Nabeel Mahmood returns to the OCP Global Summit — and the OCP Podcast — with momentum, mission, and a message. In this follow-up conversation with host Rob Coyle, Nabeel shares the growth of Nomad Futurist’s education efforts, bringing students and new voices to the forefront of the data center ecosystem.
The episode dives deep into why building the future of infrastructure starts with people, access, and understanding. From debunking misconceptions about data centers to spotlighting programs supporting students in underserved regions, Rob and Nabeel explore the true meaning of open innovation and industry responsibility.
Key Themes:
The importance of global education in tech
Empowering communities to understand digital infrastructure
Social responsibility in the data center industry
Bridging policy, power, and people through open knowledge
Nomad Futurist’s collaboration with OCP
Evolving power architectures and AI-driven infrastructure
The 1% concept: How small contributions make big impact
Chapter Markers:
00:00 – The Barrier of Access
00:45 – Global Student Sponsorships
02:00 – Why Community Literacy Matters
03:10 – Debunking Myths About Data Centers
05:00 – Responsible Progress
07:15 – Education as Industry Defense
08:00 – Scaling the Mission Globally
10:00 – Infrastructure Evolution & Opportunities
As the Open Compute Project continues to grow and diversify, our role is more than managing projects, it’s fostering an experience that helps members thrive across technical and business goals.
The focus of OCP remains open participation and collaboration. But with the investment our members make, they also need to see outcomes. This has never been more important than with the new requirements in the hardware ecosystems and the rush to support AI workloads.
Our Community grows through the strength of our member’s contributions, our knowledge sharing through events, webinars and virtual workshops, and the opportunity to shape the future of computational infrastructure through open standardization.
Though each of these programs can be great, the value is not in just selecting one, it's in the journey for our members, provided by the framework for a thriving open community.
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#OpenComputeProject #OCP #InfrastructureInnovation #OpenHardware #DataCenters #TechLeadership #Podcast
In this special episode of the Open Compute Project Podcast, host Roby Coyle sits down with Bill Carter, Fellow Emeritus and former CTO of the OCP Foundation, for a deep and personal conversation spanning the entire history of OCP — from its scrappy beginnings to its position today as a force in global infrastructure innovation. Highlights Include:* The Birth of OCP: How Facebook, Intel, and Rackspace sparked a hardware revolution in a curtained-off corner of a San Jose colo.* Vanity-Free Computing: The story behind the radical idea that simplicity, not flash, drives scale.* Rack to Reality: The evolution of Open Rack — from triple-bus bar designs to a global standard reshaped by collaboration.* White Box Networking Breakthroughs: Why disaggregated switches became one of OCP’s most disruptive contributions.* Collaboration Over Competition: The unlikely alliances between rivals like Intel and AMD that propelled early specs like Decathlete and Roadrunner.* Specs That Stuck — and Some That Didn't: Bill breaks down the difference between thriving standards and those that fell flat.* OCP’s Global Footprint: What Europe and Asia bring to the future of open hardware, sustainability, and sovereign tech.* What’s Next: Lessons from the past and a look forward at where OCP is headed — especially in the AI, modular, and liquid-cooled future.Whether you're new to open hardware or a long-time community member, this is a must-listen look at how open collaboration can reshape an entire industry — told by someone who helped build it.Chapters:00:00:00 — Intro00:02:36 — The Birth of OCP: Why Facebook broke away from traditional server designs00:08:44 — Bill Joins the Movement: How Intel became an early OCP catalyst00:22:13 — Network Disaggregation: The white box switch that shook the industry00:28:49 — Decathlete & Roadrunner: Competing specs, shared goals00:34:12 — OCP Inspired vs Accepted: What it means and why it matters00:43:10 — The Power of Connector Standardization: Dripless and universal quick disconnects00:50:05 — Modular Momentum: The rise of DCM and the value of early collaboration01:02:08 — What's Next for OCP: AI, sustainability, and global community growthConnect with the OCP Podcast:Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/opencompute/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OpenComputePrjJoin our LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4152886/Follow our Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4284419/#OpenComputeProject #OCP #InfrastructureInnovation #OpenHardware #DataCenters #TechLeadership #PodcastWould you like a shorter version for social media promotion too?
In this episode, host Rob Coyle welcomes Cagatay Yilmas, RISE Project Manager & OCP EMEA Lead for the Nordics, to explore Europe’s distinctive approach to data center innovation.
Cagatay unpacks how RISE is building vendor-agnostic, sustainable digital infrastructure, why open innovation is key to Europe's growth, and how the EU's regulatory frameworks are shaping the future of energy-efficient computing.
From heat reuse strategies and digital twins to cutting-edge developments like the EU’s first homegrown servers, the conversation offers a unique lens on how European data centers differ—and why that matters globally. They also discuss RISE’s role as an OCP Experience Center, collaboration opportunities for tech innovators, and what’s in store at the upcoming OCP EMEA Summit in Dublin.
Chapters:
00:00 What is RISE? Cagatay explains the mission behind Sweden's largest research institute.04:17 How OCP and RISE Collaborated: The origin story of open hardware adoption in Europe.07:50 Proprietary vs Open: Why OCP standards are reshaping thermal management, efficiency, and material transparency.13:28 Inside ICE Data Center: How RISE’s OCP Experience Center is validating next-gen technologies at scale.19:40 The HeatWise Project: Tackling edge computing, grid integration, and climate-neutral buildings.24:25 EU Regulations & KPIs: How Europe is setting new benchmarks for data center efficiency and sustainability.30:10 The First European Server Prototype: How RISE is helping shape Europe’s sovereign digital future.
Web page for RISE ICE Data Center:
https://www.ri.se/en/ice-datacenter
Contact Information:
Çağatay Yılmaz – Project Manager @ ICE Data Center & OCP EMEA Nordics Lead: cagatay.yilmaz@ri.se
Jon Summers – Scientific Lead of ICE Data Center & Chair of OCP FTS: jon.summers@ri.se
Isabelle Kremlin – Business and Innovation Manager of ICE Data Center: isabelle.kemlin@ri.se
Tor Björn Minde – Unit Manager of ICE Data Center: tor.bjorn.minde@ri.se
Project Discussed:
HIGHER (European Heterogeneous Cloud/Edge Infrastructures for Next Generation Hybrid Services): https://www.higher-project.eu
HEATWISE (Holistic Energy Management and Thermal Waste Integrated System for Energy Optimisation): https://heatwise.eu
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In this episode of the Open Compute Project Podcast, Rob Coyle welcomes Beth Langer, Principal Thermal Technologist at CPC (Colder Products Company), to discuss the rapid development of quick disconnects for liquid cooling in data centers.
As an OCP Community member and key contributor to the Cooling Environments Project, CPC is at the forefront of innovation in liquid cooling connections. Beth shares insights on the challenges and advancements in developing quick disconnects for high-performance computing, the importance of reliability at scale, and the evolution of the Universal Quick Disconnect (UQD) specification. Join us as we explore the future of liquid cooling and its impact on next-generation data centers.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to Beth Langer and CPC’s role in liquid cooling solutions
3:07 The rise of liquid cooling in data centers 5:31 Scaling liquid cooling reliability and manufacturing challenges
9:12 The importance of standardization and collaboration in OCP
14:13 The development and evolution of the Universal Quick Disconnect
28:36 Future-proofing liquid cooling and upcoming innovations
36:53 How to get involved in OCP and CPC’s contributions to the industry
Resources:
OCP's Cold Plate Sub-Project: https://www.opencompute.org/projects/cold-plate
“Liquid Cooling When Component Failure is Not an Option” Presentation at the OPC Global Summit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwQGH3wsfGI
Website: CPC Worldwide: https://www.cpcworldwide.com/cool
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At the OCP Global Summit in San Jose, we sit down with Nick Hume, founder of Hume Consulting and host of the Tech Insider Podcast. With experience at hyperscale companies and as a fractional CTO/CIO, Nick shares insights on AI adoption, sustainable data centers, and navigating today’s fast-evolving tech landscape. Discover his take on bridging the gap in AI adoption and how OCP fosters collaboration to tackle the industry’s biggest challenges. Chapters: 0:00 Welcome to OCP Global Summit 0:26 Nick’s Perspective on Hyperscale Companies 1:45 Navigating AI and Infrastructure 4:15 The Growth of OCP and Its Community 8:35 Vendor Lock and Its Impact 14:00 Recent Innovations in Cooling Technologies 16:37 OCP's Role in Collaboration and Innovation 19:02 The Evolution of Ethernet Technology 26:45 Sustainability vs. AI Demand 30:20 The Future of Decentralized Inferencing 37:33 The Importance of Fresh Perspectives 38:48 Embracing New Ideas in Data Centers 40:13 The Role of Community in OCP Connect with Nick: Hume Consulting: https://humeconsulting.co Tech Insider Podcast: https://www.humeconsulting.co/techinsider LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholashume/ Connect with the OCP Podcast: Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/opencompute/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OpenComputePrj Join our LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4152886/ Follow our Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4284419/
In a new episode of the OCP podcast, recorded at the 2024 OCP Global Summit, host Rob Coyle welcomes Miranda Gardiner, Executive Director iMasons Climate Accord. They explore the critical sustainability challenges in the tech industry and the collaborative efforts on carbon disclosure between OCP and the iMasons.
Miranda highlights the Climate Accord's mission to engage nearly 300 companies in reducing carbon footprints through improved practices in materials and power usage. The conversation delves into the importance of transparency in emissions data and the need for a collective approach to carbon accounting.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction at OCP Summit
1:37 Carbon Disclosure Collaboration
5:34 Operationalizing Sustainability Initiatives
8:43 The Importance of Transparency
15:36 Future Challenges and Responsibilities
19:39 Building Community and Collaboration
23:19 Hope for a Sustainable Future
26:50 Upcoming Initiatives at Climate Accord
Visit: https://climateaccord.org/press-releases/ica-selects-miranda-gardiner-as-executive-director/
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In this episode, Nabeel Mahmood, Managing Director, Nomad Futurist, joins host Rob Coyle of Open Compute to discuss the vital need to prepare the next generation for careers in technology, as the industry faces a significant human capital deficit due to impending retirements of longtime professionals.
Recorded live at the Open Compute Project Global Summit, Mahmood highlights the lack of awareness about tech careers and the importance of making technology relatable and accessible to youth through educational initiatives. He shares insights on how AI can enhance sustainability efforts, counters misconceptions about the tech industry's environmental impact, and announces future plans for a job board and Nomad Futures Academy to simplify entry into tech careers.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to Nabeel Mahmood
1:49 The Alliance with OCP
2:30 Human Capital Crisis
4:38 Bridging the Knowledge Gap
6:55 Addressing Energy Consumption
10:45 The Future of Technology
14:42 Immediate Challenges Ahead
26:09 Optimism for the Future
31:23 Nomad Futurist's Upcoming Initiatives
34:31 The Job Market Landscape
35:50 Call to Action for Listeners
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Join host Rob Coyle of OCP as he delves into an insightful conversation with Amir Elbaz, CEO of BE-Net, and key leaders from ThyssenKrupp—Jens Riemer, Head of IT Infrastructure, and Marco Decker, Head of SD-NET. This episode explores the strategic partnership between OCP, BE-Net, and ThyssenKrupp, highlighting how their collaboration addresses the massive challenges of scaling operations, navigating regulatory complexities, and managing a diverse portfolio of capabilities on a global scale.
Discover how OCP serves as the platform that empowers BE-Net to deliver innovative solutions, enabling ThyssenKrupp to achieve seamless connectivity, robust infrastructure, and agile growth in an increasingly complex industrial landscape.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to the Participants
1:19 Exploring Open Standards in IT
3:47 Challenges of Legacy Hardware
8:41 Solutions with OCP Technology
14:05 Benefits of Abstraction in Networking
19:22 The Transition to OCP Solutions
34:20 Future Needs and Requirements
38:13 The Importance of Community Feedback
43:50 Closing Thoughts and Future Predictions
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Join OCP host Rob Coyle with guests Gaël Hermet, Directeur Général for Prosoluce, and Hadi Choueiry, General Manager for Pine Networks, to explore the journey of ProSoluce in embracing open networking solutions. Together with Kelly Leblanc from IP Infusion, we examine the evolution, challenges, and benefits of transitioning to open networking, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, education, and continuous support within the networking community. Gain insights into ProSoluce's experience with upgrading their network infrastructure and discover the potential for innovation and growth in the realm of open networking.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:40 Meeting Pine Networks
3:34 IP Infusion Introduction
15:17 Putting Together the Solution
22:18 Early Findings
30:22 Future Collaboration
31:54 Advice for ISPs
33:22 Closing Words
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François Defrocourt, Solutions Engineer at Madeo, and Kelly LeBlanc, IP Infusion’s Chief Product and Marketing Officer, join OCP’s Rob Coyle to discuss the transition to open networking equipment. François shares his journey to adopt Open Compute Project (OCP) standards and the cost-effective, long-term solutions sought for his company. The conversation explores the benefits of open standards, deployment of OCP-compliant hardware, and products for simplified network management. They emphasize customer feedback, avoiding vendor lock-in, and the role of AI in network management evolution.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction and Background
6:42 Discovering IP Infusion through LinkedIn
11:52 Importance of Solutions for Enterprise Customers
15:04 Support and Solutions with I, P Infusion
17:46 Collaboration with OCP: A Success Story
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In this episode of the OCP podcast, we interviewed Dean Nelson, Founder of iMasons & CEO at Cato Digital. We discussed the collaboration between OCP and iMasons on sustainability, focusing on the iMasons State of the Industry Report and the iMasons Climate Accord to accelerate decarbonization in digital infrastructure. Dean emphasized simplifying processes for sustainability, standardizing carbon impact measurement, and his commitment to sustainability at Cato Digital through equipment repurposing. We explored challenges in the tech industry, such as stranded capacity and the balance between power consumption and environmental impact. Collaborative efforts like Open Compute and iMasons are essential for driving positive change in sustainable infrastructure development.Chapters0:00 Introduction6:50 Europe's Leadership in Regulation9:38 Impact of Regulations on Industry10:48 Formation of iMasons and OCP Strategic Alliance12:30 iMasons' Four Strategic Initiatives13:41 iMasons Climate Accord Formation17:01 Alignment of iMasons and OCP Objectives22:53 Collaboration on Carbon Disclosure and Labeling27:40 Dean's Role at Cato Digital31:47 Predicted Growth in Data Center Capacity57:54 Building a Balanced Ecosystem1:02:02 Diverse Community Insights1:05:47 Optimizing for 3X GrowthVisit https://www.opencompute.org/ to learn more.Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/opencompute/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OpenComputePrjJoin our LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4152886/Follow our Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4284419/
Raul Alvarez, EMEA Community Project Co-Lead at OCP and Lead Consultant at Enterprise Industrial Science and Research, shares insights on his background and involvement with the Open Compute Project (OCP). Raul discusses collaborations with companies like Submer for immersion cooling technology and emphasizes the importance of partnerships in the European market for open standards and sustainability.
He explores innovative solutions like using wood in data center infrastructure and underscores the benefits of open source hardware for sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. Raul also touches on OCP's participation in data center events across Europe to drive change through radical solutions like AI and ML, aiming to build a sustainable and open ecosystem in the European data center market.
Chapters:
0:00 Introducing Raul Alvarez
2:21 Leading the MIA Community Workgroup
2:38 Joining Submer and Forging OCP Relationship
3:55 Building Ecosystems in Europe
4:15 Importance of Open Source and Open Hardware
6:18 Addressing Immersion Cooling Challenges
7:48 Leading the EMEA Project
11:07 Addressing Regional Differences in Open Standards
16:31 Introducing Open Compute to Enterprise Markets
23:27 Sustainable Solutions in Data Centers
26:55 Innovative Timber-Based Data Center Solutions
29:28 Working with Open Infra for Open Cloud Solutions
38:24 Partnering with DCD for Outreach in Spain
41:50 Driving Change in the Data Center Industry
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Daniel Pope, co-founder and CTO of Submer, discusses his journey in data center design and operations. Daniel founded his first data center-related business when he was just sixteen. We go back to the start of Daniel's data center journey and what he learned as an owner-operator that drove him to co-found Submer.
Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance computing have accelerated the energy intensity of our data centers. Much of the market's focus has been on the latest GPUs and the heat generated by these chips. We dive (pun intended) into the next generation of cooling and automation solutions built for much more than just a couple of chips.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to the Open Compute Project Podcast
0:55 Daniel Pope's Background in Data Center Design
3:32 Submer's Journey into Liquid Cooling Technology
5:24 Customer Reluctance Towards Liquid Cooling Solutions
13:08 The Role of Standardization in Immersion Cooling Adoption
14:25 Sharing Lessons Learned and Innovations with the Public
25:16 Predictions for the Next 12 to 18 Months in AI Infrastructure
30:54 Closing Remarks and Invitation for Further Discussion
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Join host Rob Coyle of the Open Compute Project, a foundation focusing on open source designs and specifications. With the Open Compute Project podcast, Rob aims to engage with the global community dedicated to developing efficient designs for scalable computing. Join us as we discuss data centers, IT hardware, and infrastructure through expert interviews and insightful analysis to empower listeners with the knowledge to make informed decisions and deepen their understanding of the OCP. Your feedback shapes our content, so tune in, engage with our community, and be a part of reshaping hardware technology.
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