Google and Facebook Buy Generic Servers

Michael Ryan Corbin

Article Summary of “Google and Facebook Fly Into Server World’s Bermuda Triangle” by Robert McMillan of Wired.com

Somewhere between Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico exists this imaginary triangle that historically has been the home of multiple conspiracies and mystery. Today the triangle expands its reach beyond cruise ships, airplanes, and battleships to the latest and greatest in server technology.

Robert McMillan of Wired.com (Wired Magazine) is trying to pinpoint where all the missing white-label servers are going. Apparently the large manufacturers like Dell, HP, and IBM by bare-bone server hardware from companies within the triangle from places like Taiwan. (Imagine small sweat shops somewhere with 10 year children building motherboards and integrating video cards.)

The not-so-mysterious thing is large Internet giants like Google and Facebook are expanding their networks by purchasing this white-label servers before they ever become a Dell or HP. They are basically the same thing without the proprietary software and pretty faceplate anyways. Bottom line is they are simply cheaper and without the need for expensive service contracts.

The Bermuda Triangle part is figuring out which giant is buying from which white-label company. Apparently no one can figure it out. I’m starting to think that maybe the lag time I see in facebook and Youtube might be because of these generic servers. Oh well.

Reference:

McMillian, Robert, Google and Facebook Fly Into Server World’s Bermuda Triangle, Wired.com part of Wired Enterprise. November, 16, 2011. Accessed November 16, 2011 from http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2011/11/server-world-bermuda-triangle/