E-Newsletter Archive

Choosing the Right Server Co-location Facility

As server technology advances there are more applications and higher throughput capabilities than ever before. A 1U server (designating the standard rack-slot size of 1.75” H x 19” W) can now process and store more data than an entire room full of mainframe equipment could back in the early days of data centers. Network backups, Web hosting, and other applications can be implemented at offsite locations with the proper facilities.

Of course the facility must meet certain standards before it can be considered as a viable co-location hosting site. While servers have much more throughput capacity than similar-sized units of years ago, they also generate more heat. A co-location site must have ample cooling capacity to offset the BTU output from servers in operation. The humidity must be independently controlled and air must be filtered to help high performance electronic components maximize their up-time and lifespan. Redundant HVAC systems are essential since loss of cooling capacity can cripple server operations.

Uninterrupted operation of servers depends upon uninterrupted electrical power, so investment in power supply equipment is mandatory. A battery backup UPS with power generator is necessary to keep power-hungry equipment running even if there is a regional power outage for an extended period of time. Co-location shoppers should always ask how long a hosting site can supply power to their facility.

The shear quantity and value of the data within server hosting sites requires strict access controls and surveillance of these facilities. Electronic locks can allow management to control which personnel have access to critical areas. Such systems can also keep track of the “who and when” for area access issues to help hold employees accountable for their activities. Physical security for all entry points to a building must also be employed.

Aside from maintaining proper climate controls, the best server hosting facilities will protect their clients' equipment from a wide variety of internal and external threats. Fire protection is a critical element in any top-tier co-location site. A clean-agent fire suppression system is mandatory to extinguish any fire within the server area. Clean agents, such as Du Pont's FE-25 or 3M's Novec 1230, are non-conductive and leave no residue so they do not harm delicate electronic components in the process of suppressing the fire. Another critical technology is an early-warning fire detection system, which can help prevent full ignition inside a server room. For example, a VESDA unit draws samples of the air within the server room and laser-analyzes that air for by-products of precombustion (such as from overheating equipment). If any such by-products are detected, an alarm will sound to alert the staff to the potential threat. For more information about VESDA units, click here .

These fire suppression and early warning detection systems are important to prevent disasters inside of the server chambers, but one frequently overlooked threat is heat exposure from outside the server room. Co-location hosting sites are often retrofitted office or warehouse space that was chosen for its low cost per square-foot rather than fire protection capabilities. To have real confidence in a co-location site there must be protection from all threats to the data center—inside and out.

Only one server co-location site in the Tri-State area addresses all of these threats: the Firelock vault-equipped facility at Records Management & Archiving (RMA) in Easton , PA. In addition to investing in the most advanced climate controls, UPS and power generation equipment, access controls, fire suppression and fire detection systems, RMA has installed a Class 125-3 Hour data vault.

This vault is designed and constructed to keep the temperature inside the chamber below the critical 125°F. threshold (the point at which data is lost) for at least three hours, even if temperatures outside the vault reach 2,000°F. The dry ceramic insulation in the vault structure also keeps excessive humidity (in the form of steam) away from delicate equipment. This level of protection helps ensure that valuable equipment, and even more valuable data, are safeguarded from even the most extreme disasters.

Sufficient bandwidth to maximize the efficiency of offsite servers is another major consideration. Depending on the application, anything from a DSL Internet connection to dedicated fiber optic cable service may be required. Co-location hosts should provide a wide variety of service options, or allow clients to arrange the type of service they need directly with the carrier.

Operating servers at a remote location can have many benefits for an organization that needs to mitigate risk and expand their support capabilities. Choosing a co-location host with the most secure facility and robust infrastructure will help ensure that these benefits are realized.

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