Reliable

Quality installation, engineered redundancy and constant monitoring keep our servers running smoothly. Meticulous attention to detail is used when new equipment is installed. The data center itself is a raised-floor environment, with temperature and humidity control, and properly installed cable raceways and cabinet fans. Monitoring doesn't stop at the hardware. We're constantly monitoring our systems for viruses, attempted break-ins, and denial-of-service (DOS) attacks. You've probably heard of some hosting companies that have been literally shut down for hours due to DOS attacks. Our environment constantly monitors for these types of attacks to help eliminate them from affecting your site.

Our environment also has UPS protection and diesel powered generators along multiple PDUs (power distribution units). We all know that we can't prevent every problem, but with monitoring, redundancy and early detection we can minimize or completely eliminate the impact to your website.

Secure

Network availability, integrity, and confidentiality are the backbone of e-business. Thanks to the latest technologies and the collaboration of customers and employees, our network security is world class. In the Information Age, protection of data is critical for success.

There are multiple cameras inside the data center which are monitored by security professionals. It is the guards responsibility to know at all times who is in the building and where they are. Physical security into the building is regulated by security personnel and via card key readers. Nobody gets in or out unless they have been authorized. This state-of-the-art equipment, along with rigid policies and procedures, help protect the data center environment, equipment and your website.

Between the cameras, access control, and the security team, this place is pretty secure.

Fast

The data center we use is connected to a national backbone which is ranked among the top in the nation. Dual OC48 (2.4 Gbps) connections to several major exchange points form network rings around the nation (see http://www.he.net/releases/release74.html for more details). These include MAE-West in San Jose CA; PAIX in Palo Alto CA; AADS in Chicago IL; NYIIX in New York NY; and MAE-East in Vienna VA.

The self-healing network eliminates a single point of failure. In addition to the backbone, a backup transit from multiple locations ensures that data arrives via the shortest possible route. The backup transit and the many international peers allows the network to maintain the shortest routes for sending data all over the world. In addition, our network provider is always looking at fiber carriers for potential new routes, additional backup transit providers, and new peering relationships.

The facility has one of the friendliest peering policies in the industry. There is a constant effort to peer with any network that is connected to one or more of the exchange points that this network uses.

The peering arrangements include the following exchanges and are ever-growing:

• MAE-West in San Jose (100Mbps FDDI,155Mbps OC3 ATM)
• MAE-East (100Mbps FDDI,155Mbps OC3 ATM)
• AADS in Chicago
• PAIX(Palo Alto Internet Exchange) in Palo Alto (1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet)
• NYIIX (New York Internet Exchange) in New York (100Mbps Fast Ethernet)
• MAE-East in Vienna
• Level3 Communications
• Sprint
• MCI WorldCom
• Frontier
• Pac Bell (155Mbps OC3 ATM)
• AADS (Ameritech) (155Mbps OC3 ATM)

The entire network is fully switched and uses the Border Gateway Protocol Version 4 (BGP4) over Cisco 12000 series GSR routers. This ensures that bandwidth will be routed through the best available carrier providing you seamless connectivity at the same time. The router's IOS is updated after the have been stress tested on the latest IOS on a non-critical router for maximum stability. The switch that your equipment will ultimately be connected to is connected back to a core router via fiber.

The facility was designed from the ground up to serve data housing needs. Raised floors, individually locked cabinets, advanced climate control, back-up power, custom designed video surveillance of every cabinet, and onsite security measures assure that servers are safe while running optimally. The Data Center is monitored and guarded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It was engineered with HVAC environmental systems, digital surveillance, stringent security, conditioned uninterruptible power, and your convenience in mind.