Dutch internet exchange AMS-IX has managed to reduce power consumption in one of its data centers by 85 percent. Previously, the location used electricity for 185 families. Thanks to the new equipment, there are now as many as 29 houses.
The Amsterdam Internet Exchange, abbreviated as AMS-IX, is one of the most important internet centers in the world. Major internet cables from, for example, the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Scandinavia flock there.
Much international internet traffic ‘travels’ through an internet hub in Amsterdam. Our country is also connected to the worldwide web via AMS-IX. This allows us to visit websites from the United States or, for example, to make a video call to someone in Australia.
To process all that internet traffic, AMS-IX maintains sixteen data centers in and around Amsterdam, which contain so-called switch. This is a large router connected to KPN and Ziggo networks, for example. The switch provides connection to the main international internet cables.
Processing all Dutch and international internet traffic consumes a lot of power. Previously, switches in the AMS-IX Equinix AM5 data center consumed the same power as 185 households.
Energy savings beyond expectations
The switches in the Equinix AM5 data center will be replaced. The new equipment can process more internet traffic, but consumes 85 percent less power. As a result, data center power consumption is now equivalent to about 29 households.
“It’s always difficult to determine in advance what kind of energy savings you can achieve using a new technology,” says AMS-IX CEO Ruben van den Brink. “But this result was beyond expectations.”
The AM5 Equinix data center is the first of sixteen Amsterdam internet exchange locations to have their equipment upgraded. Later this year, switch replacements are planned in two more data centers.
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