A Glimpse Inside the Data Center

by Robert Marks

The servers have to be stored somewhere. After all, they contain important information, applications, and other pieces of data that hackers would give their eyeteeth for. But storing, supporting and caring for a webhosting or ASP server can be expensive.Many ASPs do not actually own their servers, but instead rent them from larger companies. These servers are stored in gigantic facilities known as data centers, with redundancy and security comparable to that of the Pentagon or MI5. Needless to say, data centers are not easy to afford.

In a recent interview, Joel Schleicher, the chairman and CEO of Interpath, said of his recently acquired data center in Raleigh that, "It was designed by the same people that do nuclear power plants, so therefore it's got all the redundancy and bells and whistles that a similar type of facility might have." According to Schleicher, these include dual power grids, three additional forms of backup, several bandwidth fault points, and a self-contained environment that is capable of supporting staff for four or five days, in the event of bad weather or some emergency.

This redundancy might seem a trifle extreme, but in fact, it isn't. When one contemplates the number of things that could possibly go wrong, from hacker attacks to power failures to fires, keeping applications running without interruption becomes a twenty-four hour job. Having your data center built like a nuclear power plant is not only desirable, but necessary. But it does put ownership outside the reach of most Internet providers. While Interpath inherited its data center from a recent acquisition, other large companies, like Nortel and Cable & Wireless Optus, are joining forces to build their data centers.

Inflow, a company dedicated to providing networking support, also owns its own data center, named the Data Network Exchange (DNX) Facilities. The DNX's features are staggering - but what is even more astounding is that they are industry-standard. Security is a prime consideration; the DNX has 24-hour video surveillance, a security force, and dedicated lockable cabinets for the servers.

All of the network and power connections are run through the floor. Not only does this protect the cabling from accidents, but it also keeps the cabling out of reach of unauthorized personnel. Those who are authorized to access the wiring can do so through the floor plates, which allow for easy troubleshooting if a problem does arise.

Since electrical power is a major concern, the DNX has several safeguards to insure that there are no interruptions or loss of power. This is very important, since a loss of power or power fluctuation could destroy huge amounts of valuable data - in addition to the damage that it could case to hardware. The first layer of defense is a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) system for all of the computers, combined with connections to multiple power grids. If this fails, there are several backup generators that can provide power for several hours. Should these fail, the site has a diesel power generator, allowing the DNX to remain operating for hours even after the main power source has been lost. Other possible points of failure are covered off with redundant systems. There are multiple entrance points for network and power lines, and should one group of network lines fail, the others can pick up the slack. When all of the lines are running, this allows the DNX to have a very wide bandwidth.

Climate control is another concern, and one that is not to be taken lightly. Computers generate heat, which is bad for their circuits. And naturally, with hundreds of high-power computers in a single room, a lot of heat is being created. The DNX has a high-tech climate control system, which keeps room temperature at a level where computers are safe from the risk of overheating or breaking down. The climate control is also backed up with a top-of-the-line fire control system, in the event that thing get really out of hand.

But most important of all is the human element, since computers are not capable of maintaining or running themselves. The DNX is staffed twenty-four hours a day by personnel who are skilled at monitoring and supporting the servers. And that way, if something does break down, repairs will be conducted as quickly as possible.