Planning: Hosting Network

Contracting with a professional hosting company means that you never have to worry about buygin expensive equipment, managing and maintaining that equipment or replacing it when it becomes obsolete or can't handle the demands any longer. Additionally, establishing and maintaining and network operations centre is a multi-disciplinary environment and it is unlikely that you, working to develop your business, are going to have all of the skills and time necessary to ensure flawless operation.

Here are just some of the issues that need to be managed to be successful as a data center and network operations center.

  • Physical Security — And absolute must have. This means solid walls, doors and windows. Video surveillance and access controls.
  • Environmental Control — To reduce downtime, and server / systems failure reliable air conditioning is a must. If the air conditioning fails, the data center could become hot enough to 'cook' the servers and networking equipment. All this equipment, with all these fans, make a reasonable amount of noise and move the dust around, sucking what seems to inordinate amounts into the equipment. Thus, both noise and dust filtration are essentials. Don't forget power, proper control of the power is essential.
  • Redundant Systems — It really is the only way to ensure 99% up time. Networking routers and switches that provide seamless backup for the primary devices. Mirrored servers to provide the same redundancy at the server level. Backup power is a very important element as, while the building may lose power, this does not mean necessarily that the Internet connection has failed. Most larger operations centers not only have backup uninterruptible power supplies but also power generators sufficient to maintain operations for days.
  • 24/7 Support — Everyone wants 100% uptime and quick resolution to problems. This necessitates 24 hour, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year technical service and support.
  • Multi-site Installations — Sometimes, this is the only way to ensure a level of service approaching 99%. With network operations centers on opposite sides of the continent, or globe, you can really avoid so many of the problems that are normally beyond your control as it is going to be a really catastrophic event that disables both operations centers.