Cloud Computing: Microsoft Joins Open Compute Project, Shares its Server Designs

Grazed from DataCenter Knowledge. Author: Rich Miller.

In a dramatic move that illustrates how cloud computing has altered the data center landscape, Microsoft is opening up the server and rack designs that power its vast online platforms and sharing them with the world. Microsoft has joined the Open Compute Project and will be contributing specs and designs for the cloud servers that power Bing, Windows Azure and Office 365. The company will discuss its plans tomorrow in the keynote session of the Open Compute Summit in San Jose.

Why would Microsoft, long seen as the standardbearer for proprietary technology, suddenly make such an aggressive move into open hardware? "We came to the conclusion that by sharing these hardware innovations, it will help us accelerate the growth of cloud computing," said Kushagra Vaid, General Manager of Cloud Server Engineering for Microsoft…

"This will directly factor into products for enterprise and private clouds. It’s a virtuous cycle in which we create a consistent experience across all three clouds."…

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