Sun Microsystems has developed a ‘data center in a box’ concept that may just alter the business model of computing. Here’s Sun’s Project Blackbox site.
The system is intended for computing projects that need to come to market or to scale up quickly. The datacenter looks like a simple cargo container that can be deployed anywhere. You can take a video tour to see the box inside and out using the box in Sun’s parking lot.
From the NYTimes article:
The expandable computer system, called Project Blackbox, is based on a standard 20-foot shipping container and can be deployed virtually anywhere there is electricity, chilled water and an Internet connection.
The system is planned for commercial availability in the second half of 2007, with prices beginning around $500,000.