Microsoft Plans Data Center in Siberia

miller60 writes "Microsoft has announced plans to build a data center in Siberia. The facility near the city of Irkutsk will be able to hold 10,000 servers. Officials in Microsoft's Russian business unit said the region had a stable power supply, and will be able to support a 50 megawatt utility feed. The average winter temperature is below zero in Irkutsk (which is perhaps best known to gamers as a territory in Risk). Microsoft recently announced huge data center projects in Chicago and Dublin, Ireland, and is clearly ramping up its worldwide infrastructure platform as it competes with Google." No doubt this will save a fortune on cooling costs- they can just crack a window.

Interesting

[Panaqqa]

I guess Ballmer's not satisfied anymore with throwing chairs at people. He's decided to add Siberian exile to the mix.

In Soviet Russia...

[OhHellWithIt]

... data center cools you.

This is where Google defectors will go...

[Anonymous Coward]

"So Bob, we hear you're thinking about taking a job with Google. That's great. But, we'd like to make you an offer to stay. Just put this blindfold on, and we'll take you on a short plane ride to your new office. We believe you'll end up staying the rest of your life."

Crack a window?

[pegr]

I thought Windows was already cracked.... /oblig. Sorry, somebody had to say it...

Meh

[JoeCommodore]

Anyone who knows would start building up their data centers in Australia as you can get the whole area and it's an easily defensible region which will increase your build stats. Then wait till after the other data centers fight it out in Asia and Europe you move in and take over.

Exile?

[kimvette]

Is that where Microsoft is sending employees who run Linux at home now?

Silly SlipperHat!

[mattgreen]

How else can we be obsessed with Microsoft if we don't scrutinize every little thing they do? (You obviously have never had a restraining order issued against you.) With every move they make we can lean back in our cheap OfficeMax chairs and scoff at them. "Fools!" we'd say. "This is yet another sign of their impending failure! My year of experience reading articles on Slashdot qualifies me to make this seemingly absurd statement!" Meanwhile we can whisk away petty things like 'reality' and 'logic' so we can make more tired in-jokes that will earn us beloved moderator points so we can feel validated.

Re:Save money

[Entropius]

You, however, are Canadians, and fairly smart.

It's only a short step from Vancouver to Washington, but -- trust me -- the monkeys in Redmond aren't as bright.

Honestly

[TheSpoom]

I know you guys are hopeful but I really doubt Microsoft will open Windows.

Re:But, it's just for Microsoft.

[flyingfsck]

The night life is great. Once it started, the midnight party carry on for 6 months...

Relative humidity?

[The Second Horseman]

Wonder what they're going to do to humidify the air. I'd bet it would easily get below 10% RH if they don't do something. A lot of equipment is rated for 10% to 90% these days, but I'd want it over 20%.

Maybe they can use the exhaled breath of a herd of yaks to raise the humidity level. Oh, wait, no, you wouldn't actually get any LEED points for that.

Re:An honest question.

[greenguy]

and welcome our Siberian overlords.

In Soviet Russia, Siberian overlords welcome you!

Re:Interesting

[Hognoxious]

Are they going to call it the gulagplex [wikipedia.org]?

Re:Interesting

[rice_burners_suck]

Google is a MUCH BETTER company than Microsoft.

Microsoft is inferior to Google.

Google is superior to Microsoft.

Microsoft is not as good as Google.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Bam! Crash!
/me ducks to avoid flying chairs.

It's a big risk, but...

[monkeyboythom]

From Irkutsk you can strike Mongolia, Kamchatka, Siberia, or Yakutsk.

Personally, I found holding all of Australia was the key to taking Asia.

Re:Save money

[Baddas]

It's somewhat offset by the fact that Vancouver has better weed.