Datacenter Details

Our servers are located at the private Telecom Datacenter in LA. Server administrators have actual physical access to all servers and networking equipment that we manage. We have multiple gigabit connections to our upstream providers to ensure rock solid network stability and capacity. The datacenter has multiple layers of security.

For the techies: Please scroll to the bottom of this page for more network details.

For the rest of us: All the techno-babble at the bottom of this page means there are lots of connections to the servers so you and your visitors will be able to quickly and reliably load your web pages.

Datacenter Tour

• Creo Communico: Datacenter

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  Data center facts and information.

  

• PowerWare 225KVA UPSe

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• 2U Server Rack

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• Main Server Racks

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• Cold Aisle Server Racks

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• Main Network Patch Panel

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Understanding Datacenter Basics

Where is my website? Your hosting account is located on a server. A server is in many ways similar to the desktop pc you are sitting at. However, it is designed to operate continually. More than likely your desktop is using a version of windows. Our servers, however do not use the Windows operating system, instead, for increased stability and security we use Linux. The server is then placed in one of the cabinets shown, providing it a direct connection to the internet.

The Environment As servers run continuously, they generate a lot of heat. Just think of how hot your desktop or notebook gets after a couple of hours! In order to prevent this heat from damaging the components of the server, the whole building need to be kept at a very low temperature. Hence these massive air-conditioning units.

Power Obviously most (if not all) data centers run off utility power, and due to the high usage of power 24/7 they usually have a direct dedicated cable to the local transformer. However, utility power is not fail safe, it tends to fail every now and again for one reason or another. It is for this reason that a data center needs a backup plan: numerous Backup Diesel Generators which can be used to power the facility should the power fail, as well as an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) which kicks in automatically should utility power go down.

Security Within the Data Center environment, security must be taken seriously. Security to the building is 24/7 and you cannot get inside the elevator lobby without being on an Access List. There are multiple cameras which record all the entering and exiting of the building. Security includes a key card system as well as video monitoring. We record all points of entry to and from our suite as well as the datacenter itself. Within our datacenter, we have a NOC (Network Operations Center) and the doors to the datacenter are locked. So you cannot go into the datacenter without special keys, even if you are in our suite as the doors are locked from the inside.

Fire Due to the nature of a Data Center (high heat generation, UPS, generators, large density of electrical components) there is always a danger of a fire. As you can imagine, a fire in a data center would be similar to a bull in… (do I need to finish it?) For this reason both datacenters have invested large sums of money in fire detection and suppression systems.

Extended Network & Server Details

• The network is comprised of two cisco 6509s with 10G uplinks running at the core.
• The 6509’s are fully redundant and running iBGP and HSRP. If one fails, the other is able to take on the full load of the network.
• We have multiple gigE fiber optic (1000Mbit/s) connections from the worlds leading telecommunication companies. With multiple GigE connections, this allows for the high bandwidth that is required for even the most bandwidth intensive programs needed to stay competitive in the ever changing world wide web.
• We also have public and private peering agreements with over 400 ISPs all over the world.
• We get our IP transit Global Crossing, Mzima, Internap and PCCW via multiple gigabit fiber uplinks to our core routers/switches. If all but 1 provider fails, there is no change to our network, as we can serve our full client base with one provider as we leave that much room on every connection.
• The core switches are connected to two seperate distribution switches (2 cisco 3560-E 10G switches).
• From the distribution switches, we connect to an edge switch (Cisco 3500 series).
• Each cabinet is pre-wired and connected to our main distribution cabinet so it’s plug and play.
• Each cabinet has it’s own switch, we prefer a layer 2 switch in each cabinet.
• All of our servers are hooked up to APC remote reboot ports in the event that they lockup for any reason.
• All of the servers are protected by state of the art hardware firewalls, where we have cisco PIX for the network as well as additional software firewalls for the servers.
• Everything is logged and routinely scanned by our system administrators.