IBM is latest to ask: Why not take that data center to go?

Is it really a whole year since IBM unleashed its Project Big Green brainchild on the IT industry, triggering a barrage of like-minded efforts across the high-tech industry?

Well, apparently it is, and the company is using the anniversary to make a push for some of its modular data center technology, like the one squeezed into this container. According to IBM, the new designs can reduce energy consumption by up to 50 percent.

- The Enterprise Modular Data Center, which IBM describes as a "shrinkwrapped" data center that ranges from 5,000 to 20,000 square feet in size. IBM is pitching a company's ability to defer capital expenses and operational costs until it needs to take capacity online. - The Portable Modular Data Center (like in the photo), a self-contained unit that includes all the power and cooling systems. The solution supports technology from multiple vendors and is configured in a rack environment. - The High Density Zone, which can be used to add more capacity into existing data centers.

Here's a link to the full press release, which includes an embedded YouTube video showing the portable data center stuff in action plus other information about some other IBM services that fall under its green umbrella.

By the way, lest I be accused of bias, I want to go on the record with a pointer to Sun's modular data center concept, which has been known as Project Blackbox. Rackable Systems also has been selling a portable data center, which you can read about here and here.