LinkedIn is one of the world’s largest professional networking platforms, with over 900 million members worldwide as of 2022. With such a massive userbase, LinkedIn requires a vast network of data centers around the globe to store and process the enormous amounts of data generated by its members and activities. But where exactly are LinkedIn’s data centers located?
LinkedIn’s Global Data Center Presence
According to LinkedIn, their data centers are strategically located across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. This global distribution allows them to efficiently serve their members and customers worldwide. Some of LinkedIn’s key data center locations include:
- United States (multiple locations including Virginia, Illinois, Texas, and California)
- Canada (Toronto)
- Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
- Netherlands (Amsterdam)
- United Kingdom (London)
- Germany (Frankfurt)
- Japan (Tokyo)
- Singapore
- Australia (Sydney)
Having data centers dispersed across continents keeps LinkedIn’s services operational even if an entire region goes offline. It also enables them to deliver lower latency by serving users’ data from the nearest facility.
LinkedIn’s US Data Center Locations
Within the United States, LinkedIn operates data centers in these key locations:
Virginia
LinkedIn has multiple data center campuses in northern Virginia, near Washington D.C. This includes facilities in Ashburn and Sterling. Northern Virginia is a major hub for data centers and internet infrastructure due to its proximity to the US capital and knowledgeable workforce.
Chicago, Illinois
The Chicago area is another core data center market in the US. LinkedIn runs a major facility in Elk Grove Village, a northwest suburb of Chicago. The region benefits from affordable power, fiber connectivity, and a large talent pool.
Dallas, Texas
LinkedIn’s Dallas data center campus is located in Allen, approximately 30 minutes north of Dallas. As one of the fastest growing US data center markets, Dallas offers LinkedIn access to a business-friendly environment and connections to nationwide network infrastructure.
Oregon
LinkedIn operates a data center in Hillsboro, Oregon, close to Portland. Attractions include low electricity costs from hydroelectric power and an excellent network infrastructure backbone along the US west coast.
California
As LinkedIn’s headquarters state, California is home to several of their data centers. Locations include Sacramento and San Francisco Bay Area facilities in Santa Clara, San Jose, and Livermore.
Key Factors in LinkedIn’s Data Center Locations
LinkedIn strategically selects its data center sites based on factors like:
- Network connectivity – Proximity to major metro areas, peering points, and backbone infrastructure
- Power infrastructure – Access to reliable and affordable electricity sources
- Physical security – Located in secure facilities with controlled access
- Business environment – Supportive economic policies and tax incentives in the region
- Talent pool – Available workforce with the required data center skills
- Cooling capacity – Ability to cool servers effectively through temperature-controlled environments
Optimizing these aspects allows LinkedIn to operate their data centers efficiently and reliably while growing their services globally.
Data Center Tiers and LinkedIn’s Infrastructure
Data centers are often classified into tiers based on their architectures and reliability:
| Tier | Description |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Basic data center with non-redundant capacity components |
| Tier 2 | Redundant capacity components; provides 99.741% uptime |
| Tier 3 | Multiple independent distribution paths; provides 99.982% uptime |
| Tier 4 | Fully redundant components; provides 99.995% uptime |
LinkedIn designs and operates their data centers to meet or exceed the Tier 3 standard. This guarantees a high level of reliability to maintain their services uptime for members around the world. Critical infrastructure components like power, cooling, and network links are built with redundancies to prevent single points of failure.
Security Features at LinkedIn Data Centers
As a repository of professionals’ sensitive career information, security is paramount at LinkedIn’s data centers. Some of their key security measures include:
- Perimeter fencing – Gated and fenced perimeters to restrict unauthorized entry
- Security officers – Staffed by on-premise security to monitor facilities
- Access controls – Policies to limit data center access only to authorized individuals
- Surveillance systems – CCTV monitoring of all critical areas within facilities
- Biometrics – Fingerprint or retinal scanners for access to server areas
- Activity logging – Records of all individual access to data centers
These and other controls defend against external threats attempting to physically access LinkedIn’s data centers and servers. Maintaining robust security enables them to ensure privacy for their members’ information.
LinkedIn’s Data Center Sustainability
As a responsible global company, LinkedIn aims to operate their data centers sustainably. Some of their initiatives include:
- Sourcing renewable energy where viable – their data center in Singapore runs fully on hydroelectric power
- Optimizing cooling technologies to minimize electricity usage
- Recycling heat exhausted from servers to reduce further energy needs
- Upgrading to more energy-efficient servers and data center infrastructure
- Committing to water conservation and rainwater harvesting for data center cooling
LinkedIn also analyses the environmental suitability of potential data center sites during selection. Overall, they aim to grow their data center footprint while minimizing associated carbon emissions.
Conclusion
LinkedIn relies on a worldwide network of data centers located across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific to service its 900+ million members. Major data center hubs for LinkedIn include Virginia, Chicago, Dallas, California, Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Sydney. LinkedIn strategically chooses data center locations based on connectivity, power, security, workforce, and cooling capabilities. The facilities are engineered for reliability and sustainability while safeguarding the privacy of users’ data. With data playing an increasingly pivotal role globally, LinkedIn will continue evolving its data center footprint to support its members worldwide.
