Multiple Servers

Windows 11 - 22H2 (OS Build 22621.3593 )

Does OneDrive have the benefit of saving on multiple servers in case one server failure, or there is a virus? If so, how are the new copies of the files used?

Thanks,
Joshua Eirman

Microsoft datacenter server rooms are where the cloud's computing and storage capacity live. Microsoft has more than 4 million servers in datacenters around the world. Files you save to OneDrive are stored on your computer, then synced to Microsoft's online service.


It's worth remembering that there are a few billions Windows systems working around the world as we speak.
Now, not all of them use OneDrive but still, one server for OneDrive would cut it a bit short.

That's incredible, and these servers back things up on multiple servers?

What I mean is one file is backed up on more than server at the same time.

JoshuaE said:

That's incredible, and these servers back things up on multiple servers?

Click to expand...

Of course. Virtualization has reduced the footprint and new storage technology has improved but the data stored has grown exponentially.
But virtualization can't be relied on for mission critical systems. Why? Because the host goes down, so do the VMs.


Imagine the electricity bill for MS though...

As typical for most online services provided by MS (or Google, Amazon, Facebook or Apple), your data is replicated in multiple servers often located in different geographic locations. The exact number of replicas and their locations are trade secrets for each company. Many of them (whether it's supported for the user or not) maintain a "point in time" backup copy, in case of "oops, my bad". Each of these companies directly own or lease huge private network backbones, which allow them to replicate and move data around the world with ease.

It's not cheap to build or manage, but obviously they can still make a profit.