities. Companies are now focused not only on creating cost effective systems that use minimal resources, but also on lowering their emissions. Technology today is more effective at keeping operating temperatures within standards, and technicians have realized data centers can run at higher temperatures than previously thought without a loss in operational integrity.  The realization that data centers are not required to run at freezing temperatures has decreased the amount of energy used to operate them, therefore decreasing energy costs both environmentally and economically.nLED lighting has also significantly reduced energy costs due to the lower amount of electricity required to activate the light element. Finally, as evidenced by the Other World Computing’s (OWC) strategy, renewable energy may soon be used to power data centers. The OWC used a 131 foot tall wind turbine to provide all of the energy for their Woodstock, Illinois facility. The innovative use of sustainable technology, combined with improvements in electronic component production, suggests the possibility of increasingly cost and energy efficient data centers.n nAbout the AuthornEmily McClendon is a sustainable marketing specialist currently working at NeboWeb. She has a B.S. in Applied Biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology and is currently pursuing her M.C.R.P. in Environmental Planning, also at GA Tech. She believes that communication and shared knowledge are the most important facets of conveying environmentally friendly practices. After participating in biological research, inter disciplinary planning, and interactive marketing, she is convinced a comprehensive approach is the only solution for creating a sustainable economy.nContributors Include:n·       Kimm Lincoln: Director, Search Engine Marketing @ NeboWebn·       Chris Allison: SEO and Social Media Specialist @ NeboWebn

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