Data Centers Power a Big Change in Computing (1/2)

The Internet is sometimes described as a cloud -- a big, borderless area of computing power. But this power has to come from somewhere. Data centers are buildings full of servers. These powerful computers store, process and move information. They make the Web work.

"Server farms" contain thousands of machines -- millions in all at data centers worldwide. And there is strong demand for more as a major change takes place in computing. Tasks traditionally done with software stored on a personal computer are now increasingly offered as services on the Internet.

Google Apps, for example, combines e-mail, word processing and other applications. Groups can work together online without the need for special software. Other companies, including Salesforce.com and Microsoft, also offer software as a service.

Rich Miller is editor of Data Center Knowledge. He says the number of data centers has jumped in the last three or four years. But all that computing power takes another kind of power which also has to come from somewhere. Data centers need energy not only to operate their servers but to cool and protect their systems.