Have you
ever heard about Ubuntu? Ubuntu is a Debian-based Linux operating system
and distribution for personal computers, smartphones and network servers. It is
based on free software, named after the Southern African philosophy of ubuntu
(literally, "human kindness"). The development of Ubuntu is led by
UK-based Canonical Ltd., a company owned by South African entrepreneur Mark
Shuttleworth. Why this sudden interest in Ubuntu? Because Canonical has
launched the smallest data center ever built which can fit into a suitcase: the Orange Box!
Movable, liftable, this data center can be used in special
locations like helicopters, or submarines. Basically you can take it wherever you go.
This device was especially built to be implemented in locations where a
computer power is locally needed but cannot be guaranteed (War zones, disaster
zones to analyze seismic waves for instance, remote locations like the Antarctic).
But how is it a data center?
First things
first: what is a data center? A data center is simply a warehouse, full of thousands
of interconnected computers (servers) on which we can run jobs, tasks or make
requests. The Orange Box replicates this environment in a smaller scale: 10 independent processors that could be used without connectivity to any network,
all aside attached on one side of the box and cooled by the cooling system
built on the other side. The most amazing fact about this Orange Box is its
price: (DO NOT JUMP OFF YOUR CHAIR!)
$10,000!
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