Hosting Environment
Security
- Secure card key access with face recognition systems
- Closed circuit monitoring
- 24 x 7 on-site staffing.
- Silent paging system
- Electric door strikes
Network Access
- Connections are comprised of multiple OC-3 and OC-12 with diverse vendors, including the Tier 1 backbone providers
- Each server in the LAN is connected to an access layer by a meshed, redundant switching fabric through either Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet connections
- 100 Mbps feeds to the cabinet @ Full Duplex
- Up to 1000 Mbps (1 gig) dedicated switch feed available to servers
- Access / distribution / core networks provide redundant layers that specialize in traffic management & security
- All Access, distribution and core switches are Cisco 6509's & 6506's. Core routers are Cisco 12000 series GSRs
- SONET ring redundant with Verizon and MFS Worldcom
- Cat-6 enabled
Power
- Sits on two metro power grids (Cambridge & Boston) that supply 27,600 volts of power into the facility. Due to this redundancy, the building has not lost power in 26 years
- Redundant 2500 amp breakers at 480 volts provide 122 watts per sq. ft.
- Dual 1500 kW generators w/4000 gals of fuel onsite. These can be filled while the Generators are running. The Generators are tested weekly and load tested monthly. There is a five second response in event of power disruption
- A single generator is sufficient for the Data Center power requirements at full capacity (N+1)
- Power is stepped-down & regulated from 480 volts to the 220/110 via dual transformers
- In the unlikely event of an outage, each individual rack is protected by its own uninterrupted power supply (UPS) that maintains power until the generators come online (they are good for 30 minutes of power supply). These units also secondary regulators for power spikes
Fire Detection / Suppression
- Smoke/particle ION detectors AND infrared sensors below the floor and in the ceiling
- Suppression includes dry action pipes and chemical hand extinguishers
- Boston Fire and Police Departments are located less than a mile away
Cooling
- 13 Liebert AC units on the main floor provide 20 tons of cooling each. Only five are actually needed. Additional cooling units for electrical and transport rooms. Each AC unit operated independently with dedicated dry coolers
Servers
Our Pentium IV and Sun Microsystems servers run utilizing RAID technology with multi-processors and are constantly being upgraded to faster and more powerful systems.
Storage and Backup
Our Web server clusters utilize dedicated file servers with multi-channel RAID-1 back- planes to guarantee continued operation in the event of a drive failure. File servers also have multiple redundant power supplies and CPU cards if the failure is greater than just a drive failure. File servers are also clustered and replicate data between themselves. In the event of a critical failure, the standby file server will take over for the primary.
On a daily basis, an automated back up system incrementally backs up your data. This data is then delivered to a remote site where it is kept until requested.
Disaster Recovery
Arrangements are in place with alternate providers to allow us to co-locate our entire Network Operations Center and resume operations from their location. With all systems backed up Nightly/Weekly with off-site backups in remote secure storage facility, we can access these files in the case of a disaster and quickly resume operations.
Web Site Monitoring 24 x 7 x 365
Advanced SNMP polling and Web page response analysis monitor all systems in the BX.COM, Network Operations Center. A dedicated server watches our entire network and every machine on a constant basis. Any problems that are found are immediately identified and our Network Operation Center staff is notified. Our staff immediately responds to remedy the problem while our redundant systems maintain operational requirements. Since we have live personnel at our facility at all times, any issues that arise can be dealt with promptly.