Global innovation aimed at reducing carbon footprint of computer servers globally, a Danish initiative.

In an exciting development for the IT industry, a new algorithm has been created that could significantly reduce data center electricity consumption and help servers handle increased traffic without overloading.

Developed by Professor Mikkel Thorup from the University of Copenhagen, alongside colleagues Anders Aamand and Jakob Bæk Tejs Knudsen, the algorithm has already been enthusiastically implemented by tech giants like Vimeo and Google. Vimeo has reported a reduction in bandwidth usage by a factor of eight, demonstrating the algorithm's potential.

The algorithm ensures that clients are distributed as evenly as possible among servers, by moving them around as little as possible, and by retrieving content as locally as possible. This approach provides a scalable solution that doesn't depend on the number of servers involved, addressing the issue of soaring internet traffic.

As internet traffic is projected to triple between 2017 and 2022, with online videos making up 82 percent of all internet traffic by next year, the green transition in IT has become an urgent matter. Computer servers are as taxing on the climate as global air traffic combined, and global data centers consume more than 400 terawatt-hours of electricity annually. This accounts for approximately two percent of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions and currently equals all emissions from global air traffic.

Major IT companies are expected to deploy the algorithm immediately, as it has the potential to reduce the number of server moves required to balance client distribution from X2 to X, even for systems with billions of clients and servers. The algorithm could potentially reduce the number of moves from 100 to 10, making it a significant improvement over the old algorithm.

The research article detailing the new algorithm can be read for free at https://arxiv.org/abs/2104.05093. BARC, the research center where Professor Thorup is head, has positioned Copenhagen as the world's fourth best place in basic research in the design and analysis of algorithms.

The new algorithm addresses the problem of servers becoming overloaded as they receive more requests from clients than they have the capacity to handle. With data center electricity consumption expected to double by 2025, and a single large data center consuming the equivalent of four percent of Denmark's total electricity consumption, this development is timely and promising.

The algorithm is free to use for all, making it an accessible solution for businesses and individuals alike. As we move towards a more sustainable future, this innovative algorithm offers a promising step forward in reducing the carbon footprint of the IT industry.

Global innovation aimed at reducing carbon footprint of computer servers globally, a Danish initiative.