A rendering of MDC Stockholm's inflatable meeting room
(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) –Swedish data center provider MDC Stockholm (www.mdcstockholm.com) is set to debut a pilot project for a new modular data center infrastructure this fall, according to a report by Forbes on Thursday.
Though modular data centers are nothing new, Sun Microsystems, HP and i/o have all made their mark on the space in recent years, MDC hopes to make a more stylish impact with its modular data centers.
This goal is not much of a stretch as MDC Stockholm’s chief executive officer, John Karlung, was behind the design of the bunker data center in Pionen White Mountain, made famous by Wikileaks and its unusual, underground design.
According to Forbes, when the basic building block, a steel module the size of a shipping container, is connected to another it can contain up to 35 racks of servers.
The pieces will then connect to modules that maintain power and cooling.
Aside from the modules, there will be inflatable rooms that expand to hold network control consoles and minimal furniture, Forbes says.
Karlung expects the full set to cost less than $1 million, though specific pricing has not been set yet.
Though the modules are shipped with all the necessary tools for installation, MDC says it installs the unit on site. MDC says standard delivery and installation time is 12 weeks from order.
The MDC module includes backup power (UPS and diesel engine), cooling, prefabricated racks, network cabling, humidity control, fire extinguishing, security and monitoring system.
According to MDC’s website, the modules are normally placed outdoors within a fenced area with detection and alarm systems.
According to Forbes, the server, power and cooling compartments will be built from a steel alloy used in tank armor. Swedish Steel tested the durability by shooting several types of guns at it, Karlung says.
The futuristic design was inspired by space stations, according to Karlung.
“Data centers are always so ugly,” he told Forbes. “We want to change how people see them.”
About Nicole Henderson
Nicole Henderson writes full-time for the Web Host Industry Review where she covers daily news and features online, as well as in print. She has a bachelor of journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto, and has been writing for the WHIR since September 2010. You can find her on Twitter @NicoleHenderson.
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