Data Centre "Bits And Bricks" - The Minifigs' Network

Introduction:

Working with IT-stuff throughout daily business I thought there were quite few brick-formed representations of all the stuff (and staff) that keeps the digital world turning. So I mixed up some inspiration from (quite rare) pictures of some big players’ real world data centres and my own live knowledge of some basic components and a great portion of fantasy and “brickifying” efforts. Finally leading to some very exclusive and top secret view on a small portion of what’s going on behind the digital world of the minifigures’ universe.

Details shown – take the tour:

Welcome to sector “F1” of the so far biggest data centre (“Bits and Bricks”) in the minifig cosmos, where some of their best-known online services are hosted and kept alive 24/7. The exact location is kept secret for security reasons, but it is rumoured it can be found somewhere down in Awesome Valley.

Before we take a look around, of course please be ready for the security check and luggage scan (just some standard Brix-Ray 1982 screening device, please show up any PowerFunction devices separately) at the entry point and be aware that we have to collect any phones or recording devices until you leave the area.

Now, arriving inside – first have a look around and be sure to realize the neat clean environment and the efficient structure to keep everything running smoothly and to support fast and efficient actions whenever needed. Yes, you got it right – there are even special team bicycles to provide fast moving from one area to the other, not to mention every area has its own moveable service wagon, providing some tools, the mandatory coffee mug and – if nothing else works – a bootable penguin.

But in the end it is all about the massive computing power and storage possibilities the data centre provides. One of the reasons several great companies chose its services for their business - as you might recognize by the icons on the row of server racks these are quite famous names like:

• Leeglo (helps you finally finding the missing part)
• Brickbook (lets minifigs keep in touch with each other even if they reside in different sets)
• Setter (share up to 140 studs with the whole universe)
• Absle (they created all these new shiny, rounded parts no one really needs, but everyone is keen of because they simply look so beautiful)
• Minisoft (providing the most common base plates used out there for decades now, always releasing a new one every now and then, even if it is just for changing colours) 
• Yuploo (some startup from the early brick ages, missing former glory as most grownups switched to other products, but they are still there)

Heart of the massive computing power are tons of special hot-stackable high performance servers, all mounted in modern and maintenance-friendly 4w-racks (or in other units it is 19” – but 4w is much more technically accurate). Each of them works with industry leading clutch-efficiency and includes very performant hardware, e.g. using only the most modern SSDs (Single Stud Disk) and a CPU (Central Pin Unit) which performs uncounted Terra-FLOPs (Flip Of Pin) four outstanding SNOT-Benchmarks. Admins love this hardware being worry-free and already bricked by factory default, real plug and play just using openstuds SW (no windows required for the build). Note a tiny fun fact regarding the software used: the only command line interface left can be found on the central control terminal (providing the only monitor in the whole centre) – good old GOS (Grille On Studs) is used there.

Of course, such massive power needs quite a bit of cooling efforts, but using the super-easy hot&cold-clip-system and some cold-blue hoses and tubes everything is kept on perfect temperature level at any time.

And, talking about colours, you should have a look at the high performance networking structure and the brickbone switching and routing gazillions of GBit (Gigabricks) every single moment. A clever colouring scheme helps to keep maintenance, security and encryption at a very easy level: just use green for some nice and flexible upstream, have generous downstream using the yellow ones and – if it comes to privacy or security constraints – have a blueish cable encrypt everything. Simple and genius, is it not? There is some other helpful side effect as well – if your connection gets stuck or transfer rate does not meet the expectations, just blow some high pressure air through it and you will find everything back in perfect condition.

Before we finish our tour for some informal discussion and small talk, please not that this data centre of course supports the staff in their personal research and qualification – whenever a team member finds a new helpful answer or trick he wants to share, he may just note it down on the teams knowledge board to share it. Involving the best nerdy graduates from MISB or Studford, the data centres’ team (informal often called “yellow heads”) will solve almost every problem it has to face.

Thank you for taking our little tour – feel free to have some tech talk with the minifig staff, before you leave.

Technical:

The model is designed on a 32x32 base plate and consists of approx. 2.000 parts in total for the setup shown. Especially the repeated tiny hardware builds are quite part consuming, so I left most of the racks on the backside of the array empty.

Up to now the model is a rendered LDD-construction, maybe I'll get the chance to add some real build lateron.

Thank you for viewing and of course - if you like it - for your support! And maybe, if you know someone who might like it as well – feel free to share and spread the word!

And after all some kind of “disclaimer” – please realize and keep in mind: it’s all (the description) just fantasy, satire and fun (and a really cute model made of bricks, of course), nothing more and nothing less.