OpenCompute

OpenCompute, or Open Compute Project, is an open hardware initiative that promotes transparent sharing of data center designs to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Initiated by Facebook in 2011, it focuses on open specifications and reference designs for servers, storage, and networking equipment used in large-scale data centers. The project aims to accelerate innovation by enabling reusable architectures rather than proprietary, vendor-specific solutions.

A formal governance structure coordinates development, standardizes interfaces, and organizes collaborative working groups. What began as an internal project evolved into a community-driven effort that includes multiple technology companies and researchers. Designs and documentation are published openly on the project platform, allowing organizations to implement, modify, or extend the architectures and contribute improvements.

Key outputs include open rack and chassis specifications, power and cooling architectures, and reference designs for servers, storage, and networking gear. The Open Rack standard, for example, defines common interfaces to enable interoperability across hardware built to OCP designs. The emphasis is on efficiency, modularity, scalability, and cost-effective operation in hyperscale environments.

Open Compute has influenced vendor offerings and data center procurement by providing a transparent baseline for performance and energy use. It fosters collaboration among cloud providers, hardware manufacturers, and researchers, with events and plug-fests that review designs and promote iteration. Adoption varies by organization, and the project continues to evolve to address emerging workloads and edge deployments.