> it costs very > little to create one more Linux image, and you don't have to wait for > someone to bring one from the storage room / warehouse. Note that I'm > assuming Google buys extra hardware in advance, installing it as needed, > rather than waiting until they need it to buy it. If they wait until the > last minute to buy it, then you have to figure in delivery / shipping > costs.
>From what I've observed, Google is similar to most large organizations using lots of distributed boxes. They deploy a standard rack "module" -- network, console management systems, connectivity all built the same way -- that plugs into a hierarchical cabling system. They build and deploy 10-20 racks at a time, then activate the individual systems as they need them. When 70-80% of the systems in a rack module are declared "dead", the rest of the systems in the rack are taken out of the workload rotation and assigned to newer boxes. The old rack modules are then disassembled, and the rack frames are used to build new modules. Repeat as needed. It's a good approach for their kind of workload. -- db ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390
