"Google is experimenting with the open-source version of Sun's Solaris operating system as a possible long-term prelude to replacing its massive global network of Linux servers, according to sources. With dozens of data centers worldwide estimated to house hundreds of thousands of Intel servers supporting its flagship search engine, a Google move to OpenSolaris would be another of several recent votes of confidence for the platform."
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Member since:2006-01-12
Do you think Google or any large Data Centre operator buys their hardware off the shelf? If they are doing anywork with Solaris, my bet is that they are buying Sun's AMD servers or their T1 (Niagra) sparc boxes (lower power usage). In which case if their hardware is coming from SUN it's a moot point that solaris doesn't support as much offshelf hardware etc etc.
Member since:2005-07-06
Do you think Google or any large Data Centre operator buys their hardware off the shelf?
Actually, if you've read any articles about Google, you'd know that their internal hardware group is almost as large as Dell, etc. for making servers. Most of their servers in fact, at last check, were sets of motherboards on anti-static pads hooked up to special power supplies with hard drives sitting on a tray in large racks that were wheeled around. Google's reasoning behind this was that they assumed hardware would fail and that it needed to be cheap to replace. Whether or not this has changed, I don't know.
Member since:2006-07-28
Member since:
2005-08-12
Linux has been warking for decade to make sure your of-the-shelf hardware will work with it. This is biggest problem for any OS trying to replace Linux. I am yet to see OS coming anywhere close to Linux when it comes to HW support.