Calgary Openings, Closings, and Developments

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

This is our biggest issue as latency to Toronto Canada Central MS Azure is too high and Oracle doesn't like this. There is a connection hub in Vancouver but it's not the same as a datacenter region.

Regarding staffing, that is a good point, as I don't know how many support staff this will actually mean for local employment. I recall from the Facebook outage this year, their datacenters were almost empty of staff because of Covid and they had to physically bust down the stores to fix their routers.

I'm guessing they've already explored ExpressRoute as an option?

The staffing thing can be good or bad. Remote means you can hire talent where ever it exists, though typically within the country as you'll have headcount in that specific subsidiary. So you could live in Calgary or at your cabin near Lake Louise for all it matters, as long as you have solid connectivity and can fulfill the requirements of the role.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/co...-4b-investment

Amazon is putting their western Canada AWS region datacenter in Calgary. This is big news for the local economy and tech future. Even Microsoft's major regional datacenters are Toronto and Montreal and nothing out west. $4 Billion investment and 900 jobs.

From the article:

"Initial ground-breaking work has already begun on the local data centres. Senior AWS officials expect the new region in Western Canada to launch in late 2023 or early 2024."

Unclear if that means ground-breaking on the Calgary centre? If so then there should be some indication of where it actually is? Maybe the article is just poorly worded (or I am a poor reader)

[Shazam]

This is EXCELLENT news!!!

Guys, a region isn't one datacenter - it's multiple. Azure Toronto is something like 14 different physical detacenters.

They should start out with six at a minimum. I figure two downtown since the DCD has excellent connectivity and two physical power substations.

They do employ lots of people because they are constantly adding, upgrading and repairing infrastructure.

Also after the FB debacle ain't no one not having at least two people on-site at all times.

[topfiverecords]

[Shazam]

I read the article, they're working on three right now. Yippee! Another three should started soon too.

Amazing news. I've been harping on Amazon and Microsoft to set up here for years since Toronto/Montreal/Vancouver are terrible places to have datacenters.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

I'm guessing they've already explored ExpressRoute as an option?

ER is extremely expensive. Last time I looked it was $2K/month on a 5 year term for a dedicated non-redundant 1gig connection. They literally lay a new line for you.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Shazam

This is EXCELLENT news!!!

Guys, a region isn't one datacenter - it's multiple. Azure Toronto is something like 14 different physical detacenters.

They should start out with six at a minimum. I figure two downtown since the DCD has excellent connectivity and two physical power substations.

They do employ lots of people because they are constantly adding, upgrading and repairing infrastructure.

Also after the FB debacle ain't no one not having at least two people on-site at all times.

3 , with a new one to begin construction shortly to replace the oldest substation. But all in all this is great news!

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Knowing Amazon, they will probably buy cheap land on the edges of town for the datacenter and they are getting all their power from solar windfarms in Southern Alberta from what I hear.

Oh I meant that for other head offices.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Shazam

ER is extremely expensive. Last time I looked it was $2K/month on a 5 year term for a dedicated non-redundant 1gig connection. They literally lay a new line for you.

Did you miss the part where he mentioned they're using Oracle? Cost is relative.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Did you miss the part where he mentioned they're using Oracle? Cost is relative.

Isn't Oracle cheaper than SAP?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

Isn't Oracle cheaper than SAP?

Isn't a trepanation better than a lobotomy?

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Isn't a trepanation better than a lobotomy?

I'm not sure why I found this so funny, but my wife had to ask me what I was giggling about.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Shazam

This is EXCELLENT news!!!

Guys, a region isn't one datacenter - it's multiple. Azure Toronto is something like 14 different physical datacenters.

They should start out with six at a minimum. I figure two downtown since the DCD has excellent connectivity and two physical power substations.

They do employ lots of people because they are constantly adding, upgrading and repairing infrastructure.

Also after the FB debacle ain't no one not having at least two people on-site at all times.

ExpressRoute can't get around latency as that is limited by physics such as the speed of light inside the fiber.

I'm going to fork this off into it's own thread as it seems like it's something us nerds want to talk about and it's also exciting news for Calgary!

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Decathlon is now open in Southcentre Mall on the 2nd floor of the old Sears.

It was swamped over the weekend. Like a French MEC where everything is an in-house brand sourced cheaply and no-frills Ikea style and half the price of your typical sports store.

There is some robotic fullfilment center thing going on as well as basketball, squash courts, and I heard climbing wall but I did not see it.

There was everything from cycling (wow they have bikes and parts in stock - no name brands) to golf to hiking to home gym to tennis to hunting to equestrian (seriously there's a huge horse section), etc.

Went there to check it out last weekend. Very odd store. No recognizable brands anywhere. Most gear looked very entry level. Felt a bit like a walmart. Hope they make a go but I dont think I will be heading there often at all.

[marsplasticeraser]

Originally Posted by greyshep

Went there to check it out last weekend. Very odd store. No recognizable brands anywhere. Most gear looked very entry level. Felt a bit like a walmart. Hope they make a go but I dont think I will be heading there often at all.

You've nailed it. I felt Decathalon is good if you're going to a festival and need a tent, but not great if you're going to hte Alps and need a tent.

My feel is that the cost per use (like almost all cheap gear) ends up being the same as buying quality gear, so savings are illusionary.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Originally Posted by marsplasticeraser

You've nailed it. I felt Decathalon is good if you're going to a festival and need a tent, but not great if you're going to hte Alps and need a tent.

My feel is that the cost per use (like almost all cheap gear) ends up being the same as buying quality gear, so savings are illusionary.

Being poor is expensive yo

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by marsplasticeraser

You've nailed it. I felt Decathalon is good if you're going to a festival and need a tent, but not great if you're going to hte Alps and need a tent.

My feel is that the cost per use (like almost all cheap gear) ends up being the same as buying quality gear, so savings are illusionary.

Mountain Warehouse in Market Mall is the same. No brand names, but cheap prices.

I have my doubts about their success in Calgary. This town likes its brand names.

[Bill Bumface]

Just what the world needs, more #### that will get thrown away after a few uses.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

ExpressRoute can't get around latency as that is limited by physics such as the speed of light inside the fiber.

Just to touch upon this, it can if you are removing enough extra hops between you and the destination by using a more direct connection. But you'd have to know if it was a significant enough reduction to solve the latency issues and justify the cost.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

Just what the world needs, more #### that will get thrown away after a few uses.

Yup. May as well just buy a tent at Wal-Mart.