Facebook relying on Intel Xeon processors in Data Center build-out

The social networking website Facebook is building out its data center infrastructure using Intel Corp. processor-based systems and plans to deploy thousands of Intel Xeon processor-based servers over the next year to help accommodate its rapid growth, the two companies announced last week.

Intel will also collaborate with Facebook to determine the best configurations for its server and software using Intel processors, taking into account energy efficiency and performance.

Over the past several months, Facebook tested and benchmarked a number of server platforms and scenario, and ultimately selected the Intel Xeon 5400 series quad-core processors for its round of new deployments that begin in July.

When Facebook was contacted for more information on the systems and processors it has tested, why it chose Intel over AMD and other questions about data center infrastructure plans, it refused comment.

That said, Intel’s press statement had the following quote from Jonathan Heiliger, vice president of technical operations at Facebook; “Intel has demonstrated that the performance of their systems can help Facebook scale our infrastructure and continue to deliver the best experience to users around the world.”

“When you are responsible for providing a fast, high-quality experience to more than 90 million people worldwide, every ounce of efficiency matters,” Heiliger said in the statement.

Also, since Facebook’s applications are mostly built on open source technologies, the companies stated that some of the insights from this collaboration may be contributed back to the open source community, benefiting other companies that use open source technologies.