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We run custom-built Dell servers that are designed for a 24/7 web serving environment. Each
server receives 24-hour individual monitoring, from within and outside our
network. We only use the highest quality parts and all servers are thoroughly
tested and "burned-in" before we put clients on them.
To meet the needs of the corporate user, our servers are outfitted with fast
processors, high levels of memory and storage space. We continually upgrade
our equipment as more advanced and powerful options become available.
All
servers are running open source software such as Linux, Apache,
Bind, MySQL, Sendmail, Procmail, Perl, and PHP. By utilizing open source software,
we have the source code for every item that runs on our servers, freeing us
from reliance on any other commercial entity for support of their
software.
When a bug is found, our programmers isolate the error and correct it promptly.
Our programmers work on a daily basis, tweaking and patching the
Linux Kernel and the assortment of GPL software that provides key services
on our network. Automated systems then administer the necessary upgrades to
all of our clients’ machines with no downtime involved.
Standby Servers
The data center is equipped with an inventory of identically configured, "burned-in" standby
servers that are kept online at all times. If a server were to experience a
hardware failure, we would simply turn a key, grab the handle on the drive,
pull it out and insert it into an identical standby CPU. We would then reboot
the second machine and the server would be up and running within a matter of
minutes.
Dedicated Port
Each web server is maintained on its own switched 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet segment
and is connected to its own Cisco switch port. This ensures that large bandwidth
bursts will go unimpeded by competition from other servers. We utilize 1000
Mbps Gigabit Ethernet for core and distribution, to ensure that information
is transmitted to and from our servers in the fastest way possible.
Hot-Swap Power Supplies
Each server has dual-redundant 450-watt hot-swap power supplies. If one of
these power supplies were to fail, the server would continue running with power
from the alternate supply. Meanwhile, alarms would alert a technician, who
would quickly restore redundancy by swapping out the failed unit with one of
our spares. In the meantime, the server would experience no downtime.
Hot-Swap SCSI Hard Drives
Each server is equipped with hot-swap SCSI hard drives. Hot-swap drive support
allows us to replace failing hard drives without taking the server off-line.
All hard drives and drive bays of our servers are constructed from high-grade
aluminum, and rest in shock mounted drive cages, which adds to the durability
of the hardware.
SCSI drives provide a reliable, high-performance interface for data transfer
and storage with the following advantages: higher transfer speeds, greater
data integrity, easier manageability and better overall operating efficiency.
Our drives proudly feature one of the lowest failure rates in the industry.
Force Filtered Cooling
Each server is equipped with a positive pressure filtered-air system. Four
large fans pull filtered air into each server's protective case, and the components
within are cooled by fans which circulate this purified air. This constant
introduction of clean air into the case creates a positive pressure environment,
ensuring that dust and particles remain outside the server.
System Monitoring
We pro-actively monitor system processes on each server as well as across
our entire network to ensure optimal performance. We have built system monitoring
scripts into the operating system of each server on our network. These scripts
are designed to monitor, report and fix various system processes according
to a regiment of criteria.
In addition to the internal monitoring scripts, we use off-network servers
to provide corrective action, notification and coverage for maximum protection
of service delivery. Using these off-site machines gives us the ultimate guarantee
that we can provide the uptime and reliability promised to our clients.
The following describes some of the monitors and the back-up procedures that
are automatically performed on each server.
Machine Uptime Monitor - We operate scripts that ping each
server every minute to make sure that each server is accessible from within
and outside our network. If the server cannot be pinged, the script pages our
system engineers immediately for rapid correction.
Web Server Monitor - We use tools to monitor the Apache web
server to ensure that it is up and serving pages. Every two minutes, we send
a test page to the http daemon. If it does not respond, our script will reload
the daemon. Then two minutes later, it will send a test page again. If there
is still no response, then the reload/test scenario repeats itself. After two
attempts, a technician is contacted to take the remedial steps needed to make
sure that servers are fully operational.
Disk Space Monitor - We automatically monitor disk space
usage on each server through a script that checks the free space on each hard
drive. We limit the number of accounts we host on each server to ensure that
even when traffic peaks, our servers will not overload and to maintain the
high-performance and reliability that our clients expect.
Port Monitor - We actively monitor all commonly used ports,
not only to make sure that they are open, but to verify that they are actually
passing data. The script does this by requesting data, if the port does not
respond; it will be restarted by the monitoring tool.
Memory Monitor - We use a
monitoring tool that will make sure that no process takes up more than a certain
percentage of each server’s
available memory. If a process consumes more than the maximum allotment, it
will be temporarily killed off and the situation will be reported to our system
engineers.
FirewallsA firewall is a security device that secures a web server from possible attacks.
It is placed between the server and the Internet to moderate and document requests
for data access according to a predefined set of security policies.
Every one of our servers comes equipped with a firewall, which is built and
managed by our in-house security engineers. In addition to the individual server
firewall, our entire network is secured through a Cisco-powered circuit level
firewall, providing one more level of security for mission-critical data. These
firewalls are designed to halt and report all intrusions to the system and
provide our clients with the peace of mind they need to conduct secure business
transactions from our servers.
Data Backup & Recovery
- Exabyte Mammouth II 200 Tape Cartridge Library
- Backup Express Recovery Software
In the event that server data is lost or destroyed, you need to have a backup
system that will restore your data to its original form. Though it is still
the client's responsibility to keep a local backup of their files, you can
be rest assured, knowing that we are doing the same. It is essential that any
backup solution deployed is capable of backing up files and tables that may
be open at the time the backup is made.
We provide automated daily backups of website files on all servers, a daily
incremental backup and a weekly full backup. The full backups are placed onto
digital-tape and are stored for two weeks while the incremental backups are
stored on to disk and kept until the next full backup is performed. In the
event of a catastrophic data loss we can quickly restore your site (which is
never more than 24 hours old) to working order with minimal data loss.
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