A Glimpse Inside A Facebook Server Farm

The center was constructed using a "layered replication" model that makes failure almost impossible, even if a regional power system blacks out.
The center was constructed using a "layered replication" model that makes failure almost impossible, even if a regional power system blacks out.Martin Schoeller For TIME
By TIME Staff
The data center holds tens of thousands servers.
The data center holds tens of thousands servers.Martin Schoeller For TIME
These rows of servers are set up to minimize the energy required to keep the data center running.
These rows of servers are set up to minimize the energy required to keep the data center running.Martin Schoeller For TIME
A close up of the servers in two racks.
A close up of the servers in two racks.Martin Schoeller For TIME
The center includes sophisticated coolings systems and back up power supplies.
The center includes sophisticated coolings systems and back up power supplies.Martin Schoeller For TIME
Cables connect servers in the center with each other and the entire facility with the outside world.
Cables connect servers in the center with each other and the entire facility with the outside world.Martin Schoeller For TIME
The center was constructed using a "layered replication" model that makes failure almost impossible, even if a regional power system blacks out.
The center was constructed using a "layered replication" model that makes failure almost impossible, even if a regional power system blacks out.Martin Schoeller For TIME
The facility where photographer Martin Schoeller took these photos is located 25 minutes by car from Facebook's headquarters. The company is currently building a state-of-the-art data center in Prineville, Oregon, among other sites.
The facility is located 25 minutes by car from Facebook's headquarters. Since these photographs were taken, Facebook has built more state-of-the-art facilities.Martin Schoeller For TIME
The servers process updates to Facebook users' pages as quickly as possible, so that a comment or post is live within seconds. Multiply that across 550 million (and counting) users and the power of the data center becomes awesome indeed.
The servers process every update to Facebook users' pages.Martin Schoeller For TIME

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