We all know the need for standards within the data center sphere. But with standards, you also need enforcement and incentives for companies to apply them. Unfortunately, that advances slowly.

Sometimes however, a small but significant step is taken. Take the recent news that SGI is redesigning their ICE Cube container data centers to fit standard servers. You might not immediatly recognise the name, but it is formerly known as Rackable. Yes, the pioneer of container DC's.

Up until now, the company only offered the possibility to install half racks designed by Rackspace for Rackspace Servers. That has come to an end: you can now fit standard servers inside the containers.

The reason SGI did that is simple: they had to. Dell, HP, Sun all allow standard server racks. Up to a point, because no one is willing to sell a container filled up with competing gear. Still, standards are there for a reason, so it seems brute force of the market sometimes does have a positive effect.