Web Servers Getting Naked, For Weight Savings

1sockchuck writes "Cloud computing is causing servers to get naked. HP today announced a 'skinless' server optimized for customers packing thousands of servers into cloud or HPC environments. This follow the lead of SGI/Rackable, which ditched the cover when it introduced bare bones servers for its CloudRack (previously discussed here). HP says the skinless design makes servers far lighter, which is apparently an issue when shipping them by the rackload."

Re:It's about time!

[Anonymous Coward]

wanring: don't mentally image that -- he's the goatse guy :(

Re:Is the Airflow OK?

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

Given the fact that there don't seem to be any fans pictured in the chassis itself, and given that this is targeted at very large scale customers, I'd assume that the use case for these things is "inside a specially designed rack with power and cooling, with that specially designed rack completely full" which would allow the OEM to just validate against that case.

If you just put one of these on a table, it'd probably overheat; but, if you want to do that, HP wants to sell you a pedestal server instead.

This might be a good idea

[selven]

Makes the servers more serviceable, and in a server closet there isn't much that would require a skin to protect against.

Not really new

[chuckymonkey]

Origin 3000 series servers did this a long time ago. The bricks in the system were just fans on the front and a base plate to mount the hardware onto. They were pretty easy to work on in this configuration, you could pull the brick out and replace anything inside within a couple minutes. IRIX on the other hand.........

Re:I've been thinking (and saying) this for a long

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, cardiologists DO stop your heart with a carefully timed defibrillator (or should I say fibrillator). Not the big paddles like you see on the ER shows. First they crack open your chest, then they use these tiny metal paddles, which don't need much juice to do the trick because there's much less resistance.

Annnd my captcha word is Autopsy. How apt!

Re:If it improves performance, why not?

[Anonymous Coward]

Cases (skins to you sonny) do increase cooling by channeling airflow. Without proper channeling moving air is like herding cats.

Re:If it improves performance, why not?

[Anonymous Coward]

RF shielding.