Amercan Power Conversion and other vendors note that specific localities can have much higher outage rates, either because of building-specific problems or bad weather (lightning strikes in Southeast, for example, or tornadoes in Midwest). In a rolling blackout, power to industrial facilities is often shut down first. New data center managers should check utilities contract to see if data center is subject to such utility disconnects.

A Growing Problem

“Deregulation of power industry has had a real effect on people’s needs to support their systems during shutdowns or to ride through a shutdown,” says Bill Hunt, product line manager for power generation systems group at APC. Despite that, he says, customers typically admit that they’ve considered a backup generator but rejected idea because of design work required.

“A UPS provides clean power, guarding against surges and drops,” says Dan McHugh, project manager at PTS Data Center Solutions. “In order to provide longer-term power, you’d need racks and racks of batteries. A generator allows you to be out two to three days, so you’re not losing money.” PTS is a consulting firm that does design work, construction, or construction management.

Says Hunt, “Our small and medium business customers started to come to us looking for longer runtimes. It used to be seven to 10 minutes, and now they were asking for two hours or more.” A well-designed emergency generator can run for days.

A data center with seven to 12 racks full of equipment needs 20KW to 40KW to stay up. The cost, installed with proper electronics for testing as well as for emergencies, with noise and air pollution controls, is typically $35,000 to $40,000, vendors say?after warning that installation costs can vary enormously.

Vendors say that units up to 20KW, on a concrete ground-level pad, are standard enough in many circumstances to be “ordered on phone,” in Hunt’s words. But anything larger will require some specialized expertise and more careful configuration. Local electrical and HVAC contractors can point data center personnel in right direction.

It is little wonder that data center management worries about cost. But over time, price doesn’t seem as high. “That’s about same as an extra 45 minutes to an hour’s worth of batteries,” says Hunt, “amortized over about 10 years.” As kilowatt requirements rise, generator option gets cheaper by comparison. But site problems, especially lack of space outside building to pour a concrete pad for generator and noise-attenuating enclosure, can inflate cost quickly.

Michael Dauffenbach, industrial sales region manager for Katolight, says generator itself might be only a third or half total cost. “A 15KW gas [typically propane] unit’s list price is about $10,000,” he says, “and diesel is about same.”

Will Microsoft's Incorporation of RSS into its next Windows version (code-name Longhorn) due out in 2006, finally give RSS respect it deserves? What does it really mean for RSS? More importantly, what will it mean to You as a Computer and Internet User?

What Will Microsoft's New RSS Windows Mean To You As A Computer And Internet User?

Nothing and a whole lot!

That's if Microsoft gets it right. First impressions appear to be very promising and all indications show a much more powerful RSS system, neatly integrated into next version of Windows. Could this finally mean 'coming of age' for RSS?

But what does RSS mean to average computer user at this moment in time? Will people get RSS? Does Microsoft have an education project on their hands with RSS?

Not Really!

Does DOS mean anything to you? If you're like 95% of computer users - probably not much. But that doesn't stop us from enjoying our computers and fully benefiting from DOS. Sometimes complete ignorance is bless.

Unless you're a techie and such technical stuff makes your heart skip a beat, knowledge of such material is not really required by end-user. Fortunately, people don't have to understand 'HTML' to enjoy Internet.

Likewise, knowledge of RSS is not important to ordinary computer or Internet user. Microsoft's RSS Longhorn puts RSS where it rightfully belongs, in background, invisible...seamlessly integrated into your computing and web browsing experience.

It will make RSS an integral element of its new operating system which has code-name Longhorn. It will firmly place RSS into heart of your computing experience, enriching and enhancing it in more ways than even Microsoft is probably aware of yet!

RSS stands for 'Really Simple Syndication' and it has long been associated with blogs and blogging because they are written in RSS or XML format - code like HTML. DOS stands for 'Disk Operating System' by way and it's platform for operating systems on your computer. MS-DOS is most widely used system. Ignorance can sometimes be overrated. Microsoft's announcement of its plans to place RSS features into its next Windows version, due out in 2006 and in servers by 2007, is truly groundbreaking . You can read more about Microsoft's RSS plans here: Understanding RSS In The Next Windows.

This takes RSS out of just browsers and RSS readers (called aggregators); and giving it much more powerful applications. Most interesting is a new set of applications - Simple List Extensions - allowing web sites to publish feeds containing lists such as a wish list or top 10 list. Should make David Letterman happy!

All kidding aside, for you, these RSS applications will be very beneficial and rewarding. These applications will make browsing, searching and subscribing to your favorite information or sites a lot more easier. You can now take control of your Internet, viewing and accessing information you want to digest.

It has many personal and business applications that will take 'keeping in touch' to a new level. Calendars, events, updates, personal photo albums...can all now be syndicated with new RSS platform.

What's really important about Microsoft's plans (I believe) is fact that this now makes RSS legit. Lets face it, outside of blogging and a few alert online marketers, RSS is still not understood by most people.

But as stated before, people don't have to understand 'HTML' to enjoy Internet. They don't really have to know about servers, DOS, or even ISPs to get full benefit from web. Likewise, RSS doesn't have to be known or even understood by majority of people who will be using it.

But it's helpful that you do understand for you future of RSS holds many treats and full impact won't really be known for years. Under Creative Commons license, RSS applications could have a far reaching impact on your computing world of future.

The potential of RSS is enormous. It may even pave way for a 'Billion Channel Internet' - where each web site is its own little broadcasting system. An interactive channel that broadcasts audio and video to all interested subscribers.

Microsoft's announcement may just be nucleus of such a system. Many components are already in place like podcasting, broadcatching, data feeds, etc. and its not that great a leap or too fantastical to imagine such a system will exist in very near future.

For RSS changes HOW information is transmitted on web...from a passive role to a more pro-active one. Don't come to us - we will deliver.

RSS is also one of more democratic elements of web where little guy has a say. It was more than fitting that Microsoft's RSS team met with Dave Winer (Mr. RSS to those who keep a close watch on all things RSS) and asked his opinions on these recent developments.