Google's data centers are guarded by stormtroopers

I believe that is Brute squad. Which probably makes it a reference to The Princess Bride ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v... )

scovetta 13 years ago | |

That reminds me of the recursive elevator sign: http://www.thescrabbled.com/posts/66891-The-Recursive-Escala...

rlt3 13 years ago | |

My favorite is the Android figure with some ear protection on:

http://goo.gl/maps/EzEbs

mbreese 13 years ago | |

Near the "Super Secret Strategic PUE Plan" computer there is a shredder with something left out of it [1]. I'm dying to figure out what it says. The paper is clearly a plant since a) the document wasn't fully shredded and b) the shredder isn't near a power outlet.

[1] http://goo.gl/maps/RQ6pu

arsey 13 years ago | | |

Looks like shipping barcodes to my untrained eye.

anonymouz 13 years ago | |

> "Please keep the door closed... Or I'll call the Bruce Squad" I guess that's an inside joke referring to some security guard called Bruce?

It seems to say "Brute", not "Bruce".

jimm 13 years ago | | |

The Brute Squad is a reference to The Princess Bride.

lvh 13 years ago | |

That, or Monty Python's Bruce sketch :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f_p0CgPeyA

archon 13 years ago | |

"Vending machine raid"

http://goo.gl/maps/OljbS

thewordis 13 years ago | |

The 'sharp edges' sign came from a Fark PhotoShop contest many years ago.

nsoldiac 13 years ago | |

at least the super secret strategic plan is being displayed in chrome :)

gracenotes 13 years ago | | |

The main joke here being that PUE < 1 is impossible by definition, by the way.

lucb1e 13 years ago |

The pranks emphasize how carefully Google narrated each shot on here. Earlier today on HN I saw a link to a Wired article about Google giving us an insight into their datacenter. Although somewhat true, the article is very superficial and hardly mentions any tech details, and the indoor street view very carefully avoids the interesting stuff.

Try going next to a server on the streetview, it'll skip right past where you clicked and only show you close-ups from empty racks or racks without servers. Also I can't see anything about their cooling systems, which you hear a lot about and would be interesting.

Also, don't mention how some things are blurred out, and how there is a huge curtain on one end of the streetview tour. I was honestly disappointed by how little Google told us, compared to the sensational title.

mvgoogler 13 years ago | |

The are a lot more pictures on the "An Inside Look" page of the data-centers page.

Gallery: http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/gallery/#/all Web-Page: http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/inside/

Blog post: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/googles-data-centers-...

mtrimpe 13 years ago |

Did anybody else notice the RoombaMaster error thrown when you have a Flash debug build?

  TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference.
    at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba.controls::ElevatorControl/handleNewConfig()
    at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba.controls::ElevatorControl()
    at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba::RoombaMaster()
    at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba::RoombaModule/constructRoombaMaster()
    at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba::RoombaStub/handleLoadComplete()

If that's an easter egg then they really went deep :)

JohnsonB 13 years ago |

This is cute and all but is essentially a reddit level posting.

burntsushi 13 years ago | |

Same thing for the parent comment.

bostonpete 13 years ago |

Isn't he a little short for a storm trooper?

Bud 13 years ago |

Sorry, but I have to call bullshit on the headline. There is, in fact, only ONE Stormtrooper pictured. Not plural "Stormtroopers". ;)

Vader must have made budget cuts.

pippy 13 years ago |

Google looks like such a cool company to work for. I'm sad I'll never have the skill set to be hired by them.

aeontech 13 years ago | |

Never say never... If you really want to make it, study a subject in depth, show your skills by working on some good projects, open source or not, and you have good chances.

Breakthrough 13 years ago |

While I'm not one to normally say this... That little R2D2 beside the Storm Trooper looks so cute! :)

dageshi 13 years ago |

Someone's going to make a FPS map based on these...

acuozzo 13 years ago | |

I can only pray for an excellent Doom WAD file.

bjorncanute 13 years ago |

I just realized you can use 'w,a,s,d' keys to move around the camera instead of the mouse.

nsoldiac 13 years ago |

glide over to the google kitchen, someone is stealing some food: http://goo.gl/GPQXJ

scovetta 13 years ago |

Found Android! https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=35.898541,-81.5479...

harrylove 13 years ago |

Rickrolled by a noogler. http://goo.gl/maps/2pMoe

MaggieL 13 years ago |

Notice that way down the hall past the stormtrooper is a sign that says "Pharmacy" Wot?

peterwwillis 13 years ago | |

The Pharmacy is where they keep spare parts for servers

sant0sk1 13 years ago |

There's also a small R2-D2 standing next to him. Zoom in if you can't see it.

ChuckMcM 13 years ago |

My favorite Google data center prank was the Oregon one. Next door to where they built it was a window factory, so a sign appeared on the data center fence which read "Voldemort's School of Defenestration"

lockes5hadow 13 years ago |

That's good, if there's a firefight they won't hit anything.

iamdave 13 years ago | |

But in the case of an air attack any exposed exhaust vents will require constant guarding.

pagebrooks 13 years ago |

About 25 employees waving outside of the Data Center: http://goo.gl/maps/cZfN9

laurencita12 13 years ago | |

and cornhole in the background!

Hilyin 13 years ago |

Scooters for gettin around datacenter! Awesome. http://goo.gl/maps/SiBpj

DocFeind 13 years ago |

In this economy, everyone needs a second job

gbeeson 13 years ago |

Very tempted to make the obligatory droid joke at this point. Have thought better of it though.

PaulAJ 13 years ago | |

There is an Android imprisoned elsewhere. Take a step or two back, go through the door on the right and keep going.

mcguire 13 years ago | | |

http://goo.gl/b3ZjG

Bastids. Set my brother free!

And give him a scooter.

alainbryden 13 years ago |

No photographing the server room?

http://goo.gl/maps/1n7jW

TheAmazingIdiot 13 years ago |

So.. guarded by people who die easily and can't shoot straight?

Someone! Call Con SOLO!! Obi's WAN Kenobi died suddenly!

drudru11 13 years ago |

appropriate

biot 13 years ago |

  "If your account is less than a year old, please don't submit comments
   saying that HN is turning into Reddit. (It's a common semi-noob illusion.)"

pg, is it time to update the guidelines? Or at least ask that people read and follow them? This submission and its comments seem to indicate that the illusion is becoming reality. More specifically, there is already a story[0] on Google's datacenter in which one's intellectual curiosity can be gratified. This one is little more than a meme with Google's name on it.

[0] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4663946

TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference. at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba.controls::ElevatorControl/handleNewConfig() at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba.controls::ElevatorControl() at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba::RoombaMaster() at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba::RoombaModule/constructRoombaMaster() at cityblock.flash.flash10.feature.roomba::RoombaStub/handleLoadComplete()