Amazon has four software development centers worldwide that are constantly developing new features and technology to support Amazon.com. The core technology that runs Amazon is entirely Linux-based and as of 2005 Amazon had the world's three largest Linux databases totaling over 50 terabytes of storage. Amazon's massive data warehouse is divided into functions like extract-transform-load, historical data storage, and querying and contains billions of records from its customers and sales.

1. How Amazon Works
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Hideyuki Sato

2. Amazon Technology I
Amazon's Progress
Amazon has four software development centers worldwide.
These units are constantly creating new features for Amazon.com and developing
the technology to support them.
The massive technology core that keeps Amazon running is entirely Linux based.
As of 2005, Amazon has the world's three largest Linux databases, with a total
capacity of 7.8 TB, 18.5 TB and 24.7 TB respectively.
The central Amazon data warehouse is made up of 28 Hewlett Packard servers,
with four CPUs per node, running Oracle 9i database software.

3. Amazon Technology II
Amazon Data Warehouse
The data warehouse is roughly divided into three functions.
・ETL (Extract, Transform and Load)
The ETL cluster (7.8 TB capacity) contains 5 TB of raw data.
A primary database function that pulls data from one source and integrates it
into another.
・Historical Data
The click history servers (18.5 TB capacity) hold 14 TB of raw data.
・Query
The query servers (24.7 TB capacity) contain 15 TB of raw data.

4. Amazon Technology III
Amazon's Security Measures
In addition to automatically encrypting credit card numbers during the checkout
process, Amazon lets users choose to encrypt every piece of information they
enter, like their name, address and gender.
Amazon employs the Netscape Secure Commerce Server using the SSL protocol.
It stores all credit card numbers in a separate database that's not Internet access-
ible, cutting off that possible entry point for hackers.
Customers who are particularly cautious can choose to enter only a partial credit
card number over the Internet and then provide the rest by phone once the online
order is submitted.

5. Amazon E-commerce I
Small sellers of used and new goods go to Amazon Marketplace, Amazon zShops
or Amazon Auctions.
An item listed on them appears in a box beside the Amazon.com item so buyers
can see if someone else is selling the product for less in one of the other sales
channels.
・Amazon Marketplace
Sellers offer goods at a fixed price.
・Amazon zShops
Features only used goods at fixed prices.
・Amazon Auctions
Sellers sell their stuff to the highest bidder.

6. Amazon E-commerce II
Amazon Advantage
Sellers can sell new books, music and movies directly from the Amazon ware-
house instead of from their home or store.
Sellers ship a number of units to Amazon, and Amazon handles the entire sales
transaction from start to finish.
Amazon Services
Amazon sells its sales platform, providing complete Amazon e-commerce pack-
ages to companies looking to establish or revamp their e-commerce business.
Amazon sets up complete Web sites and technology backbones for other e-com-
merce companies using Amazon software and technology.
Amazon's Associate Program
The Web site's affiliate program is one of the most famous on the Web.
Anyone with a Web site can post a link to Amazon.com and earn some money.

7. Amazon Historical Fact
1994: Amazon.com is incorporated.
1995: Amazon.com sells its first book.
1996: Amazon.com launches its affiliate program ("Associates Program").
1997: Amazon.com goes public.
1998: Amazon.com buys the Internet Movie Database (IMDb).
1999: Amazon.com launches Amazon Auctions and zShops.
2000: Amazon.com launches Amazon France, Amazon Japan and Amazon
Marketplace.
2001: Amazon.com introduces the "Look Inside the Book" function and teams up
with Target stores.
2002: Amazon.com launches Amazon Canada and Amazon Web Services.
2003: Amazon.com launches Amazon Services and A9.com subsidiaries.
2004: Amazon.com buys Joyo.com (which becomes Amazon China).