The containerized equipment allows Microsoft to take other radical steps, like building data centers with no roofs. Besides cutting construction costs, this makes it much easier to use outside air for cooling systems, one of the costliest areas of a data center. Microsoft said it is working with server vendors to develop systems that can operate in wider temperature ranges -- 10 to 35 degrees centigrade -- so that in some cases it can eliminate chiller equipment completely.

It posted a short to give a high-level view of its plans.

Bob Seese, chief architect with Advanced Data Centers, a San Francisco company that leases data center space, applauded Microsoft for sharing the information. Companies are typically secretive about what goes on in their data centers, but along with Google and some other large companies, Microsoft has been opening up recently to discuss its best practices.

Pressuring vendors to design more flexible and standardized equipment could benefit all companies, Seese said. "One of our biggest struggles in the industry has been the tail wagging the dog -- the manufacturers telling IT departments what they need. Having someone push back against the vendors could by itself change this industry tremendously," he said.

Data center operators are risk averse, he noted, because their jobs depend on keeping things running, and the research being done by Microsoft and others should help everyone. "As a result of their successes and failures, other companies are going to benefit," he said.