Intel lands Facebook hardware contract

Facebook is to get a server makeover courtesy of Intel

Intel has signed an agreement with Facebook to overhaul the social networking site's infrastructure.

Under the deal, Intel will oversee the implementation and management of thousands of Xeon-based servers to handle the huge Facebook database.

The servers will primarily use processors from the Xeon 5400 series, although Intel said that it would look at "various chipset and server platform configurations".

Intel hopes that the deal will yield benefits beyond a simple partnership with Facebook.

The two companies plan to do much of the work in open source, and any new software systems that result from the project could be released to the public.

Facebook hopes that the new servers will be able to handle not only its user information, but an expending set of music, video and photo services as well.

"We are pleased to expand our relationship with Intel," said Jonathan Heiliger, vice president of technical operations at Facebook.

"Intel has demonstrated that the performance of its systems can help Facebook scale our infrastructure and continue to deliver the best experience to users around the world."