Jargon Buster - Servers

Many people imagine servers to be mystical, monster sized computers that perform vast and endless tasks. A server is simply a computer on a network that is configured to share its resources or run applications for the other computers on the network. A server might handle all the file or database sharing between all the users on a network. A server may be configured to allow all the users to share a printer, rather than having a printer attached to each and every computer. The type of server and software used depends on the type of network. Local Networks, i.e a network within a large office are going to use file and print servers while the Internet would use Web servers. 

The type of server used would depend on what it needs to do. Other factors include; how much information it will be responsible for handling, how many user requests will be sent to the server in any one period, how many clients need to have simultaneous access to the server. The servers used to run your website are housed in in a world class data centre and offer extensive data storage and handling abilities. The applications and systems emplyed, work extremely hard in the background to ensure that you have constant access to your website and allow you to make instant changes to your content whenever you need to. More importantly, the system we use offers a 99.9% uptime, which means your customers will always be able to find your website online. 

We take very very good care of your website content…
 

There are 7 key features of our data centre: 

Building Management System (BMS) Our datacentre operates a computerised building management system that monitors and remotely operate sensors covering electrical, mechanical, fire detection and leak detection systems. Predicting problems before they arise and maximising your website’s uptime.

Backup Batteries and Diesel Generators - Battery sets keep the power on until the generators are up to working temperature. There is a 24hour supply of diesel on site. The batteries are inspected every 4 hours and the entire system is run each month.

Physical Security - All data centres feature totally comprehensive 24/7 securities to keep the equipment 100% safe. This includes the protection of security barriers, 24 x 7 x 365 monitoring by on-site personnel to include visual verification of anyone entering the building, CCTV video camera surveillance and a security breach alarm provides the control room with information.

Air Conditioning - To ensure optimum performance of your website’s server, all server floors are maintained at a constant 21°C ± 2°C and relative humidity is kept at 50% ± 10%. Both are continually monitored via the BMS.

Power - Our policy guarantees all our customers a redundant high-capacity, stable and reliable power supply, with easy scalable expansion in the future. A minimum of 1Kw per square metre secure power is available, with power isolated between customer and maintained indefinitely, plus on-site generation, which can deal with both customer and plant load whilst recharging the UPS. All our facilities are built to at least an N+1 standard. This means that if two generators are required to provide non-stop power, then three are installed.

Fire Detection - Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus (VESDA) is installed. These highly sensitive aspirating smoke detectors are linked to the Building Management system which is monitored continually from a network operations centre, provide very early detection to help avoid fire, loss and business disruption. This is coupled with a gas based fire retardant that is environmentally friendly, to put out fires instantly, without damaging equipment and keeping your website up.

Access - Access to the buildings, data floors and individual areas are via individually programmed Proximity Access Cards (PAC), usage of the PAC is logged centrally by time and date.
The cards cannot be used by anyone else. 

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