全球最奇特的六个数据中心

每当大家给朋友的晒娃照点赞或者在网上搜索菜谱时，背后都会发生很多事情。数以千计的强大计算机会把找到的信息更新在你的屏幕上。

虽然放置这些计算机的数据中心很重要，但这些足球场大小的无窗建筑其实并不会让人觉得兴奋。不过，很多公司都把数据中心建在很不寻常的地方，从而给它们增添了一丝神秘。

举例来说，Facebook建在瑞典的数据中心用北冰洋的寒风来防止服务器过热，微软则正在研究怎样修建冷却能耗较低的水下数据中心。

无论怎样，公司都会仔细选择数据中心的位置，考虑到安全性、成本以及是否靠近用户。以下是一些最不寻常的数据中心以及几个建造未来数据中心的创意。

冬季可在冰上垂钓

谷歌设在芬兰哈米纳的数据中心，原为建于20世纪50年代的造纸厂。它的位置正对芬兰湾，因此很容易抽取冰冷的海水来冷却其中的几千台服务器。

瑞士的诺克斯堡

瑞士数据安全管理解决方案提供商SIAG Secure Infostore在瑞士境内、阿尔卑斯山脚下经营着两个数据中心。它们以前是防御工事，被称为瑞士的诺克斯堡，但它们保护的是数据，而非金条。

自带景观的数据中心

这个世界上最高的数据中心共32层，它并非纽约天际线中最漂亮的一幢楼宇。因此，该数据中心的所有者Sabey Data Center Properties翻新了这栋原来叫做Verizon Building的大厦，其中包括装上新的玻璃幕墙，以便让它变得更有吸引力。

数据游艇

初创公司Nautilus Data Technologies正在尝试把驳船开发成水上数据中心。该公司相信这可以为企业节省能耗支出，因为在船上海水唾手可得。Nautilus希望到2018年初自己的试验型水上数据中心能在加州斯托克顿港投入运营。

海面下1万里格

把数据中心建在海里，这种用海水进行冷却的方式颇具未来色彩。2015年，微软把一个可携带的迷你数据中心原型放在加州海岸边30英尺的水下，并且让它在那里呆了100多天。

北极之光

Facebook在瑞典吕勒奥修建了一座数据中心，距北极圈仅70英里（约112公里）。这座巨大建筑用外面一贯冰冷的空气来进行冷却。（财富中文网）

译者：Charlie

审稿：夏林

A lot goes on behind the scenes every time you “like” your friend’s baby photos or

search for recipes. Thousands of powerful computers retrieve and update the information on your screen.

Although important, the windowless, football-field-size buildings that house those computers aren’t exactly exciting. But a number of companies have built data centers in unusual locations, giving them a touch of mystique.

In Sweden, for example, Facebook constructed a data center that uses chilly Arctic wind to prevent the computer servers inside from overheating. Meanwhile, Microsoft is researching how to build underwater data centers that would require less energy to cool.

Whatever the case, companies carefully consider where to open data centers, keeping in mind security, cost, and proximity to their users. Here are some of the most atypical data centers and a couple of out-there ideas for future facilities.

Ice fishing in the winter

Google’s data center in Hamina, Finland, was originally a paper mill built in the 1950s. Its location directly on the Gulf of Finland makes it easy to pump in ice-cold seawater to help cool the thousands of servers inside.

Swiss Fort Knox

Switzerland-based SIAG Secure Infostore operates two data centers under the Swiss Alps. These former military bunkers, referred to as the Swiss Fort Knox, protect digital data instead of gold bullion.

A data center with a view

The world’s tallest data center, all 32 stories of it, isn’t the prettiest tower on New York City’s skyline. So its owner, Sabey Data Center Properties, is giving the former Verizon Building a face-lift, including new glass walls to make it more attractive.

Data yacht

Startup Nautilus Data Technologies is trying to develop a floating data center on a barge that it believes would save companies money on their energy bills by providing easy access to seawater. It hopes to have a version of its experimental design operating at the Port of Stockton, in California, by early 2018.

10,000 leagues under the sea

One futuristic way to chill a data center with seawater is to build the facility in the ocean itself. In 2015, Microsoft came up with a prototype of a portable mini data center that it submerged 30 feet off the California coast for more than 100 days.

Northern lights

Facebook built a data center in Lulea, Sweden, just 70 miles from the Arctic Circle. The usually freezing air outside is used to help cool the massive facility.