[inforoots] Network infrastructure [1 of 2]

[David Hunt]

> Factoids that might be mentioned at the first generation Google
> rack.
> 
> Google has over 500K servers in its search / webserver farms.
> They dissipate over 100 MwH (100K KwH) of power per year at
> a cost of over $10M.  It's enough power for 400K average
> American homes, a city of over 1 million.

I couldn't reverse engineer your figures;

100,000,000 Wh per year, ok, so divide by 8,760 (hours/year)

= 11,415 Wh then divide this by 500,000 to get the Wh rating per box,

= 11,415 / 500,000 = 0.0228 Wh per box...

So I revised the figures;

Say each server uses 280W (inc. air conditioning/PSU/UPS etc.)

There are 500,000 servers on 24/7/365

So 500,000 * .280 = 140,000 kWh

Per day that works out at 24 * 140,000 = 3,360,000 kWh

Then multiply by 365 for the year 3,360,000 * 365 = 1,226,400,000 kWh

A typical household in the UK uses around 20kWh per day, so in a year

20 * 365 = 730 kWh

1,226,400,000 / 730 = 1,680,000 homes - almost all of London's usage!

1,226,400,000 * 0.044 (current price pence Sterling of bulk electricity)

= £53,961,600 probably close to $90M, chicken feed for Google's billions...

No mention of the huge resources being eaten by IT in the mainstream media.
These figures do make you stop and think.

Dave ;)