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Google's colorful data wonderland

Chiponda Chimbelu October 18, 2012

Google refuses to let people into its data storage facilities, but it's offering a rare insight.

https://p.dw.com/p/16RrE
This undated photo provided by Google shows a Google data center in Douglas County, Ga. (AP Photo/Google, Connie Zhou)
Image: dapd

Several pipes in vibrant colors fill this data center in Douglas County, Georgia. But it's not just about having fun, Google says, it's also about identifying the functions of the pipes. The bright pink pipe transfers water.

This undated photo provided by Google shows a Google technician working on some of the computers in the Dalles, Ore., data center. Google is opening a virtual window into the secretive data centers that serve as its nerve center. The unprecedented peek is being provided through a new website unveiled Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. The site features photos from inside some of the eight data centers that Google Inc. already has running in the U.S., Finland and Belgium. (AP Photo/Google, Connie Zhou)
Image: dapd

The release of more than 50 images of data centers in the US and Europe is unprecendented. The company has been protective of its data storage operations - fearing copycats.

Google is opening a virtual window into the secretive data centers that serve as its nerve center. The unprecedented peek is being provided through a new website unveiled Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. The site features photos from inside some of the eight data centers that Google Inc. already has running in the U.S., Finland and Belgium. (AP Photo/Google, Connie Zhou)
Image: dapd

Everyday, Google's data centers deal with more than three billion searches, and millions of YouTube videos are uploaded to their servers, too.

This undated photo provided by Google shows a Google data center in Hamina, Finland. Google is opening a virtual window into the secretive data centers that serve as its nerve center. The unprecedented peek is being provided through a new website unveiled Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. The site features photos from inside some of the eight data centers that Google Inc. already has running in the U.S., Finland and Belgium. (AP Photo/Google)
Image: dapd

Google plans to build three more data centers: in Hong Kong, Singapore and Chile.

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