Infrastructure: What is behind the pictures on the Internet

Original author: imgix
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In our blog, we repeatedly touched on issues of data centers and infrastructure of various cloud services (in particular, we talked about the development of our own 1cloud cloud project ). Today we’ll talk about the development of the imgix photo hosting team and their new data center. / photo Robert CC According to the imgix team, the goal of the project is to increase the value of each image on the Internet. This is achieved through fast delivery of content, histogram image processing, color adjustment, a more efficient compression process, compatibility with certain devices and browsers, and much more.






Images have to change depending on the current situation in order to perform their functions in the increasingly heterogeneous environment of the modern Internet. Imgix was created specifically to solve this problem.

The service allows you to dynamically process any image on the Internet and adapt them to current conditions in real time. Of course, to solve this problem requires a huge supply of power and resources.

Experts listthere are several reasons that have influenced the way data centers work and are managed today. The desire of companies to achieve a more flexible and efficient use of resources actually leads to the emergence of a new profession of “architects” - these people manage the infrastructure in such a way as to achieve its greatest effectiveness. When designing and managing data centers, new approaches are used: from DevOps to DCIM .

Today, they are increasingly introducing technologies that can provide greater specific power while reducing the data center footprint. So, imgix infrastructure is based on the principles of rapid deployment at the design stage. Rapid deployment should be understood as the implementation of the underlying infrastructure before its actual implementation, with sufficient flexibility to make changes in the future.

This approach to the design of the data center has its own difficulties: the initial costs may be too high, a small error can lead to negative consequences.

Imgix engineers recommend thinking through their infrastructure in advance, because [in the "combat" conditions] there is always not enough time to adapt to traffic changes. Photo hosting cable infrastructure is built on this principle. Each cable was laid in advance, and the volume of "dark" optical fiber exceeds current requirements three times.


/ photo Atomic Taco CC

Data center companies are trying to increase power density by creating a more compact infrastructure with fewer racks that can accommodate more servers. This allows not only to save the place and resources that were required for its heating and cooling, but also to get rid of unnecessary infrastructure (wires, raised floor, ventilation, etc.)

Instead of the classic busbar trunk, engineers made it possible to use the same option for connecting the power circuit for each server cabinet, which made it possible to install any cabinet at any place and at any time (with only minor restrictions).

Having created the power supply infrastructure in advance, the project team reduced the risks when working with the equipment turned on and reduced the power supply of the new cabinets to the operation of the circuit breaker.

In addition, a system of supporting structures plays an important role in the fast and mobile placement of server cabinets. Engineers installed specially made couplings for fastening bolts in the floor tiles, which allow you to securely attach the cabinet to the floor.

All quick deployment solutions allow imgix to install additional servers, if necessary, and deal with everything that interests service customers. The Apple operating system offers many advantages over other platforms when it comes to image processing, and for the same reasons, many designers prefer it. Some tasks are better accomplished with Linux systems running on traditional server hardware.

The network infrastructure of the data center is logically and physically heterogeneous and has a high degree of reliability. As in the case of server equipment, equipment was selected that was ready for reuse in order to minimize the operating costs incurred by a small project team during equipment operation.

The development of virtualization technologies has led to the active spread of “clouds” - according to Gartner, in 2016, cloud resources will account for a significant part of the spending of all IT budgets. And according to Cisco, by 2018, up to 78% of all workloads will be processed by cloud data centers. Goldman Sachs predicts that the cloud infrastructure market by 2018 will grow by more than 19.5% from 2015, reaching $ 43 billion by the deadline.

PS We try to share not only our own experience working on the service for providing virtual infrastructure 1cloud , but also talk about related areas of knowledge in our blog on Habré. Do not forget to subscribe to updates, friends!

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