Top 5 Data Center Stories, Week of Feb. 8th

Dell-module-ebay-470

Dell, which has been a major provider of servers and modular data centers to customers like eBay (whose module of Dell gear is pictured above). This week, Dell confirmed plans to go private in a $24 billion buyout led by Silver Lake. (Photo: eBay)

For your weekend reading, here’s a recap of five noteworthy stories that appeared on Data Center Knowledge this past week. Enjoy!

Dell Confirms $24 Billion Buyout Led by Silver Lake - buyout led by Silver Lake Partners and Michael Dell, the tech industry legend who founded the company in his dorm room and built it into a juggernaut. The long-rumored deal comes at a crucial point in the life of the company, which is facing challenges to its core markets for PCs and volume servers, and is seeking to build its own suite of cloud computing services.

The Evolution of Microsoft's Data Center Designs - The dramatic changes in web-scale data center design in recent years can be seen in the evolution of the Internet infrastructure at Microsoft.These photos offer a look at Microsoft’s process as it continued to innovate its design from traditional cabinets to shipping containers to custom modules that can live outdoors, as seen in Microsoft’s newest data center campus in Virginia.

DuPont Fabros Scouting for Acquisitions - Data center developer DuPont Fabros Technology is exploring acquisitions, and in recent months has investigated deals with other providers in both the U.S. and Europe, as well as opportunities to acquire properties, company executives said yesterday. That marks a shift in strategy for DuPont Fabros (DFT), which to date has focused exclusively on building and operating its own data centers.

Facebook Scales Servers with Retooled Chef - Facebook was looking for improved tools to help it manage its growing armada of servers. The team at Opscode was looking for new ways to improve the scalability of its Chef tool for automating infrastructure. The result: Facebook has deployed a new version of Chef that has been rewritten from the ground up to handle the Internet’s toughest scalability challenges.

Bankrupt UK Provider to Customers: Fund Us or We Shut You Off - Struggling UK service provider 2e2 has told its data center customers that they must help fund the cash-strapped company or their services will be shut off.