Where the internet lives : behind the scenes at google's data centers

Ever wondered what happens when you press Google’s “search” button ? Color coded cables to designate routes, can speed up identification, separation and patching tasks. Each server rack has four switches, connected by a different colored cable. These colors are kept the same throughout the data center to know which one to replace in case of failure.

Behind the server aisle, hundreds of fans funnel hot air from the server racks into a cooling unit to be recirculated. The green lights are the server status LEDs reflecting from the front of the servers. Heat is dissipated via water circulation and cooling. A massive net work of pipes and fittings make that possible, again color coded to facilitate identification.

Plastic curtains hang in a network room inside the council bluffs data center. Here, cold air is served through the floor, and the clear plastic barriers help keep the cold air in while keeping hot air out. Server floors require massive space and efficient power to run the full family of google products for the world. Blue lights like these mean everything is functioning properly on the server floor.

By choosing to renovate an old paper mill in hamina, finland to take advantage of the building's infrastructure as well as its proximity to the gulf of finland's cooling waters. This is one of the locations, with numerous others around the world. For more info and photos go here.