Dropbox Unveils 7th-Gen Server Hardware: A Giant Leap for AI
After fourteen years of evolution, Dropbox's infrastructure has grown from a handful of servers to one of the world's largest custom-built storage systems. Their seventh-generation hardware platform (Crush, Dexter, Sonic, and GPU platforms Gumby and Godzilla) boasts dramatically increased storage bandwidth, effectively doubled rack power, and a next-gen storage chassis minimizing vibration and heat. This leap forward enhances efficiency, capability, and scalability, powering AI products like Dropbox Dash. Close collaboration with suppliers and a product-first, co-design approach leveraging emerging technologies (like SMR drives and GPU accelerators) resulted in significant performance and efficiency gains, setting the stage for future growth.