Microsoft's Data Center Evolution

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Serious Server Density: Packed racks of servers in an IT-PAC at the new Microsoft data center in Quincy, Washington (Photo: Microsoft Corp.)

Microsoft has released a video providing an overview of its global cloud computing platform and the data centers that power it. The video begins with a big-picture overview of Microsoft's cloud operations, and how the company's 200 cloud services reach more than a billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 70 countries. The video then provides a closer look at how the company's data center design has evolved from its first "Generation 2" data center in Quincy, Washington and the "Generation 3" container-driven facilities in Chicago and Dublin Ireland. The video closes with the most detailed video yet of the new "Generation 4" site at Quincy, which uses a lightweight structure and next-generation IT-PACs (pre-assembled components).

For more on Microsoft's data center operations, see our Microsoft Channel. For additional video, check out our DCK video archive and the Data Center Videos channel on YouTube.